Pam Martens has examined two versions of the now rejected bailout. Her findings are astonishing.

“The bailout proposal was so fluid that while I was reading its 106 pages at the web site of CNNMoney on Sunday evening, September 28, 2008, the screen went blank at 7:59 PM. Minutes later, I was reading a different version of the proposal, which had now grown to 110 pages. Fortunately, I had printed out a hard copy of the earlier version and went line by line to see what the Wall Street banksters were up to.”

“Kenya has insisted that the shipment was destined for its military. But other sources, including a US navy spokesman, said it was bound for the autonomous government of South Sudan, in possible contravention of a peace accord.”

Somali pirates have taken control of a Ukrainian ship carrying 33 T-72 tanks and an unknown amount of ammunition and other arms destined for an undisclosed African country. Yet the corporate-media is focussed only on the fact that the Arms trading has been disrupted.

“Rightwing populism has gained ground amid fears of unfettered immigration and anxieties about crime and social security abuses by foreigners”

Some more details of the $700 billion bailout plan and why it was not a viable solution.

“Indeed, the $700 billion is just part of a massive “pump and dump” scheme engineered with the tacit approval of the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve. Once the banksters have offloaded their fraudulent securities and crappy paper on Uncle Sam, they will do whatever they need to do pad the bottom line and drive their stocks up. That means they will shovel capital into hard assets, foreign currencies, gold, interest rate swaps, carry trade swindles, and Swiss bank accounts. The notion that they will recapitalize so they can provide loans to US consumers and businesses in a slumping economy is a pipedream.”

–Carried out by what the right-wing in the US calls its electoral base. The far right can only be opposed with more education, more social services, and more community strength.

–Canada’s legal system finally acknowledges the will of the people and the historical legal position of Canada to be a home for those that oppose illegal war.

–The “free market” system doesn’t work — or more accurately, it is prone to exactly this kind of crisis. We found this out over a century ago. What is absolutely stunning is that any of this is a surprise to anyone.

–We need governments who support policy that protect workers and pay, not undermine them.

–Support the faculty.

–Botz answers the question around what it means for a capitalist party system to nationalize banks. I will give you a hint: it is the opposite of what Marx meant.

–An interview with Finkelstein on the right-wing attacks on academic freedom in Western universities.

–Crazy.

“[T]he 444-article document — Ecuador’s 20th constitution — prohibits discrimination, respects private property, will increase spending on health care and the poor, and enshrines more rights for indigenous groups. In a country rich with ecological treasures, including the Galapagos Islands and part of the Amazon rain forest, the constitution also calls on government to avoid measures that would destroy ecosystems or drive species to extinction — the first such measure of its kind, according to Ecuadoran officials. The constitution would allow civil unions for gay couples.”

–This weekend, Fredericton will host the 2008 New Brunswick Social Forum a weekend of exciting and informative panel discussions, workshops and booths stocked with materials that are intended to enlighten and motivate the public on a variety of issues of burning concern, from language rights and tax reforms in New Brunswick to global environmental and social injustices.

The 2008 New Brunswick Social Forum will be taking place at the N.B. Sports Hall of Fame (503 Queen St.) from 10 am to 4pm.

7pm, Friday, Sept 26 at Conserver House, 180 St. John St.

The Water Front is the story of one community’s determination to fight the seemingly inevitable path of water privatization. The film raises questions such as; Who determines the future of shared public resources? What are alternatives to water privatization? How will we maintain our public water systems and who can we hold accountable? The film is free and so is the popcorn. Donations are encouraged. For more info, contact fredericton@cinemapolitica.org or visit: http://www.cinemapolitica.org/films/366

*SPECIAL GUESTS FROM EL SALVADOR* Lourdes Palacio and Chico Montes have both been involved with campaigns to stop the privatization of water in El Salvador. Lourdes Palacio is a FMLN Congresswoman at the National Assembly El Salvador. At an early age Lourdes joined the Salvadorian popular movement. She has worked extensively in community development programs both in urban and rural areas. Lourdes has worked hand in hand with communities to put pressure on the streets and from the national assembly to make sure life and rights of people are put first before quick profits and environmental damages caused by mining operations in El Salvador. Lourdes is working actively now with the FMLN’s presidential campaign January and March 2009. Chico Montes has worked in El Salvador with campesino communities. Chico joined the Salvadorian popular movement in 1977. He has worked as a popular educator, communication worker and organizer. He is founder of ADES — Santa Marta’s Social and Economic Development Association. Chico has worked actively with local communities to stop the advancement of Canadian mining companies. For more information on Chico or Lourdes’ visit to the Maritimes. contact Ronald Chavez at: 902.495.7067 or email chavez17s@yahoo.ca

–Monthly Review’s continuing analysis of the current market crises.

–An in depth look at US NGOs and questions why anyone would take what they say without a grain of salt.

There is nothing in this new report that is new, let alone so urgent that it justified an early release by five months. Vivanco repeats past criticism of the Chavez government regarding the judiciary, the media and labor unions and his critique doesn’t bear inspection. These are old chestnuts. Vivanco’s blustering about the judiciary has been debunked; it’s exactly how FDR rehabilitated a stacked Supreme Court. Vivanco’s support for the Uribe government, which leads the world in murdering labor organizers, disqualifies him from commenting ever again on the state of Venezuela’s official relations with labor unions. His championing of RCTV, who tried to get Chavez killed during the 2002 coup they hosted in their studio, has been rebutted by F.A.I.R. and condemned by leading intellectuals around the world.

–The rumblings will not go away so long as the world doesn’t get valid information from the media about what is actually going on in Venezuela.

–It is important for people to get the full story around Human Rights Watch being kicked out of Venezuela. HRW’s report is nothing but anti-Bolivarian Process propaganda; full of accusations that have been exposed as untrue by real human rights organizations.

–The movement needs to be louder on this issue or the right-wing is going to continue to dismantle the rights of women (along with everyone else).

–The Conservatives are not on the same page as most Canadians when it comes to putting human rights before profit.

–Saskatchewan Federation of Labour: protecting workers rights.