–The Venezuelan government responds to the Human Rights Watch report. The main thing that exposes the report for being complete junk is the charge that the State is interfering with freedom of association. The fact that the number of unionized workers has increase, that there are now 2 national trade-union that have opposing political alliances, and that co-ops and corporations under worker-control have dramatically increased in number flies in the face of the conclusions of the report. The criticisms in the report read like a talking points memo from the opposition groups, all of which have been responded to and discredited.

–Some myths in the Human Rights Watch report exposed. The Venezuelan people have a growing and functioning democratic system. Silly reports that offer no history, context, or analysis for their liberal criticisms from people who oppose the socialist process underway in Venezuela offer next to nothing. The people of Venezuela need less intervention from external and uninvolved liberal organizations, not more.

–Privatization of public services has had a real cost on people. Have a read of a report by the public sector union in Britain.

–There is a reason that the Left cannot make more headway during this political crisis in the West. The reason is that many on the Left bought into the dominant liberal, free-market ideology; bought into the idea that there is some way for capitalism not to lead to despair for the working people; some way to avoid crisis. The reality is that capitalism will always swing wildly between good and bad, it is its nature. We must always propose the alternative.

–The Public Service Alliance of Canada is trying to warn Canadians what the real policies of the Conservatives are when it comes to public safety. Consumers will be exposed to “self-regulated” safety inspections (Orwellian double-speak if ever there was any).

–Chomsky writes about the latest excuse for imperialism in the mainstream press. The excuses change, but the effects remain the same.

–One does have to wonder how the blockade on Cuba getting supplies imposed y the US is really achieving any objective than making the US leadership look even more silly.

–The mainstream, corporate media is setting the stage for war with Iran by trying to convince the people of the West that the leadership in Iran are crazy. The strange thing is, our leadership seem to be more crazy to most of the world. Iran is not a threat to anyone unless the US starts threatening it.

–Is this how we are going to treat workers that stand up for their rights?

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Join the Committee for Just Education (CJE) and our Allies as we mobilize against increasing university fees and the policing of dissent at the University of Toronto. The CJE will be holding a rally and assembly on Tuesday September 23rd at 4 pm outside of the cancelled University Affairs Board meeting.

–Exposing the absurdity of the US position on attacking targets within Pakistan. The statements are real, but the roles are reversed.

–The battle continues to be between those that have all the wealth and those that deserve the wealth. It is hard to imagine that there is a reason that the rich can give for violently trying to steal the nations natural resources that would actually gain them sympathy from anyone.

–The lack of justice continues.

–Just stupid. This is an attack on low-income people, that’s all. We need to build a community that actually cares about each other, not one that relies on and rewards tattle-tale neighbours with nothing better to do than complain about other people’s mess. We have real problems in this province, but our counselors seem to think that this is what the people want our representatives talking about? Seriously, talk about a crisis of leadership.

–NUPGE releases an analysis of the “Doing Business” report from the World Bank. We have talked about this before on Leftnews.org but it is good to rehash. The policy brief is just about the most regressive thing to come out of that agency in the recent memory. To follow it means that countries will have to undermine their international labour standards set by the International Labour Organization. More can be found on this by the International Trade Union Confederation.

–Read the statement and sign the petition in support of CUPE 1281 workers!

–The Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists, the union for actors and radio personalities, has responded to the Harper cuts of their sector of the economy. The reality is that Canada will lose its identity if we allow the Harper government to continue to govern the way that they have. The Conservatives represent a small subset of the population and if they continue to rule like they have a majority we will see the aspects of this country that working people have struggled for over the last century disappear over night.

–The government of the US continues to claim that it is not funding opposition groups in Latin America. Everyone knows that this is not true. The government should disclose the interference it causing in Latin America.

–“Doing Business” is one of the worst policy projects to come out of the World Bank in recent memory. It continues the line of bad, discredited policy from this institution that has lead to increased inequality and failed economic reforms. Countries cannot abide by “Doing Business” if they are also to follow internationally ratified regulations as outlined by the International Labour Organization — the tripartite organization of the UN which works to standardize fundamental labour rights.

–More on the United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

FIRST CALL FOR THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF POETRY OF RESISTANCE

IN HONOUR OF THE CUBAN FIVE
Anti-terrorist fighters now imprisoned in the U.S.A.

The Co-ordinating Committee of the First International Festival of Poetry of Resistance issues a CALL to organizations, unions, associations, ethno-cultural groups, societies and individuals to gather together to celebrate resistance in various forms. The Committee also calls on all other constituencies to participate in the Festival to campaign in favour of justice for the dispossessed, the voiceless and the wounded and in defense of our environment for a world of peace with justice. This Festival co-incides with National Poetry Month in Toronto, in Canada and internationally.

We do this to promote opposition to a culture of war, violence, and greed, and to promote an end to racism and discrimination.

The Festival will encourage popular participation in creative processes which celebrate the life, needs and dreams of the common people and of their communities. We also hope it provides a space where cultural differences make us richer and where we can create without competition.

Through poetry, performance, film, visual arts, sounds, signs, music, ceremonial songs, myths, stories and events in public and other spaces, we hope to be part of the world movement of people who choose poetry and other creative expressions as a way to resist destructive globalization and to participate in a collective dream, voice and space to make a better world for everybody.

We seek representation and participation from the diverse communities nestled in so many parts of Toronto, the province and the country. Each has a role to play in this project because each has a rich history of poetry of resistance. By presenting activities during that week, communities will get to know each other and share the common goals of peace with resistance to injustice.

Statement of Principles

The organizers of the Festival believe that international solidarity can bring about cultural development for a world of peace. The diversity of our planet is to be cherished and celebrated, not marginalized or destroyed by the greed of a few. We believe that diversity is the soul of creative self-determination, individually, communally and globally.

This solidarity is what can bring justice to and freedom for the Cuban Five: Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labanino, Rene Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez – who tried to prevent terrorist attacks originating from southern Florida. They are now in their tenth year of imprisonment as political prisoners in the United States and this Festival honours them as symbols of courage, dignity and the world-wide struggle for peace with justice.

Well-known personalities, including Nobel Prize winners and members of parliaments of different countries, including Canada, who have already publicly endorsed the appeal for freedom for the Cuban Five, are found at the end of this Call.

Our suggestions to proceed:

1.-Please approach constituencies, organizations, societies, individuals, etc. to participate in this Festival in agreement with the aims and goals;

2.-Discuss the form, content, locale, etc. of your presentation(s) for the Week of Poetry of Resistance and let the organizers know with summaries of event(s) planned: Get in touch with Lisa Makarchuk or Maria Elena Mesa Mejia at the following email addresses or telephone number: lisamakarchuk@sympatico.ca (416-603 9858) or m_e_mesa@yahoo.ca

3.-We expect to publish a programme for the Festival including summaries of events, information about the Five; general information, advertising, etc. This will be a vehicle by which you can highlight your group, organization, etc. locally, nationally and internationally.

4.-We are expecting to have performances representing diverse communities and constituencies in various venues around Toronto at which some of the visiting international poets may attend and take part. An international Jury will choose to publish some of the poetry presented at the Festival. We also are expecting to publish an anthology of some of the poems in honour of the Festival.

“In the end, we shall repose free and victorious in that sun that for now is being denied to us…”
-Antonio Guerrero Rodriguez-one of the Cuban Five, poet

Environmental organizations are calling on the provincial government to host public information sessions on its two new forestry reports in New Brunswick’s major population centers before the public comment period closes on October 3rd. Public information sessions with the reports lead authors are planned for five communities that are considered to be forest-dependent. However, members of the Crown Lands Network are concerned that the majority of New Brunswick’s citizens in most of its cities are being excluded.

“A real public consultation process needs an informed public. Limiting the public information sessions to mill towns will leave the vast majority of New Brunswickers uniformed. Crown Lands Network member groups are calling on the government to add information sessions in all of the cities, so at least people there can have the same opportunity to become informed. Decisions made based on these reports will shape the future of our public forests for the next century,” commented Florian Levesque, President of Environnement Vie.