GPJA #455 (Part 2): International News & analysis

STATS OF THE WEEK

Incomes rose more than 11 percent for the top 1 percent of earners during the economic recovery, but not at all for everybody else, according to new data. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/16/business/economy/income-gains-after-recession-went-mostly-to-top-1.html

Facebook is getting a multi-billion-dollar tax cut for paying co-founders like Eduardo Saverin, who renounced his U.S. citizenship to avoid paying income taxes on his capital gains…income he made from stock options and dividends. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-02-15/facebook-gets-a-multi-billion-dollar-tax-break

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Meade

“The pioneers of a warless world are the youth that refuse military service.” – Albert Einstein

“They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason.” – Ernest Hemmingway

“When we blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons.” – Anaïs Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 4: 1944-1947

 

FEATURES

Economic democracy – the left’s big new idea: Peter Tatchell says the democratisation of the economy is the key to a fairer, more just society http://www.redpepper.org.uk/economic-democracy-the-lefts-big-new-idea/

All the region is boiling – interview with Gilbert Achcar about the Arab uprising http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article2887

Think There’s No Alternative? Latin America Has A Few By Seumas Milne http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/19/no-alternative-latin-america-has-a-few

The Secret Rise of 21st Century Democracy: New economies based on greater democratic control, real representation and citizen participation are on the rise. There is much to be learned from countries like Venezuela that break from the Washington Consensus. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34038.htm

The educational charities that do PR for the rightwing ultra-rich: Billionaires control the political conversation by staying hidden and paying others to promote their brutal agendas http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/18/charities-pr-rightwing-ultra-rich

John Pilger: WikiLeaks is a Rare Truth-teller. Smearing Julian Assange is Shameful http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/02/wikileaks-rare-truth-teller-smearing-julian-assange-shameful

The rise of Europe’s far-right voices http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2013/02/2013224123927515709.html

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Political Economy at the the online university of the left http://ouleft.sp-mesolite.tilted.net/?page_id=51

Inequality for All – another Inconvenient Truth? The powerful documentary Inequality for All was an unexpected hit at the recent Sundance film festival, arguing that US capitalism has fatally abandoned the middle classes while making the super-rich richer. Can its star, economist Robert Reich, do for economics what Al Gore did for the environment? http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/feb/02/inequality-for-all-us-economy-robert-reich

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Chris Williams: What must be done to stop climate change? http://links.org.au/node/3215

You Can’t Wash Away Fracking’s Effects – Life and Death in the Frack Zone http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/02/21/life-and-death-in-the-frack-zone/

Gas has worse climate footprint than coal http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53313

Naomi Klein on the ‘ethical oil’ hoax http://climateandcapitalism.com/2013/02/16/naomi-klein-on-the-ethical-oil-hoax/

CULTURAL DISSENT

Paul Robeson sings for the workers at Sydney Opera House

EXCLUSIVE: Rarely Seen Film “King: A Filmed Record” Traces MLK’s Struggle from Montgomery to Memphis http://www.democracynow.org/2013/2/25/exclusive_rarely_seen_film_king_a

From Activism to War: 41 Outstanding Documentaries for 41 Social Change Themes http://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/from_activism_to_war_41_outstanding_documentaries_for_41_social_change_themes/

Leading writers rise to challenge in new collection “Seeking Palestine” http://electronicintifada.net/content/leading-writers-rise-challenge-new-collection-seeking-palestine/12227

BAHRAIN

Bahrain’s Agony Continues 2 Years Later http://www.juancole.com/2013/02/bahrains-continues-years.html

CANADA

Quebec education summit – a public relations operation http://lifeonleft.blogspot.ca/2013/02/quebec-education-summit-public.html

 

Canada: Abusive Policing, Neglect Along ‘Highway of Tears’ – The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in northern British Columbia has failed to protect indigenous women and girls from violence, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/02/13/canada-abusive-policing-neglect-along-highway-tears

The NDP, poised for power but to what effect? http://lifeonleft.blogspot.ca/2013/02/the-ndp-poised-for-power-but-to-what.html

Canadian miners wading into Africa – Africa is home to the latest mineral rush, with potential for great riches–and catastrophe. http://www.thestar.com/business/economy/2013/02/18/fiminingafrica.html

CUBA

Cuba creates four anti-cancer vaccines, media ignores it http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53426

ECUADOR

Why Ecuador loves Rafael Correa – It’s not luck but good financial judgment that has set the president on the path to victory in forthcoming elections http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/15/rafael-correa-ecuador-elections

Venezuela says Correa’s win ‘a victory for socialist forces’ http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53394

EGYPT

Port Said strikes enter eighth day http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/port-said-strikes-enter-eighth-day

INDIA

General strike brings India to a standstill http://www.industriall-union.org/general-strike-brings-india-to-a-standstill

Millions strike in India over high prices http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2013/02/201322016857755633.html

Strike by Indian unions over prices hits transport, banking http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/20/us-india-strike-idUSBRE91J08D20130220

In India, 100 Million Workers Strike Against Privatization and Anti-Labor Laws https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/02/21-5

INDONESIA

Critics slam new Indonesian security rule as open to abuse by ‘rogue’ politicians http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2013/02/critics-slam-new-indonesian-security-regulation-as-open-to-abuse-by-rogue-military-politicians/

Translating a landmark Indonesian novel cost Max Lane his diplomatic career http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/lifestyle/story/translating-landmark-indonesian-novel-cost-max-lane-his-diplomatic-car

IRAN

Iran Leader: Having Nukes is ‘Crime Against Humanity’ – US Sanctions Actually Target Fuel Enrichment http://www.juancole.com/2013/02/sanctions-actually-enrichment.htm

IRAQ

The hawks were wrong: Iraq is worse off now: Saddam is gone – but at what cost? http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/02/hawks-were-wrong-iraq-worse-now

KOREA

North Korea Nuclear Test Sends Message to Washington One Week After U.S.-South Korean War Games http://www.democracynow.org/2013/2/12/north_korea_nuclear_test_sends_message

Hysteria Over Kim’s Nukes http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34016.htm

Why North Korea Needs Nuclear Weapons http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34005.htm

Condemning North Korea’s Latest Nuclear Test Is Meaningless http://www.countercurrents.org/subbarao140213.htm

MALI

No peace or reconciliation in France-controlled Mali http://www.rogerannis.com/no-peace-or-reconciliation-in-france-controlled-mali/

MEXICO

Zapatistas break silence to slam Mexico elite – New statements from the indigenous movement put rebels seeking “land, liberty, work and peace” back in the public eye. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/01/201313014344451496.html

PACIFIC

From Catcher to Counter – Fisheries organising project

Fiji: New workers’ party formed http://links.org.au/node/3222

CTU: More Disturbing News from Fiji http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1302/S00178/more-disturbing-news-from-fiji.htm

The dirty secret of thje Pacific – Leader-in-exile of the West Papua freedom movement Benny Wenda yesterday issued a desperate plea for solidarity from New Zealanders and the government. http://www.indymedia.org.nz/articles/675

PALESTINE

‘We Grow, They Bulldoze, We Re-Plant’ http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/02/israel-goods-boycott-movement-rises/

SLOVENIA

A Ghost is Haunting Slovenia, the Ghost of Revolution! By Gal Kirn http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/775.php

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa: Inauspicious start to the ANC’s year; COSATU needs to get back to first principles http://links.org.au/node/3220

SPAIN
Housing rights win as Popular Party buckles http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53366

Coal miners on strike in Spain

SRI LANKA

Veteran Sri Lankan leftist Lionel Bopage on the national question, class and revolution http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53302

TUNISIA

Activist leader assassinated as left re-unites to provide alternative http://links.org.au/node/3217

TURKEY

Another Kurdish Initiative in Turkey: Is Peace Finally Achievable? (Tezcür) http://www.juancole.com/2013/02/another-initiative-achievable.html

UK

Poundland Free Labour Work Scheme Ruled ‘Unlawful’, Cait Reilly And Jamieson Wilson Win Appeal http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/02/12/poundland-free-labour-work_n_2667671.html

When did being lowly paid become a criminal offence? Increasingly, corporations and politicians treat the poor with distrust. That’s why this week’s ruling on workfare was important http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/14/when-did-lowly-paid-become-offence

People’s Assembly Against Austerity http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/feb/05/people-assembly-against-austerity

The People v Tony Blair: The Second Superpower http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/book-extracts/209-the-people-v-tony-blair/16293-the-people-v-tony-blair-the-second-superpower-

Margaret Hodge: tax avoidance costs the Treasury £5bn a year http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/feb/19/margaret-hodge-tax-avoidance-treasury-loss

Britain’s colonial shame: Slave-owners given huge payouts after abolition http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britains-colonial-shame-slaveowners-given-huge-payouts-after-abolition-8508358.html

USA

On February 23, international protests of Bradley Manning’s 1,000th day in jail without trial http://www.bradleymanning.org/news/on-february-23-international-protests-of-bradley-mannings-1000th-day-in-jail-without-trial

Aggressive Employers Challenge Longshore Workers on Both Coasts http://www.labornotes.org/2013/02/aggressive-employers-challenge-longshore-workers-both-coasts

Targeted killings: OK if Obama does it? Salon exclusive: Study finds “liberals” more likely to favor targeted killings once they know it’s Obama’s policy http://www.salon.com/2013/02/19/targeted_killings_ok_if_obama_does_it/

A mighty voice for freedom – Zach Zill tells the story of the great Black abolitionist Frederick Douglass. http://socialistworker.org/2013/02/20/mighty-voice-freedom

US: A nation of inmates? We examine the impact of America’s high incarceration rate on its penal system and on poor and minority communities. http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestoryamericas/2013/02/201322071650496567.html

Racism, Torture and Impunity in Chicago http://www.thenation.com/article/173027/racism-torture-and-impunity-chicago

Incarceration Rate For African-Americans Now Six Times The National Average By RT – The incarceration rate for American-Americans is so high that young black men without a high school diploma are more likely to go to jail than to find a job. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34053.htm

Minimum Wage – Obama Going Backward Into The Future By Ralph Nader – Thirty million US workers make less today than what workers made 45 years ago in 1968, inflation adjusted? http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34044.htm

Denying Minimum-Wage Workers A Raise Is Craven and Grotesque http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/02/14-7

Minimum Wage: Beggaring Workers does not Help Employment (Infographics) http://www.juancole.com/2013/02/beggaring-employment-infographics.html

Charles Lane Doesn’t Like the Minimum Wage (see addendum) http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/beat-the-press/charles-lane-doesnt-like-the-minimum-wage

The Minimum Wage and Economic Growth http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/cepr-blog/the-minimum-wage-and-economic-growth

Thousands rally against US oil pipeline – Protesters in Washington, DC call on Obama to reject controversial pipeline and honour pledge to act on global warming. http://www.aljazeera.com/video/americas/2013/02/2013217231750117643.html

Tens of Thousands Rally to Stop Keystone XL Pipeline & Urge Obama to Move “Forward on Climate” http://www.democracynow.org/2013/2/18/tens_of_thousands_rally_to_stop

“We Must Unleash Radical Thought”: Harry Belafonte’s Stirring Speech Accepting NAACP Spingarn Medal http://www.democracynow.org/2013/2/18/we_must_unleash_radical_thought_harry

Why there Were no CIA Torture Black Sites in Latin America (Grandin) http://www.juancole.com/2013/02/torture-america-grandin.html

Charter schools and disaster capitalism – Friedmanites have created a market-based system of charter schools in Chicago, forcing many public schools to close http://www.salon.com/2013/02/24/charter_schools_and_disaster_capitalism_partner/

Why are Unionization Rates at Historic Low?

VENEZUELA

Working-Class Response to Devaluation Measures in Venezuela http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/773.php

WikiLeaks reveals imperialist plots against Venezuela http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53422