A little more analysis of what’s going on in Mexico. There’s a real potential for upheaval if the courts do not act fairly when recounting votes.

–Welcome to the reactionary years. It is mind boggling that this continues to be an issue never mind the fact that there is still people in power that can move this legislation backwards.

–Private water companies continue to try to take control of one of the most important public systems. In Bolivia they are not only failing but are giving many other reasons for people to not trust these un-accountable multi-national corporations. Greed and abuse of power is commonplace.

–A rather clean outline of what the Mercosur trade deal is and why it is important for Latin Americans and why it is important for social struggles around the world to use it as an alternative. There is also ALBA which need to be highlighted as an ideal trade agreement alternative to the neo-liberal ones imposed by the US. Fair trade is the only way to build an international community where the people can actually benefit from trade.

–Rights are under attack at every level in the US. One wonders sometimes how those that fight keep going under such strain. The Left must mobilize in the US and do so at every level of government if it is going actually win some gains for the people. You cannot move forward when the government maintains all the reigns that hold you back.

–Yvon Neptune has been released from prison in Haiti after two years in prison as a political prisoner and without being charged with a crime. Is this the justice that the Canadian government is referring to when it backed the US and France lead coup in Haiti?

–The left is still the focus of attacks around the world. The only way that we can move forward is to stand in solidarity and continue the fight against this kind of reactionary bullying.

–Yes, the US is such a progressive country… Where are the rights activists in the US? Where is the outrage that the US still has this antiquated and bigoted policy? Fairness and job security for military service employees and bring them all home from imperialist wars.

–Go figure that the Conservatives seem to sliding in the polls. I do not think that one thing that Harper has said over the current war in Lebanon resonates with the majority of Canadians. The worry is that if there is not an election then the Conservatives will remain with their slimy grip on power.

–This is outrageous. If they are Canadian citizens then they should be allowed into Canada. If we have such a sophisticated intelligence service then there is no problem letting all Canadians come back home.

–Isn’t it incredible that the CBC is covering this rally in defence of Israeli’s current actions (which include war crimes) and not the rally that happened down the street with as many if not more people that opposed the war?

–Paul Moist of CUPE lays out the reasons that P3’s (Public Private Partnerships -AKA: Privatized Public Programs) are a bad deal for Canadian Taxpayers.

–It is always interesting to hear Robert Fisk’s take on the war. Is Israel losing the war? They sure seem to be acting that way because if you were winning the war then why would you play dirty and kill civilians?

Farmers and other community members in Medhiganj in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, are fighting back against the world’s largest softdrink company. They are taking 2.5 million litres of water per day. Not surprisingly then, farmers are finding it hard to irrigate their crops as ground water levels are low and residents of the community are concerned over pollution that CocaCola is causing.

Now why in the world would debt ridden students not stay in this sleepy little town to work for the lowest wages and salaries in Canada? It’s odd that we don’t have any skilled workers, seeing as how we train thousands upon thousands each year. Where do they go and why?

On top of that, the companies looking for people need a subsidy from our government to top up salaries and wages. The issue is not to train more workers, the issue is to address the high cost of education and the debt burden, as well as inducing employers to be more competitive with the rest of the country in terms of pay and benefits. Of course many of these companies are not looking for full time employees, just contract workers. That way they can use, abuse, and dispose of their workers at will. This is Frank McKenna’s fault and this is Bernard Lord’s fault for selling our province as a cheap place to do business. That’s the reason why no one who toiled through 4 years of Computer Science will stay in New Brunswick.

After all this fighting, bloodshed and the meetings of our world leaders, and no solution to date has been devised. It’s reminiscent of the League of Nations in the late ’30s.

According to eyewitnesses at the court hearing, the judge not only acquitted those arrested, but also said “the combat must continue”. Awesome.

The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific
Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa

New Caledonia court acquits Kanak activists in Goro vandalism case
Posted at 08:06 on 26 July, 2006 UTC

A court in New Caledonia has acquitted six of the Kanak activists who were detained in April over the violent blockade of the Goro Nickel project in the territory’s south.

16 members of the Rheebu Nuu group were arrested after the group destroyed Goro equipment and installations worth ten million US dollars in a bid to halt the two-billion US dollar project, claiming it damaged the environment.

Large numbers of French riot police intervened and the construction site was shut for three weeks.

The court has now acquitted six of the accused and given suspended fines to the remaining ten.

In its preliminary ruling, it said the environmental rights in New Caledonia are insufficient.

Rheebu Nuu has given a September the 24th ultimatum to Goro to stop all construction work, saying its project fails to meet required environmental standards.

Some commentary that would likely never see the light of day in mainstream North-American newspapers.

I’m behind this initiative 100%. Many of you know, I worked as a casual for years at the hospital in Fredericton. Nothing was more frustrating than to earn 2 to 3, even 4 dollars less than your co-workers, doing the exact same job. Also my unionized co-workers enjoyed a minimum guarantee of hours and the right to refuse extra shifts without worrying about being fired or losing hours. The article is terribly misleading though, no workers classified as a casual can join a union period. If this was just a question of waiting 6 months, then why would unions bother going to court over this? The real issue is that as long as you are classified as a casual, you cannot join a union unless you are hired on as a part-time or full-time employee.

Of course all unions aren’t perfect and there are many mistakes made and areas of improvement needed. However, the more I learn about CUPE, the more respect I have for that organization.
I think the education of workers is one of the most valuable and empowering gifts a union can bestow upon its membership.

Remembering a murdered trade unionist in Iraq. These guys never really die as long as there is a Hadi in every town and city, organizing and agitating for change. Interesting enough, the BBC reported that many of Saddam’s secret service had been hired by the US. So that may tell you who the culprit was, and it’s not surprising. A UN peace mission is needed in Iraq, and a real truth and reconcilation process is needed where the truth over rapes, murders, and mass killings like this can be told to the whole world.

More on trade, diplomacy, and foreign relations for Venezuela.