GPJA #430: Part 2. International news & Analysis – 15/6/12

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“I suppose I arrived at my charitable commitment largely through guilt. I recognized early on that my good fortune was not due to superior personal character or initiative so much as it was to dumb luck.” George Kaiser, billionaire American businessman, World’s Top Givers, Gulf Business, June 6, 2012

STATS OF THE WEEK

The annual report (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/09intop400.pdf), which the IRS typically releases with a two-year delay, covers the 400 tax returns reporting the highest incomes in 2009. These families reported an average income of $202.4 million, down for the second year as the Great Recession slashed their capital gains. In addition to the six who paid no tax, another 110 families paid 15 percent or less in federal income taxes. That’s the same federal tax rate as a single worker who made $61,500 in 2009. Overall, the top 400 paid an average income tax rate of 19.9 percent, the same rate paid by a single worker who made $110,000 in 2009. The top 400 earned five times that much every day.

The six heirs to the Wal-Mart empire possess a combined wealth of some $90 billion, the equivalent to the wealth of the entire bottom 30 percent of U.S. society, about 95 million people.

FEATURES

Political Crisis, the Left and the Possibility of a New Historical Bloc by Panagiotis Sotiris http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/648.php#continue

Protest is Coming to the London Olympics – This Nation article describes the International Olympics Committee (IOC) as the 1% of the 1%, and refers to the 2012 Olympics as a corporate cornucopia. http://www.globalpolicy.org/mercenary-companies/51663-protest-is-coming-to-the-london-olympics.html?itemid=id#720

The Militarization of Poverty in Africa: African nations stretching from Guinea-Bissau to Somalia are subject to war, coups, and large-scale demonstrations. http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/us-military-expansion-and-intervention/africa-general-analysis/51672-the-militarization-of-poverty-in-africa.html?itemid=id#1403

George Monbiot: People haven’t turned to the right. They just don’t vote http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/11/voters-have-not-turned-right

Dead Civilians in Libya, Afghanistan http://www.thenation.com/blog/168336/dead-civilians-libya-afghanistan

What’s the Matter With Creationism? http://www.thenation.com/article/168385/whats-matter-creationism?rel=emailNation‘

CULTURAL DISSENT

Book Review: Hamid Dabashi, The Arab Spring: The End of Postcolonialism. London and New York: Zed Books, 2012. http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/5858/new-texts-out-now_hamid-dabashi-the-arab-spring_th

Poetry: Words of Defiance by Chanz Mikaere http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/18039

Song: Solidarity Forever (Pete Seeger)

Book Review: The Palestine Nakba: Decolonising History, Narrating the Subaltern, Reclaiming Memory http://tinyurl.com/7gacuy2

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Greek Election Signals New Stage in Social and Economic Crisis http://tinyurl.com/7kgskh2

IMF Chief Praises Latvian "Success Story" – A Scary Speech for the Eurozone http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/07/christine-lagarde-perverse-praise-latvia-economic-success

Austerity has never worked – It’s not just about the current economic environment. History shows that slashing budgets always leads to recession http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/04/austerity-policy-eurozone-crisis

Banned TED Talk: Nick Hanauer "Rich people don’t create jobs"

Joseph Stiglitz: Spain Bank Bailout ‘Not Going To Work’ http://tinyurl.com/7w36nof

Reports from the Economic Front by Martin Hart-Landsberg: The Shrinking Government http://tinyurl.com/6nntppb

The International Misery Fund – Following IMF chief Christine Lagarde’s controversial attacks on the Greek people, Tony McKenna explains why the IMF causes damage worldwide http://tinyurl.com/btcjrft

Learning the wrong lessons from Latvia – Using the Baltic state’s austerity programmes as an example for the rest of Europe is wrongheaded, says author. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/06/201261491252698335.html

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIROMENT

The people of the world confront the advance of capitalism: Rio +20 and beyond – La Via Campesina Position Paper http://climateandcapitalism.com/2012/06/06/the-people-of-the-world-confront-the-advance-of-capitalism-rio-20-and-beyond/

Capitalism and Indigenous Peoples http://newproposals.blogspot.co.nz/2011/12/vol-5-no-1-2011.html

AUSTRALIA

Australian Aboriginals call money-management policy racist http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1208523–australian-aboriginals-call-money-management-policy-racist?bn=1

US bases in Australia a setback for peace http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/49600

Yolŋuw Makarr Dhuni (Yolŋu Nations Assembly) Yolŋuw Makarr Dhuni represents the people of 8 Aboriginal nations in the Western, Central

and East Arnhem Land areas of the Northern Territory: Miwatj, Laynha, Raminy, Marthakal, Garriny, Gumurr‐Rawarraŋ, Gaṯtjirrik and

Miḏiyirrk. Their statement can be read here: http://concernedaustralians.com.au/media/Stronger_Futures_Statement_Yolngu.pdf

Huge Victorian strike shows teachers determined to win http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51292

BRAZIL

Brazil workers exploited as modern-day Amazon slaves http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-brazil-slave-labor-20120607,0,6915794.story

CAMBODIA

Poor villagers shot, arrested in land evictions http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51279

CANADA

Quebec Students Spark Mass Protests Against Austerity http://www.thenation.com/article/168355/quebec-students-spark-mass-protests-against-austerity?rel=emailNation

Where Next for the Quebec Mobilizations? Debate Opens on Strategic Perspectives by Richard Fidler http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/650.php

Montreal police raid home of MNA Amir Khadir, arrest his daughter http://www.rogerannis.com/police-search-home-of-family-of-mna-amir-khadir-arrest-his-daughter/

Public Health Care in Ontario Under Attack – Ontario Health Coalition Town Hall http://www.socialistproject.ca/leftstreamed/ls143.php

Quebec: Making War on Our Children by J. F. Conway http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/651.php#continue

CHILE

Chile protesters rally against Pinochet film

CHINA

Dozens arrested after riot at Foxconn plant in Chengdu http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20120606000112&cid=1102

Why are iPhone workers rioting? An open letter to Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO http://sumofus.org/campaigns/apple-uprising/?sub=fb

COLOMBIA

Analysis: The Patriotic March http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/news/article/1239/Analysis:-The-Patriotic-March

The appalling record of human rights abuses, particularly those against union activists, continues to make Colombia the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist, writes Bryan Nott. http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/news/article/1248/bryan-nott-article-on-colombia-in-labour-research

CUBA

Teófilo Stevenson: the amateur boxer who chose Cuba over a million dollars http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/13/teofilo-stevenson-amateur-boxer-cuba

EGYPT

Egypt’s supreme court dissolves parliament and outrages Islamists http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/14/egypt-parliament-dissolved-supreme-court

FRANCE

French politics after the fall of Sarkozy http://links.org.au/node/2902

GREECE

Greece and the European Crisis http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/theory/37-theory/15825-greece-and-the-european-crisis

Massive Anti Fascist protests across Greece http://reelnews.co.uk/massive-anti-fascist-protests-across-greece/ See ALSO http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/08/greek-police-golden-dawn

Save us from the saviours – Slavoj Žižek on Europe and the Greeks http://www.lrb.co.uk/v34/n11/slavoj-zizek/save-us-from-the-saviours

Slavoj Žižek’s speach in SYRIZA’s event http://www.left.gr/article.php?id=1985

The making of SYRIZA http://socialistworker.org/2012/06/11/the-making-of-syriza

The Economic Program of SYRIZA-EKM by G. Dragasakis http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/653.php

Greece and Our Illusions – Challenging the Tyranny of Corporate Rule by Samir Sonti http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/654.php

HONDURAS

Soccer, Imperialism, and Resistance in Honduras by Tyler Shipley http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/649.php#continue

INDIA

India exports food while millions starve http://climateandcapitalism.com/2012/05/28/india-exports-food-while-millions-starve/

LIBYA

Is Libya Cracking Up? Nicolas Pelham http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/jun/21/libya-cracking/

After Gaddafi, Libya splits into disparate militia zones – The rebel strongholds of Benghazi, Misrata and Zintan have become increasingly independent of Tripoli’s new regime http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/10/libya-split-between-militias

Libyan Cement Company strike: an in-depth report http://www.libyaherald.com/libyan-cement-company-strike-an-in-depth-report/

Convulsions in Libya by Vijay Prashad http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/5856/convulsions-in-libya

If there were global justice, Nato would be in the dock over Libya http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/15/global-justice-nato-libya

MEXICO

In Protests and Online, a Youth Movement Seeks to Sway Mexico’s Election http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/in-protests-and-online-the-yosoy132-movement-seeks-to-sway-mexicos-election/

Student Protests in Mexico Help Escalate Popularity of Leftist Presidential candidate http://highbrowmagazine.com/1225-student-protests-mexico-help-escalate-popularity-leftist-presidential-hopeful

The ‘Mexican spring:’ A new student movement stirs in Mexico http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2012/0531/The-Mexican-spring-A-new-student-movement-stirs-in-Mexico

NIGERIA

The Looting of Nigeria – This Counterpunch article discusses how western companies are looting Nigeria’s oil while the majority of the country is living in poverty. http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/198-natural-resources/51658-the-looting-of-nigeria.html

PACIFIC

Kanak solidarity group condemns ‘organised genocide’ in West Papua http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/06/kanak-solidarity-group-condemns-organised-genocide-in-west-papua/

Kontras challenges Indonesian military, spy roles in wake of Papuan killings http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/06/kontras-challenges-indonesian-military-intelligence-roles-in-wake-of-papuan-killings/

Secret Australian plan to invade Fiji revelation may deepen rift http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/06/secret-australian-plan-to-invade-fiji-revelation-may-deepen-rift/

PALESTINE

Malaysian team heads to Gaza with international partners http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/malaysian-team-heads-to-gaza-with-international-partners/

Eleven Israeli air strikes on Gaza in past week, three dead http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/eleven-israeli-air-strikes-on-gaza-in-past-week-three-dead/

Think of Others: In Gaza’s darkness, Mahmoud Darwish’s words provide inspiration http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/shahd-abusalama/think-others-gazas-darkness-mahmoud-darwishs-words-provide-inspiration

How hunger strikers "tied the hands of the occupation": a view from Israeli prison http://electronicintifada.net/content/how-hunger-strikers-tied-hands-occupation-view-israeli-prison/11379

Africans fear more violence as Knesset members incite racism in Tel Aviv http://electronicintifada.net/content/africans-fear-more-violence-knesset-members-incite-racism-tel-aviv/11386

Israel’s West Bank wall annexes Palestinian land the size of Chicago: Help bring it down http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/israels-west-bank-wall-annexes-palestinian-land-size-chicago-help-bring-it-down

Palestinian labor expresses solidarity with European trade unions resisting austerity, supporting BDS measures http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/michael-deas/palestinian-labor-expresses-solidarity-european-trade-unions-resisting-austerity

Israeli and Palestinian women breach the wall http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/06/12/israeli-and-palestinian-women-breach-the-wall/

PHILIPPINES

Protests hit Philippines-Australia military deal

SPAIN

Spain: A Spiral of Crisis, Cuts and Indignacion by Luke Stobart and Joel Sans http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/652.php#continue

Striking Spanish miners battle police: RAW VIDEO: Spanish miners use homemade rocket launchers as they cut off a highway duting a nationwide strike by unions opposed to government cuts. http://media.theage.com.au/selections/striking-spanish-miners-battle-police-3371194.html

Spanish miners battle to defend jobs + VIDEOS http://www.marxist.com/spanish-miners-struggle.htm

Striking miners battle austerity cuts in Spain – Spanish miners have been on strike over recent cuts for more than two weeks, clashing almost every day with the Spanish police and Civil Guard. http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-15749633/striking-miners-battle-austerity-cuts-in-spain-29631021.html

SYRIA

Syria: The Citadel & the War BY Charles Glass http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/jun/07/syria-citadel-war/

In Syria, Foreign Intervention Will Only Shed More Blood – The US and its Gulf allies are already fuelling sectarian conflict in their proxy war with Iran. The fallout could be disastrous by Seumas Milne http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/06/06-5

Houla massacre work of anti-Assad militants, says Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung http://www.ufppc.org/us-a-world-news-mainmenu-35/11029/

Propaganda Is the Name of the Game in Media Reports of Atrocities in Syria by Jeremy R. Hammond http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2012/06/09/propaganda-is-the-name-of-the-game-in-media-reports-of-atrocities-in-syria/

THAILAND

ITF backs ‘debt bondage’ petition: The ITF is joining UNI Global Union in supporting a petition demanding that the retail giant Walmart investigates allegations of grave abuses taking place in some of its suppliers’ factories in Thailand. The petition, which has so far attracted nearly 98,000 supporters, was drawn up after a reported revolt in a shrimp processing factory in Thailand, where foreign workers alleged that their passports had been seized and their wages slashed – leaving them in debt to the factory and with the status of indentured labourers.

Liz Blackshaw, programme leader of the joint ITF/IUF From Catcher to Counter programme, commented: “These are deeply disturbing allegations and they need an urgent response. Walmart must now act to ensure that these factories are promptly and independently checked.” The petition can be seen at http://sumofus.org/campaigns/shrimp/?ak_proof=1&akid=.198998.7Y8NPi&rd=1&sub=fwd&t=1. For more about the Catcher to Counter programme see www.itfglobal.org/fish/index.cfm

UK

Tory vilification campaign against the poor is so clever by Polly Toynbee http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/11/tory-vilification-poor-child-poverty

USA

Obama’s Kill List: Silence Is Not an Option http://www.thenation.com/article/168271/obamas-kill-list

Walker’s victory, un-sugar-coated http://lbo-news.com/2012/06/06/walkers-victory-un-sugar-coated/

Wisconsin: game over? http://lbo-news.com/2011/06/24/wisconsin-game-over/

It’s One Person, One Vote, Not 1 Percent, One Vote http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/06/07-0

Family Net Worth Drops to Level of Early ’90s, Fed Says http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/business/economy/family-net-worth-drops-to-level-of-early-90s-fed-says.html?_r=2&ref=business

Why We Should All Root for the Miami Heat Dave Zirin http://www.thenation.com/blog/168311/why-we-should-all-root-miami-heat

Deploying Informants, the FBI Stings Muslims http://www.thenation.com/article/168380/deploying-informants-fbi-stings-muslims?rel=emailNation

Obama Trade Document Leaked, Revealing New Corporate Powers And Broken Campaign Promises http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/13/obama-trade-document-leak_n_1592593.html

Breaking ’08 Pledge, Leaked Trade Doc Shows Obama Wants to Help Corporations Avoid Regulations http://www.democracynow.org/2012/6/14/breaking_08_pledge_leaked_trade_doc

VENEZUELA

Venezuela Happiest Country in South America http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/7044

Venezuela: how democracy and social progress are transforming a nation. FREE TO DOWNLOAD. http://left-click.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1011&Itemid=58

VIETNAM

Vietnam’s dilemma http://links.org.au/node/2891

YEMEN

Garbage workers and the struggle for workers rights in Yemen http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/5788/garbage-collectors-and-the-struggle-for-workers-ri

Starving and Broke: Yemen’s Renewed ‘War on Terror’: This Middle East Online article discusses the root causes of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The country’s natural resources and its strategic port of Aden have, throughout history, been subject to foreign influences which have often fuelled violent conflicts http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/247-yemen/51673-starving-and-broke-yemens-renewed-war-on-terror.html