Cuba Protests at UN over Washington’s Terror
Heileen MO,

Cuba accused the United States of maintaining a double standard policy on the fight against terrorism, in a letter sent Thursday to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
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The Unanimous Opinion.
posted by F Espinoza,

At the 6th Hemispheric Meeting in Havana, when the discussion turned to the subject of production of biofuels from foodstuffs, which are constantly getting more expensive, the huge majority voiced their opposition with indignation...
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Picketing war profiteers on Armed Forces Day
Oakland Port Action,

Antiwar activists will picket war profiteers in the Port of Oakland on Saturday, May 19. Below are two press releases from the Port Action Committee
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Open organizer job with progressive SD union
donkilo,

AFSCME 3299, the union for the service and patient care workers at UCSD, has an opening for an organizer position.

From job description:

AFSCME Local 3299 is a dynamic, progressive, militant, member driven labor union that represents 19,000 service and patient care workers on all of the University of California campuses and Medical Centers. We are a statewide local and use an organizing-focused model for both internal and external organizing work.
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Lessons from the 6th Hemispheric Meeting CUBA
posted by F Espinoza,

We are aware that most of the wars in the last few decades have been waged over control of energy sources...
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ES REALMENTE JUSTA LA CIDH
José Manuel Meléndez Delgado,

Durante el gobierno de fujimori fuí obligado a renunciar a mi trabajo bajo la modalidad de renuncias voluntarias,luego una dura y larga lucha en el poder judicial de mi país,logre demandar al estado peruano ante la CIDH.,por considerar que fuerón violados mis derechos humanos,por favor leán la página web www.melendez.tk muchas gracias.
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El terrorista de la Casa Blanca, libre...
enviado por F Espinoza,

La decisión exhibió otra vez la presión del chantaje de la derecha anticubana y terrorista de Miami, pero también los temores de la Casa Blanca a que salieran a la luz los vínculos de sucesivos gobiernos, de la CIA, y del propio clan Bush con el terrorismo de Estado planeado desde Washington, y del que Posada fue uno de los ejecutores...
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Alexander: LAPD Assaults May Day Supporters
Stewart A. Alexander,

Los Angeles police officers brutally assaulted peaceful marchers and supporters at a rally in Los Angeles creating outrage and anger from millions nationwide. Many of the people that were present in the park were mother, children and babies. The cops were seen beating many with sticks on television; people and children that were offering no resistance. Also there were members of the press that were brutally assaulted.


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Marcha 25 de Abril (updated)
vAPPOroaxaca,

No fuimos muchisimos, pero individuos y organizaciones, expresamos nuestro coraje en contra de Fox por recibir el Premio que le otorgó el Instituto de las Americas. Además nos manifestamos en contra de la violencia policiaca y dejamos claro que nuestra protesta era pacífica.
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Philippines: Unionists confront repression
Sue Bolton ,

Organisers from the Philippines’ biggest left trade union centre, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP — Solidarity of Filipino Workers) spoke to Green Left Weekly’s Sue Bolton about the repression that they encounter from the state and their efforts to unify left-wing trade unions.


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Announcing: FARE STRIKE! San Francisco 2005:
Insane Dialectical Possey,

Finally, a collection of first-hand accounts of the Fare Strike, in which thousands of San Franciscans openly and spontaneously united along class lines and rode mass transit for free.
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CIW reaches landmark accord with McDonald's
donkilo,

Campaign surges forward with Burger King in its sights! Come to
Chicago – now more than ever!
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African reparations tribunal launches pledge
Uhuru African Liberation Solidarity Campaign,

African Liberation Solidarity Campaign launches pledge drive to support the International Tribunal on Reparations for Afrikan People, taking place in Berlin, Germany this June.
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Informe Económico Presos Politicos Libertad!.
vAPPOroaxaca,

Este es el Informe Económico que se hace público, de lo que se recaudó en el evento Benefico Presos Politicos Libertad!!! vAPPOroaxaca. Estan los detalles de envio, el tipo de cambio, quien lo recibio y como fue entregado a la COFADAPPO (Comite de familiares y asesinados de los Presos Políticos de Oaxaca.
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Atenta Invitación
vAPPOroaxaca,

Estamos invitando a todos los que de alguna manera han venido siguiendo y apoyando, las actividades de nuestra Coalición vAPPOroaxaca, para que nos acompañen en la Conferencia de Prensa, para darles a Conocer el Informe Económico de la actividad del 2 de Marzo 2007.
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Queer Democrats Endorse Universal Health Care
Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger’s Newsmagazine,

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club unanimously endorsed a single-payer health-care system for California at its March 22 meeting. The proposal is called "California OneCare" and is being carried in the state legislature by openly Lesbian State Senator Sheila Kuehl, who steered a similar health bill through the legislature last year. It was killed by the veto of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The club members debated how to overcome the predictable multi-million dollar campaign health insurance companies, which would be eliminated by the proposal, will fight against it and also the racist fear-mongering more moderate health plans have already evoked from Right-wing propagandists denouncing that "illegal aliens" would be covered.
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An Open Letter to Ronald McDonald
jordàn,

Farmworker exploitation and patronizing treatment of youth: I`m leavin` it!

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Major Mobilization for Farmworker Justice
CIW,

In just a few short weeks, farmworkers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and their allies will travel from Immokalee, FL – home of one of the largest farmworker communities in the country – to Chicago, IL, home of the world’s largest restaurant chain, McDonald’s. The "2007 Truth Tour: Behind the Golden Arches” will culminate in two national days of action on April 13th and 14th in the Chicago area marking a new phase in the Campaign for Fair Food. Now is the time to finalize plans to join us for these historic actions!

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Michael Parenti Speaks on "Culture Struggle"
Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger’s Newsmagazine,

From Mark Conlan: Michael Parenti, Berkeley-based Leftist author and professor, gave several talks on a recent tour of San Diego, inclding one at the Malcolm X Library March 7 on "The Culture Struggle." Parenti analyzed the connection between culture and class in Marxist terms, saying that culture is the way an owning class trains the working class to have the values that will make working people content with their lives and disinclined to challenge the existing ownership and control of the means of production. In his speech, and his similarly titled book, he also scorned "cultural relativism" — saying the idea that people brought up in one culture can't judge those from another has been used to defend social evils like slavery and rape — and also talked about capitalism has increasingly turned culture into a commodity.

From white m@le fed up with White Males: What a surprise to see a white male criticizing the experiences of people of color, women, and queer folk. and also surprise, he's a marxist! congratulations sir, you and your irrelevant ideology are part of the same culture that aims to perpetuate the oppression of people of color, women, and queer folk. of course the experiences of black women (for example) are subordinate to your epistemological claims! because you follow a long tradition of western enlightenment thinking that has hegemonically controlled the discourses of truth for hundreds of years!...

From shine: i am a queer female, and i was not offended by parentis words at all. i don't think he was "critisizing" our experiences as you say. in fact i think they are largely right-on. though i do find a unique solidarity amongst other queers or other womyn (and could understand why blacks would find a unique solidarity with each other or diabled folks would) i ultimately think parenti is right that our focus should be on the ruling class and should be on the ways in which we are all subservients and need to take back power... the fact that marx and parenti were both white males doesn't make their words untrue...

More from white m@le fed up with White Males: ...the idea that all hierarchy can be reduced to simple class functionalism is absurd. which is essentially the problem with marxism as a whole and the focus for the majority of criticism of the ideology by people who are actually interested in eradicating hierarchy. sure, we can all fall into step behind this notion that class is the only thing that matters, but will that topple patriarchy (the mujeres libres ran into this same problem in the spanish civil war)? racism? homophobia? are we really expected to believe that these are only tools utilized by the bourgeoisie to oppress the workers and not completely enculturated patterns of behavior representing hundreds of years of life under oppressive governmental and economic systems?...

From anarchomarxist: ...The slippery slope of identity here reduces to either the individual's own oppression being different from any others' resulting in the assertion of the individual as the main agent of history (the re-assertion of liberalism) or the next step in the critique which is the deconstruction of the individual as anon [white m@le fed up with White Males] suggests. The former brings with it all the problems of liberalism from the enlightenment that Hegel, Marx and many Anarchist theorists sought to problematize, critique and move to something more liberatory (theoretically only in the case of Hegel) that would not only better explain phenomena but lead to a sustaining practice. And the later results in a never ending negation of all postulates that seek to get agency off the ground (the postmodern predicament). Anon [white m@le fed up with White Males] suggests the later is how we should view individuals but fails to acknowledge the theory and practice problems that comport to this mode of discourse...

--Read More of the article and comments--
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9/11 FIREFIGHTERS CONDEMN GHOULIANI
Islamic Community Net,

9/11 FIREFIGHTERS CONDEMN GHOULIANI
Islamic Community Net
Tue Mar 13, 2007
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/islamiccommunitynet/message/11963

Assalamu aleikum.

In addition to the crimes of Ghouliani listed by 9/11 firefighters below, Ghouliani is best remembered by Muslims for his racial scapegoating and as the defender of the 1999 police martyrdom of Amadou Diallo on his doorstep in a hail of 41 bullets.


---


Firefighters Union Letter On Rudy Giuliani
IAFF
Fire Fighting News
March 8, 2007
 http://www.firefightingnews.com/article-US.cfm?articleID=27125

On March 14, 2007, the IAFF will host the first bi-partisan Presidential Forum of the 2008 election cycle. No other union and very few organizations has the credibility and respect to attract top-tier candidates from both political parties. The lineup of speakers who have agreed to participate in our Forum is truly a testament to our great union and the reputation we have built as a powerful political force and a coveted endorsement.

John Edwards, John McCain, Barack Obama, Chuck Hagel, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Duncan Hunter and seven other candidates will make their case before the 1,000 delegates who will be attending the Forum and to our entire membership via same-day broadcast on our web site.

Early on, the IAFF made a decision to invite all serious candidates from both political parties — except one: former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

We made this decision after considerable soul-searching and close consultation with our two New York City affiliates, the Uniformed Firefighters Association Local 94 and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association Local 854, as well as our former Local 94 President and current IAFF 1st District Vice President covering New York.

The IAFF recognizes that Mayor Giuliani generally enjoys a favorable reputation as a result of his actions immediately after the tragedy of 9/11. As such, we want our affiliates and every one of our members to clearly understand the reason and rationale behind this very serious and sober decision.

Many people consider Rudy Giuliani "America's Mayor," and many of our members who don't yet know the real story, may also have a positive view of him. This letter is intended to make all of our members aware of the egregious acts Mayor Giuliani committed against our members, our fallen on 9/11, and our New York City union officers following that horrific day.

Rest assured, our exclusion of Mayor Giuliani is not about any particular contractual or policy issue or disagreement, nor is it based on his unfriendly relationship with our New York City affiliates prior to 9/11 — which we will document and explain in additional correspondence later on during the campaign. In fact, we invited several candidates with whom we have had substantial disagreement on policy issues because we feel very strongly that our members have the right to hear from all candidates, not just those who tow the IAFF line.

Regrettably, the situation with former Mayor Giuliani is very different. His actions post 9/11 rise to such an offensive and personal attack on our brother and sisterhood — and directly on our union — that the IAFF does not feel Rudy Giuliani deserves an audience of IAFF leaders and members at our own Presidential Forum.

The disrespect that he exhibited to our 343 fallen FDNY brothers, their families and our New York City IAFF leadership in the wake of that tragic day has not been forgiven or forgotten.

In November 2001, our members were continuing the painful, but necessary, task of searching Ground Zero for the remains of our fallen brothers and the thousands of innocent citizens that were killed, because precious few of those who died in the terrorist attacks had been recovered at that point.

Prior to November 2001, 101 bodies or remains of fire fighters had been recovered. And those on the horrible pile at Ground Zero believed they had just found a spot in the rubble where they would find countless more that could be given proper burial.

Nevertheless, Giuliani, with the full support of his Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen, decided on November 2, 2001, to sharply reduce the number of those who could search for remains at any one time. There had been as many as 300 fire fighters at a time involved in search and recovery, but Giuliani cut that number to no more than 25 who could be there at once.

In conjunction with the cut in fire fighters allowed to search, Giuliani also made a conscious decision to institute a "scoop-and-dump" operation to expedite the clean-up of Ground Zero in lieu of the more time-consuming, but respectful, process of removing debris piece by piece in hope of uncovering more remains.

Mayor Giuliani's actions meant that fire fighters and citizens who perished would either remain buried at Ground Zero forever, with no closure for families, or be removed like garbage and deposited at the Fresh Kills Landfill.

Our Local presidents at the time attempted to meet with the Mayor to stop this despicable treatment of those who perished, but he refused to even see them face-to-face.

The scoop-and-dump continued. And when hundreds of family members of the fallen joined with our affiliate leadership and members to protest Giuliani's decision, he ordered senior officers of the New York Police Department to arrest 15 of our FDNY brothers, including a number of local elected IAFF leaders.

Giuliani modified his policy after the protest because public opinion was so strongly with our members. Ultimately, he was forced to put the fire fighters back on the pile. Our protests were later proven justified as more bodies were ultimately recovered and those families given a chance for some closure and a decent burial.

Giuliani argued that the change was for our own safety, but his argument was empty and without substance. Fire fighters had been on that pile since minutes after the twin towers fell — why all of a sudden, after nearly two months working on the pile, was Giuliani concerned about fire fighter safety?

In our view, he wasn't really concerned. The fact is that the Mayor's switch to a scoop-and-dump coincided with the final removal of tens of millions of dollars of gold, silver and other assets of the Bank of Nova Scotia that were buried beneath what was once the towers. Once the money was out, Giuliani sided with the developers that opposed a lengthy recovery effort, and ordered the scoop-and-dump operation so they could proceed with redevelopment.

In the first few days immediately after the disaster, Giuliani had said he was committed to the recovery of those lost "right down to the last brick." We believed him at the time. But, what he proved with his actions is that he really meant the "last gold brick."

Giuliani crucified fire fighters after our protest and publicly stated that our members were essentially acting like babies, that they didn't have the market cornered on grief. His insensitive statements demonstrated his inability to grasp what members of the FDNY were experiencing.

What Giuliani showed is a disgraceful lack of respect for the fallen and those brothers still searching for them. He exposed our members and leaders to arrest. He valued the money and gold and wanted the site cleared before he left office at the end of 2001 more than he valued the lives and memories of those lost.

Our members deserved the right to continue with a full search for their lost brothers and other innocent victims. Proudly, as you know, the fire service has a code similar to the military, where we leave no one behind. Recovering even a piece of a turnout coat or helmet gave our FDNY brothers and sisters and the families of the fallen some small semblance of peace, something to honor. But hundreds remained entombed in Ground Zero when Giuliani gave up on them.

The fundamental lack of respect that Giuliani showed our FDNY members is unforgivable - and that's why he was not invited. Our disdain for him is not about issues or a disputed contract, it is about a visceral, personal affront to the fallen, to our union and, indeed, to every one of us who has ever risked our lives by going into a burning building to save lives and property.

We have heard from some affiliates that Giuliani's campaign is beginning to reach out to our locals, looking to build support. If you are contacted by Giuliani, Von Essen, or a representative of the Giuliani campaign, we hope you will say not just, "No," but, "Hell no." And please let the IAFF Political Affairs Department know about it by calling (202) 824-1582.

Please share this correspondence with your membership. Thank you.

Fraternally and Sincerely,

Harold A. Schaitberger, General President

Vincent J. Bollon, General Secretary-Treasurer and Past President, UFOA of NYC, Local 854

Kevin Gallagher, IAFF 1st District Vice President and Past President, UFA of NYC, Local 94

Stephen Cassidy, President, UFA of NYC, Local 94

Peter Gorman, President, UFOA of NYC, Local 854

Written by IAFF

 http://www.firefightingnews.com/article-US.cfm?articleID=27125
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Call-in pushes back attack on Africanist Mvt
UhuruRadio.com,

Hundreds of emails and calls inundate Sierra Leone embassies in the U.S., London and elsewhere; officials drop charges; ASI leader urges continued vigilance
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Urgent Call-in to defend Africanist Movement
UhuruRadio.com,

On March 6th, Chernoh Alpha M. Bah, Director of the Africanist Movement, a regional African Internationalist organization based in Sierra Leone and several neighboring "countries" was stopped while driving in Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone. People are urged to call and email the Sierra Leone ambassador in Washington D.C.
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Guinea: how the Unions Liquidated the Strike
ICP,

At the end of discussions with the authorities, religious leaders and a delegation of the CDEAO (economic community of the States of the area) directed by the former President-general of Nigeria, the gangster Babangida, the trade-union leaders decreed the "suspension" of the general strike which had lasted for 2 weeks, as of Sunday midnight.
For his part, President Lansana Conté promised to name a new Prime Minister from a list of 5 names indicated by the trade unions and the opposition parties. The trade-union leaders speak about a great victory (while evoking a possible resumption of the strike), but it looks more like a capitulation!

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UNDERSTANDING THE FILIPINO EXODUS/DIASPORA
Alegria Concepcion,

Two new books by noted U.S.-based Filipino author, E. SAN JUAN, Jr., seek to explore the predicament of millions of Filipinos leaving the Philippines and working or settling in other countries. An unprecedented 9-10 million of 87 million Filipinos are now scattered around the planet. Their huge remittance props up a sharply divided class society where a tiny oligarchy (supported by tax dollars from Washington/the Pentagon) exploits and oppresses the majority of citizens. Over 830 victims of extrajudicial killings occurred from 2001 to the present under Arroyo's corrupt illegitimate regime. Why is this happening? Are you contributing to the pain and suffering?
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Irish Republican Information Service (no. 97)
Saer,

Included in this issue (which much more):
RSF Croke Park protest, Media blackout of RSF candidates, Former Hunger Striker condemns Provo treachery, Encouraging response on the campaign, RUC harass election workers, British and UVF met 10 days after bombs killed 33

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G8 Dissent! Tour in San Diego Friday
stop the g8,

Hey everyone! Here is a reminder to get the word out for the G8 Dissent
Tour! at the Rubber Rose!

We look forward to seeing you at the Rubber Rose!

G8 DISSENT! TOUR
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD
7-10 PM
$5 SUGGESTED DONATION

@ THE RUBBER ROSE
3812 Ray st.
San Diego, CA

Come learn about QUEER, FEMINIST, BIKE, BLOCKADE, CLOWN AND ANTI-RACIST
resistance to the G8!

The G8 is the annual meeting of the leaders of the 8 richest nations in
the world. These leaders are creating policies of war, migration control
and environmental destruction all over the planet.
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Support the freedom struggle in Guinea
UhuruRadio.com,

The African Socialist International (ASI) calls on urgent support for the freedom struggle in Guinea-Conakry; raises the slogan, “Touch One! Touch All!”

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Long Live the struggle of the Workers of Guin
International Communist Party,

Guinea-Conakry is a small West African country of 10 million inhabitants, one of the poorest countries on the planet, in spite of the richness of its mining industry: diamonds, gold, iron, uranium and especially bauxite of which it is the 2nd largest producer in the world. Although the majority of the population of Guinea lives in misery, local and foreign bourgeois and the multinationals grow rich, protected by the regime of General Lansana Conté (who seized power after a coup in 1984) against rising dissatisfaction.

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Queer Dems Endorse Black for Port Commission
Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger’s Newsmagazine,

Breaking ranks with their usual allies in the labor and environmental movements, as well as City Councilmember Donna Frye, the predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club endorsed Democrat Laurie Black for the San Diego Port Commission against Republican incumbent Steve Cushman. Cushman is asking the San Diego City Council to set aside the usual two-term limit on Port Commissioners and reappoint him, and he's assembled an unlikely coalition in support.
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¡ Nueva página de internet sobre el Peru !
AANP,

La Asociación de Amistad Nuevo Peru (AANP) anuncia que ya tenemos una nueva página de internet: www.geocities.com/npfausa
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