Archive for May, 2008
Posted by Faiz on 31st May 2008
“The Ba’athist legislation of 1987, which banned trade unions in the public sector and public enterprises (80% of all workers), is still in effect and continues to be enforced against us … It is a grim reminder of the shadow of dictatorship still stalking our country … We call upon you and all the world’s peace-loving peoples to help us to end the nightmare of occupation and restore our sovereignty and national independence so that we can chart our own course to the future.”
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Posted by Graham on 30th May 2008
–The below was forwarded to me as an update on Corey Glass’ deportation and other war resisters rights. Corey Glass was a guest of Fredericton peace and social justice groups including The Citizens’ Press (which runs Leftnews) in 2006. There was overwhelming support for Corey at the event and in calls to the CBC when he did an interview. Demand the right for soldiers to resist unjust war and conflict. Support the war resisters!
On May 29th, following a motion put forward by NDP MP Olivia Chow, Parliament began debating a motion in support of Iraq war resisters.
The debate lasted for 3 hours with all three opposition parties speaking strongly in favour of the motion.
The Tories tried to derail the motion by procedural means but their attempt was defeated by a vote of 121-97.
With the debate now completed, a vote on the motion will take place on Monday, June 2nd.
Call and email Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley today!
phone 613.996.4974
fax 613.996.9749
email finley.d@parl.gc.ca and finled1@parl.gc.ca
Tell her you want her to
• rescind the deportation order against US war resister Corey Glass
• support US war resisters, not Bush’s war in Iraq
• support the motion to allow Iraq war resisters to remain in Canada
Call and email Prime Minister Stephen Harper!
phone 613.992.4211
fax 613.941.6900
email pm@pm.gc.ca
Tell him you want the Government of Canada to
• rescind the deportation order against US war resister Corey Glass
• support US war resisters, not Bush’s war in Iraq
• support the motion to allow Iraq war resisters to remain in Canada
Call Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion at 613.996.6740 or 613.996.5789
Tell him you want the Liberal Party…
• to support the Parliamentary motion to allow Iraq War resisters to remain in Canada,
• to oppose the deportation of people of conscience who have resisted an illegal war, and
• to support the will of the Canadian people, not Stephen Harper’s decision to deport war resisters, and not the U.S.’s war agenda.
Posted in Canada, Rights, World | 1 Comment
Posted by Graham on 30th May 2008
–Profs union in Britain still trying to combat the oppression of the Palestinians from inside the UK.
Posted in Rights, Unions, World | Leave a Comment
Posted by Graham on 30th May 2008
–A quick look at the politics of Germany.
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Posted by Graham on 30th May 2008
–The false duality between Eastern and Western “civilizations” continues to have footing in the liberal intellectual sphere. In depth analysis of history is needed to find the root causes of conflict and imperialism. Luckily, we have the Monthly Review providing some of that.
Posted in Articles, History, Socialist Theory, World | Leave a Comment
Posted by Graham on 30th May 2008
–Some updates on the Venezuelan economy. Fighting inflation has lead to a decrease in growth and a stemming of capital flight but more reforms are needed if the economy is to maintain increased employment. Agreements with neighbours on food distribution needs to be the primary concern of the government right now. ALBA must be used to provide equitable trade in food and resources.
Posted in Economics/Trade | Leave a Comment
Posted by Graham on 30th May 2008
–People before profit. Food before coal.
Posted in Economics/Trade, Environment | Leave a Comment
Posted by Graham on 30th May 2008
–Carbon trading companies are not happy about sustainable practices and policies. Who was trying to tell me the other day that this is the way to go?
Posted in Canada, Economics/Trade, Environment | Leave a Comment
Posted by Graham on 30th May 2008
–New Labour is not interested in helping the working people of Britain. Workers (with their unions) should demand their party back or should start a new one.
Posted in Unions, World | Leave a Comment
Posted by Graham on 30th May 2008
–Breaching privacy is not an acceptable way to reduce cost for low income people. Nationalisation is, however, a perfectly reasonable option. If the private companies cannot provide the cheap service to low-income people without the government breaking privacy laws then the government should take-back control of the distribution of gas.
Posted in Economics/Trade, Rights, World | Leave a Comment
Posted by Graham on 30th May 2008
–The increase price in fuel leads to increased development of unsustainable oil deposits, more profit for the already super-rich, and more economic hardship for working people, and starvation for many in developing countries.
Posted in Articles, Economics/Trade, Unions, World | Leave a Comment
Posted by Graham on 29th May 2008
–Support First Nations action.
Posted in Canada, Rights | Leave a Comment
Posted by Faiz on 29th May 2008
“More U.S. troops also died overall in hostilities in 2007 than in any of the previous years in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
By any measure, the situation on-the-ground in Iraq and Afghanistan is worsening. It is disingenuous for our media and political and military leaders to suggest otherwise.
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Posted by Jeff on 29th May 2008
Capitalism has yet more pain in store for us.
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Posted by Jeff on 29th May 2008
Way to go, Boris. No doubt a brilliant start to a brilliant administration. What a low-down, dirty shame.
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Posted by Faiz on 29th May 2008
“Residents in [a Gazan neighbourhood] were summoned to a local square by Israeli troops with loudhailers before dozens were taken away, witnesses said.”
Desmond Tutu, the former Archbishop of Cape Town and chairman of South Africa’s truth and reconciliation commission, maintains that Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is reminiscent of Apartheid South Africa’s treatment of non-whites.
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Posted by Graham on 29th May 2008
–Global Warming solutions from Labour. Suggestions to the OECD are necessarily reformist but the analysis is interesting.
Posted in Economics/Trade, Rights, Unions, World | Leave a Comment
Posted by Graham on 29th May 2008
–For those interested in economics and neo-liberalism.
Posted in Articles, Economics/Trade | Leave a Comment
Posted by Faiz on 28th May 2008
“But crucially, the United States, Russia, China, India, Israel and Pakistan — all major producers and stockpilers of cluster bombs — were all absent from the Dublin talks, and thus not part of the agreement.”
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Posted by Jeff on 28th May 2008
This should be a cue to the NDP on what they should be trying to achieve, and how to go about it. Anyone involved in organized labour, left politics and party-building should read and discuss these ideas with their comrades.
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Posted by Jeff on 28th May 2008
For its proponents, the carbon tax is part of the microeconomic market utopia idealized by believers in efficient markets.
>by Duncan Cameron (from Rabble.ca)
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Posted by Graham on 28th May 2008
–More on food distribution crisis analysis.
Posted in Articles, Economics/Trade, World | Leave a Comment