When U.S. House Majority leader Eric Cantor derided the Occupy Wall Street activists as “a growing mob,” he could not have known that the movement’s influence would grow so strong that its impact would be felt even at the other end of the world. On Oct. 15, as part of an international weekend of protest, … Continue reading Occupy comes to Taiwan!
Month: November 2011
Civil Wars: An inside look at the labor bureaucracy
In the early 1990s a new crop of labor leaders ascended to leadership of some of the largest unions in the United States and the AFL-CIO hierarchy. Many of these new leaders were products of the 1960s radicalization, former student radicals who moved to staff positions in trade unions. Coming off the heels of some militant … Continue reading Civil Wars: An inside look at the labor bureaucracy
‘Hell’ in the Afghan war
October 2011 marked the 10th anniversary of the so-called war in Afghanistan. Obama states that 30,000 out of 100,000 troops will be home by the end of 2012. But his new head of operations there, Gen. John Allen, told reporter Scott Pelly on “60 Minutes” a few weeks ago that, in effect, 70,000 U.S. troops … Continue reading ‘Hell’ in the Afghan war
15-O: A day of global indignation
The day of Oct. 15 (15-O) was the first coordinated global response to the crisis and saw the emergence of a new international movement. With the revolutions of North Africa as the initial impetus, through an effect of emulation and imitation, the protest reached the periphery of Europe. The Mediterranean world has thus stood at … Continue reading 15-O: A day of global indignation
“It’s Enough!” – statement by ANTARSYA from Greece
The government has crossed all limits. It’s not enough that the workers, the unemployed, the young people, pensioners and professionals are plunged into misery—Finance Minister Venizelos went so far as to announce in Parliament that we should also be happy to be “under control!” The PASOK government and the interests of capital that it represents, … Continue reading “It’s Enough!” – statement by ANTARSYA from Greece
Northern Lights
NDP Leader race crowded, on the rightMontreal MP Thomas Mulcair, a former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister who takes pride in his role in early “free trade” negotiations, brings a decidedly pro-capitalist, anti-Quebec self-determination perspective to the New Democratic Party leadership race. When Mulcair announced his candidacy, he had the backing of 15 MPs, soon likely … Continue reading Northern Lights
Mumia on Occupy Wall Street
In Lower Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park (renamed “Liberty Square” by the demonstrators), the cast of thousands swell in rebellion against the betrayals by the banks, Wall Street’s relentless greed, the plague of joblessness and the craven servility of the political class—both Republicans and Democrats—to their moneyed masters. In short, the central focus of their protest is … Continue reading Mumia on Occupy Wall Street
UAW ranks approve concession-filled contracts
In late October, members of the United Auto Workers at the Big Three voted to approve concession-filled contracts under heavy pressure from the Administrative Caucus that rules the UAW. All three contracts maintain the devastating two-tier status of new and recent hires, contain no wage increases for “traditional” tier autoworkers, no cost-of-living increases, and many work-rule … Continue reading UAW ranks approve concession-filled contracts