Por Manuel Aguilar Mora La muerte del profesor y pensador Adolfo Sánchez Vázquez el pasado 8 de julio, es un hecho que rebasa con mucho las fronteras del mundo académico. Sánchez Vázquez, sin ceder una pulgada al rigor y la disciplina académica, destacó en México como un defensor y divulgador del marxismo en los más … Continue reading Adolfo Sánchez Vázquez (1915-2011) Defensor y divulgador del marxismo
Month: August 2012
Houston Janitors Walk Out
On July 10, janitors walked off the job and started night picketing outside key downtown buildings in Houston. These workers clean the offices of some of the richest corporations in the world, including Chevron, Hines, Shell Oil, and J.P. Morgan. They are paid less than $9000 annually, which is less than half the poverty level. … Continue reading Houston Janitors Walk Out
Solidarity with Egyptian Workers at Pirelli Tire Company
Workers at the Alexandria Tire Company (Pirelli) in Egypt are on strike against management’s arbitrary refusal to implement agreements that were concluded with workers in the presence of representatives of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), as well as their refusal to comply with workers’ legal rights. Situated on the Cairo-Alexandria desert … Continue reading Solidarity with Egyptian Workers at Pirelli Tire Company
New government in Greece
The elections to the Greek Parliament of June 17 were needed because after the elections of May 6 no parties were able to form a coalition government. The result, not unexpectedly, was a “victory” for the rightwing New Democracy (ND), with 29.7% (compared to 18.9% from May 6). The left alliance SYRIZA rose from 16.8% … Continue reading New government in Greece
Robin Hood: Hero of the People
As I write, in late May 2012, a playhouse here in Philadelphia is advertising its production of “Robin Hood” as an action play “aimed at kids five years and up.” At the same time, in Chicago, anti-NATO demonstrators are calling for a “Robin Hood tax” on financial transactions, as part of their demand to “tax the rich.”
Victory for Ontario LGBT youth
Prodded by years of lesbian/gay rights agitation, Ontario New Democrats compelled the provincial Liberal Party to stand up and defy theocracy. The parties passed the Accepting Schools Act in June, mandating that all Ontario schools allow Gay-Straight Alliance clubs to be formed in publicly funded Catholic Separate schools. In Mississauga (west of Toronto), Catholic high … Continue reading Victory for Ontario LGBT youth
Democrats Defeated in Wisconsin
The Gov. Scott Walker victory in Wisconsin’s recall election last month should not surprise us. The Democrats are incapable of defeating the right. Don’t the last 30 years demonstrate that? Every vote for a Democrat has meant the success of the “Republican” agenda, based on the loyalty of both parties to the 1%. In fact, … Continue reading Democrats Defeated in Wisconsin
NY bosses lock out 8500 energy workers
On July 1, Consolidated Edison (Con Ed) of New York City, one of the nation’s top energy providers, cut off contract negotiations by locking out 8500 members of the Utility Workers United of America Local 1-2 (UWUA). The lockout was not a strike, but a one-sided refusal by Con Ed bosses to bargain.
AFL-CIO calls unions to ‘Stand for America’ rally
By BILL ONASCH Last month, AP ran a story about union officials expressing their displeasure with Democrats by organizing what was described as a “shadow convention” in Philadelphia prior to the boss parties’ nominating rituals. But those organizing the Workers Stand for America rally on Aug. 11 reject that term. I suppose they don’t like … Continue reading AFL-CIO calls unions to ‘Stand for America’ rally
Elections USA: Paying your way
By MARTY GOODMAN“There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money, and I can’t remember what the second one is.” — Mark Hanna, a 19th-century mining baron and Republican fundraiser.It was expected that the Democrats would beat the Republicans in fundraising. So far, Obama tops Romney in individual donations, about $300 … Continue reading Elections USA: Paying your way
Presidential campaign loot
By MARTY GOODMAN“Anybody who wants to be an ambassador must at least give $250,000.” — Richard Nixon’s price check to his Chief of Staff on campaign donations.This year’s U.S. presidential campaign fundraising is expected to double the record-breaking $1 billion presidential campaign haul of 2008. Everything has its price under capitalism, including democracy. The campaign … Continue reading Presidential campaign loot
Growing signs of new economic downturn
By ANDREW POLLACK Signs of a renewed, coordinated global economic downturn have grown in the last few months. Of course, given the inherent anarchy of the capitalist system, the “coordination” is more in the nature of a self-reinforcing downward spiral, as each sector drags the others down with it. One sees the spiral right away … Continue reading Growing signs of new economic downturn
World capitalist crisis threatens humanity
By JEFF MACKLER A July 17 New York Times article entitled “Japanese Consumers Reconsidering Rice Loyalty” attracted my attention when it reported that “Japan’s agricultural ministry, for now, says it is not considering an increase in rice imports, which are all but shut out by a 778 percent tariff.” This enormous tariff led me to … Continue reading World capitalist crisis threatens humanity
A grassroots mobilization in Syria
By ANDREW POLLACKAs the armed conflict heats up in Syria, there are indications that organizing of the rebellion is proceeding at the rank-and-file level.The Revolutionary Left, for instance, cites the continued role of workers and peasants in the revolt, as well as students: “Today, not a week goes by without the voices and songs of … Continue reading A grassroots mobilization in Syria
Battles rage in Syrian cities as risk grows of U.S. intervention
By ANDREW POLLACKIn early August, the battle for Aleppo still raged between government and opposition forces, with each side taking, losing, and retaking neighborhoods. The heavily outgunned rebels—and the city’s civilian population—faced murderous attacks by regime helicopters, tanks, and artillery.Aleppo is Syria’s biggest city and its most important economically. As such it is home of … Continue reading Battles rage in Syrian cities as risk grows of U.S. intervention
What Libya’s Elections Mean for the People
Millions of Libyans cast their ballots on July 7 in the first “free” election Libya has seen in over four decades. Throngs of people packed into voting booths to select the country’s new 200-seat National Assembly, which will be tasked with creating a new government and writing up a draft constitution. In response to the … Continue reading What Libya’s Elections Mean for the People
Kevin Annett on the Annihilation of Indigenous Peoples
Ontario Conservatives plan to starve unions
By RICK EKAPUKShortly after the governing Liberal Party passed its austerity budget in early June, the right-wing opposition Progressive Conservatives sought to squeeze more out of Ontario workers through a full-frontal assault on labour unions.In a “white paper” outlining their labour policy, the Conservatives propose to eliminate the requirement that employers deduct union dues from … Continue reading Ontario Conservatives plan to starve unions
OPSEU getting ready to fight
By JULIUS ARSCOTTVice president, OPSEU Local 532The 38,000 members of the Ontario public service are entering a new round of bargaining this fall, amidst a wave of labour concessions across both the private and public sectors. The Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union (OPSEU), the largest public sector union in the province, is readying itself. The … Continue reading OPSEU getting ready to fight
Ontario teachers gear up for battle — despite divisions
By BARRY WEISLEDERTORONTO—Labour Day 2012 inaugurates a season of intense class conflict between public service workers and the Ontario Liberal government. Teacher union officials are now locked in battle with their erstwhile supposed-ally, Premier Dalton McGuinty, whose Spring budget demands major concessions to balance the books at the expense of education and other social amenities. … Continue reading Ontario teachers gear up for battle — despite divisions
QUEBEC: Mass struggle continues / Election pending
By ROBBIE MAHOODMONTREAL—As many as 80,000 protesters hit the streets of Montreal on July 22, proof that the mass struggle over the Liberal government`s unilateral decision to raise university tuition fees has far from dissipated. The central slogan this time was “Out with the Neo-Liberal Parties,” reflecting the growing radicalization produced by the struggle and … Continue reading QUEBEC: Mass struggle continues / Election pending
Will Enbridge spills kill XL and Gateway pipelines?
By BARRY WEISLEDERA U.S. government enquiry into the July 25, 2010, spill of 843,444 gallons of crude oil into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River, by Canada’s Enbridge Inc., has fueled doubts about such proposed pipelines as Keystone XL and Northern Gateway.Environmental groups on both sides of the border seized upon the findings of the National Transportation and … Continue reading Will Enbridge spills kill XL and Gateway pipelines?
New Dynamics in Turkey-Syria conflict
By YASIN KAYAThe growing influence of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a Kurdish independence group linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), is an unexpected problem for establishment forces that counted on Turkish aggression against Syria going down smoothly. The PKK has been fighting the Turkish state since 1984 and is considered a “terrorist” organization … Continue reading New Dynamics in Turkey-Syria conflict
‘Parliamentary’ coup d’etat in Paraguay
By FRANCK GAUDICHAUDOn June 22, the Paraguayan Senate removed centre-left President Fernando Lugo, following a procedure of “political judgment of destitution”: a parliamentary manoeuvre that is admittedly provided for by the Constitution, but whose expeditious nature (done within 24 hours!) has been widely denounced by Paraguayan social organizations and by several governments of neighbouring countries. … Continue reading ‘Parliamentary’ coup d’etat in Paraguay
Life in the Bathtub
By GAETANA CALDWELL-SMITH“Beasts of the Southern Wilds,” directed by Benh Zeitland, written by Lucy Alibar from her play, “Juicy and Delicious.”“Beasts of the Southern Wilds” is one of the most unusual and original films I’ve seen in a long time. It is haunting, magical, and raw. The movie was adapted from a play by Lucy Alibar … Continue reading Life in the Bathtub