GPJA #445 (Part 3/3): International news & Analysis – 14/11/12

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 

FEATURES

Jeffrey D. Sachs: The Lost Generations http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/education–nutrition–and-health-care-are-the-best-investments-by-jeffrey-d–sachs

Who Owns the World? Noam Chomsky on U.S.-Fueled Dangers, from Climate Change to Nuclear Weapons http://www.democracynow.org/2012/10/26/who_owns_the_world_noam_chomsky

Monopoly Is Theft: The antimonopolist history of the world’s most popular board game http://harpers.org/blog/2012/10/monopoly-is-theft/

The case for legalizing pot http://www.salon.com/2012/11/05/the_case_for_legalizing_pot/

From Mexico to Moscow, the World Turns On to U.S. Marijuana Legalization http://world.time.com/2012/11/08/from-mexico-to-moscow-the-world-turns-on-to-u-s-marijuana-legalization/#ixzz2BibhiloS

The Real Reason America Used Nuclear Weapons Against Japan. It Was Not To End the War Or Save Lives. http://www.filmsforaction.org/news/the_real_reason_america_used_nuclear_weapons_against_japan_it_was_not_to_end_the_war_or_save_lives/

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIRONMENT

How the one percent conjured a monster storm http://socialistworker.org/2012/10/30/1-percent-conjure-a-monster-storm

Climate change role in ‘frankenstorm’ cannot be ignored http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52663

La Via Campesina: Food Sovereignty and the Global Feminist Struggle by Esther Vivas http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/719.php

Sandy kills dozens in Haiti, leaves trail of Caribbean devastation http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52677

Europe’s trees: Victims of climate neglect and global capitalist trade http://www.rogerannis.com/europes-trees-victims-of-climate-neglect-and-global-capitalist-trade/

East and west, monster storms mainly kill the poor http://climateandcapitalism.com/2012/11/05/monster-storms-mainly-kill-the-poor/

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

“The rich and the rest”: American inequality is a tale of two countries http://www.economist.com/node/21564418

Lies of Plutocracy: Exploding Five Myths that Dehumanize the Poor http://truth-out.org/news/item/12264-lies-of-plutocracy-exploding-five-myths-that-dehumanize-the-poor

The Real Winners and Losers of Globalization By Branko Milanovic http://www.theglobalist.com/storyid.aspx?storyid=9788

Super Rich Hide $21 Trillion Offshore, Study Says http://www.forbes.com/sites/frederickallen/2012/07/23/super-rich-hide-21-trillion-offshore-study-says/

Reports from the Economic Front by Martin Hart-Landsberg: We Need More Worker Power http://blogs.lclark.edu/hart-landsberg/2012/11/04/we-need-more-worker-power/

Inequality: The silly tales economists like to tell http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/10/2012102915021526447.html

Outrageous fortunes abound in study of the mega-rich http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10846318

CULTURAL DISSENT

Book review: A family history firmly rooted in Jerusalem’s soil http://electronicintifada.net/content/book-review-family-history-firmly-rooted-jerusalems-soil/11839

Book Review: The Rich Don’t Always Win: The Forgotten Triumph over Plutocracy that Created the American Middle Class, 1900–1970 http://catalog.sevenstories.com/products/rich-dont-always-win

Music: Playing for Change – Revolution

AUSTRALIA

Divide And Conquer On Victorian Worksites http://newmatilda.com/2012/10/24/victoria-antiunion-state

Despairing refugees protest, self-harm on Nauru http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52629

Brutal police actions led to death http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52653

170 asylum seekers go on hunger strike in Nauru http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/170-asylum-seekers-go-on-hunger-strike-in-nauru-20121101-28m2o.html

Nauru hunger striker calls for freedom

Cleaners take on the big end of town

Prime Minister’s report on Afghanistan ‘offensive’, troops must leave now http://stopwarcoalition.org/prime-ministers-report-on-afghanistan-offensive-troops-must-leave-now/

GREEN LEFT REPORT #9: Feminism’s resurgence, Venezuela’s revolution and more http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EYyC9gv4ziQ

Grocon found to have underpaid workers http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/grocon-found-to-have-underpaid-workers-20121104-28s5x.html

BOLIVIA

Bolivia condemns UN’s pro-market policy on biodiversity http://boliviarising.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/bolivia-condemns-uns-pro-market-policy.html

Bolivia breaks the mold in ‘war on drugs’ http://boliviarising.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/bolivia-breaks-mold-in-war-on-drugs.html

Large agribusiness urge rethink on Mother Earth law, ban on genetically modified seeds in Bolivia http://boliviarising.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/large-agribusiness-urge-rethink-on.html

BRAZIL

‘Kill us all, then bury us here’: desperate appeal of Indians facing eviction http://www.indymedia.org.au/2012/10/26/%E2%80%98kill-us-all-then-bury-us-here%E2%80%99-desperate-appeal-of-indians-facing-eviction

CANADA

Afghanistan war vets file class-action suit against federal government http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/national/Afghanistan+vets+file+classaction+suit+against+federal+government/7471770/story.html

Brighter Prospects – For Cheap Labour – OCAP Statement on the Report of the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/721.php

Quebec Student Leader Convicted in Outrageous Political Trial by Richard Fidler http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/722.php

A Movement Against Tar Sands Oil, Pipelines and Tankers is on the Rise in Canada by Roger Annis http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/720.php

Temporary workers in Canada ‘without rights’ Guatemalans tour to tell of dangers of program http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Temporary+workers+Canada+without+rights/7501410/story.html

Frustration of veterans, widows casts shadow on Remembrance Day http://www.thespec.com/news/canada/article/833170–frustration-of-veterans-widows-casts-shadow-on-remembrance-day

CHILE

Chile’s Most Wanted: Branded a ‘terrorist’ by the Chilean government, one man is fighting to save his ancestral lands from destruction. http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/activate/2012/10/2012101413448886855.html

CHINA

The People’s Premier: Wen Jiabao, the outgoing prime minister of China, is state-run media’s favorite populist leader. But a New York Times investigation reveals that he is the head of one of China’s wealthiest families. http://www.nytimes.com/video/2012/10/25/business/global/100000001856229/the-peoples-premier.html

Foxconn tragedy highlights the anger and mistrust of many migrant workers http://www.clb.org.hk/en/node/110159

China’s ‘bureaucratic capitalism’ http://links.org.au/node/3096

CUBA

Cuba and the Hurricane http://cubacentral.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/cuba-and-the-hurricane/

The legacy of the October 1962 Missile Crisis http://links.org.au/node/3073

 

CZECH REPUBLIC

Czech Elections: “No” to Austerity and “Yes” to Strengthening the Left by Jiri Málek http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/716.php

ECUADOR

Rafael Correa speaks on ‘Citizen’s Revolution’ http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52788

Correa responds to ‘leftist’ critics http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52789

GREECE

‘Left must unite against austerity, fascism’ http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52729

Turning Despair Into Hate by Shaun Harkin http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/715.php

Are Greek police ‘colluding’ with far-right Golden Dawn? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19983575

Greek unemployed cut off from medicine http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1025/breaking29.html#.UImymGvgY4k.twitter

Love or nothing: The real Greek parallel with Weimar http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-20105881

Fear and loathing in Athens: the rise of Golden Dawn and the far right http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/26/golden-dawn-greece-far-right?newsfeed=true

“The Greek people are currently at the epicenter of the capitalist crisis.” Speech at the Syriza youth festival in Athens by Eric Toussaint http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article26700

Unions call 48-hour strike to protest latest austerity measures http://mobile.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/121031/greece-unions-call-48-hour-strike-protest-latest-austerity-measu

Greek free speech editor Kostas Vaxevanis acquitted over leaked ‘tax evader’ list http://cafepacific.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/greek-free-speech-editor-kostas.html

GRENADA

A Bitter Anniversary: Remembering the Invasion of Grenada https://nacla.org/blog/2012/10/22/bitter-anniversary-remembering-invasion-grenada

HAITI

Paramilitarism in the Age of Democracy by Michael Barker http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/718.php

INDIA

Hyundai Motors India workers on strike http://www.industriall-union.org/hyundai-motors-india-workers-on-strike

INDONESIA

Indonesia indigenous peoples: We exist! http://ww4report.com/node/11651

IRAQ

The victims of Fallujah’s health crisis are stifled by western silence http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/25/fallujah-iraq-health-crisis-silence

IRAN

The unfolding human catastrophe in Iran – Sanctions imposed on Iran’s banks and financial institutions could lead to a humanitarian crisis. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/10/20121023101710641121.html.

ITALY

Italians protest against austerity on ‘No Monti Day’

KENYA

Kenya: Successful conclusion to talks, teachers back at work http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/news_details/2308/

PACIFIC

The Diplomacy Of Decolonisation – Decolonisation might not look like a hot-button issue but after our Security Council win we’ll have to start taking it seriously in the Pacific, writes Nic Maclellan http://newmatilda.com/2012/10/24/diplomacy-decolonisation

The diplomacy of decolonisation 2 – Australia siding with France in the Pacific http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/articles/diplomacy-decolonisation-2-australia-siding-france-pacific

Indonesia’s president faces protests over Papua crimes http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52771

PALESTINE

Huge police force fails to stop students disrupting Israeli diplomat’s speech at Scottish university http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/huge-police-force-fails-stop-students-disrupting-israeli-diplomats-speech

Before Their Diaspora — Palestinian scholar’s monumental pictorial history now available online http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/their-diaspora-palestinian-scholars-monumental-pictorial-history-now-available

Israel forces mother to bring up children by phone http://electronicintifada.net/content/israel-forces-mother-bring-children-phone/11845

“Boycott businesses that profit from Israeli settlements” – United Nations Special Rapporteur http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1210/S00219/boycott-businesses-that-profit-from-israeli-settlements.htm

22 NGOs call for EU ban on Israeli settler products http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/22-ngos-call-for-eu-ban-on-israeli-settler-products/

Video: As distraught villagers watch, Israel destroys homes with Caterpillar, Hyundai equipment http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/video-distraught-villagers-watch-israel-destroys-homes-caterpillar-hyundai

From factories to farms, labor union champions rights of Palestinians in Israel http://972mag.com/from-factories-to-farms-labor-union-champions-rights-of-palestinians-in-israel/58933/

PHILIPPINES

Edita Burgos decries Aquino’s ‘insensitivity’ to victims of rights abuses http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/10/26/edita-burgos-decries-aquino%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98insensitivity%E2%80%99-to-victims-of-rights-abuses/

‘Kill’ EO 546 asap http://opinion.inquirer.net/39626/kill-eo-546-asap

The 40-year road to peace in Mindanao http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/11/philippines-the-40-year-road-to-peace-in-mindanao/

PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico elections: New Partido del Pueblo Trabajador to challege neoliberal parties http://links.org.au/node/3080

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa’s Zuma, Tested by Mining Crisis, Faces Scandal Close to Home http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/world/africa/south-africas-zumatested-by-mining-crisis-faces-scandal-close-to-home.html

SPAIN

Two-party breakdown poses question of what comes next? http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52664

The inspiring rise of the ‘Galician SYRIZA’ http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52709

Xose Manuel Beiras, left, celebrates the success of the Galician Left Alternative in the October 22 poll.

TURKEY

Turkish Kurds’ jail hunger strikes fails to move Erdogan government http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/25/turkish-kurds-hunger-strike-erdogan?newsfeed=true

Turkish Academics’ Statement of Solidarity with Kurdish Detainees on Hunger Strike http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/8187/turkish-academics-statement-of-solidarity-with-kur

Turkey’s Unions in a Time of Imperialist War by Anita Ogurlu http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/717.php

UK

Big thinkers unite to defend ‘one of UK’s greatest assets’ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/big-thinkers-unite-to-defend-one-of-uks-greatest-assets-8298188.html

The Levellers’ light shines on http://www.aworldtowin.net/blog/the-levellers-light-shines-on.html

Thatcher, Murdoch, Hillsborough and beyond: What the 1980s did to Britain http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/oct/27/1980s-britain-thatcherism-final-reckoning

Too much poverty and joblessness? Blame the newborn babies – Child poverty costs the UK £25bn a year. Limiting child benefit to two kids will save £200m. If this sounds like madness, it is http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/26/poverty-jobless-blame-newborn-babies

This withering assault on farm workers’ wages is a race to the bottom http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/25/withering-assault-wages-race-bottom

Tony Blair’s office could face investigation over use of unpaid interns http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/oct/31/tony-blair-office-unpaid-interns

Jimmy Savile: A Rasputin for our times http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/analysis/16110-jimmy-savile-a-rasputin-for-our-times-

It Happened To Me: I Grew Up On Benefits http://www.xojane.co.uk/issues/it-happened-to-me-i-grew-up-on-benefits?utm_medium=facebook

USA

Nothing Grand about Proposed Bargain, Unions Say http://labornotes.org/blogs/2012/11/nothing-grand-about-proposed-bargain-unions-say

Unions Win in Key Ballot Measures Around the Country http://www.thenation.com/article/171120/unions-win-key-ballot-measures-around-country

We Are All From New Orleans Now: Climate Change, Hurricanes and the Fate of America’s Coastal Cities http://www.thenation.com/article/170894/we-are-all-new-orleans-now-climate-change-hurricanes-and-fate-americas-coastal-cities

The repo girl is at the door by Mike Davis: In the spirit of Donald Rumsfeld we might distinguish between natural inevitabilities and unnatural inevitabilities. http://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2012/11/03/mike-davis/the-repo-girl-is-at-the-door/

The Hideous Inequality Exposed by Hurricane Sandy http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/10/the-hideous-inequality-exposed-by-hurricane-sandy/264337/

For Some After the Storm, No Work Means No Pay http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/03/business/for-hourly-workers-after-the-storm-no-work-no-pay.html

Sensata Tells Workers End Protests or Ax Falls Sooner, ‘Bainporters’ Charge http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Corporate-Greed/Sensata-Tells-Workers-End-Protests-or-Ax-Falls-Sooner-Bainporters-Charge

Big Profits And More Concessions No Way Say San Francisco Healthcare Workers http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=10645

Breaking: Delphi Auto (major Romney investment) buys factories in China after firing 25K US workers http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/26/1150732/-Breaking-Delphi-Auto-a-Romney-investment-buys-factories-in-China-after-firing-25K-US-workers

COVERT WAR ON TERROR: Counting the bodies in the Pakistani drone campaign http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2012/10/15/counting-the-bodies-in-the-pakistani-drone-campaign/

NYT admits Afghan War lost http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52627

In Ohio, African-American Turnout Threatened by Reduced Early Voting and Faulty Ballots http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/6/in_ohio_african_american_turnout_threatened

The Permanent Militarization of America http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/opinion/the-permanent-militarization-of-america.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

Assange: Obama a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10845892

Obama moves to make the War on Terror permanent http://www.filmsforaction.org/news/obama_moves_to_make_the_war_on_terror_permanent/

Letter from the US: Global warming hits home with a vengeance http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52713

Walmart Workers Organize Black Friday Strike on Facebook http://mashable.com/2012/11/06/walmart-black-friday-strike-facebook/

When Walmart Workers Strike: What You Need to Know and What Happens Next http://www.thenation.com/blog/171222/when-walmart-workers-strike-what-you-need-know-and-what-happens-next

VENEZUELA

The future of ‘21st century socialism’ after the poll http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52665

Chavez supporters celebrate the president’s re-election on October 7 outside the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. Photo by Tamara Pearson/Venezuelanalysis.com

Hugo Chavez’s six-year plan for the Bolivarian Revolution http://links.org.au/node/3079

Michael Lebowitz on what we can expect from Chavez’s fourth term http://links.org.au/node/3081