GPJA #489 (3 of 3): International News and analysis – 30/1/14

STATS OF THE WEEK

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a "thing-oriented" society to a "person-oriented" society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered." Rev. Martin Luther King – A Time to Break Silence: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2564.htm

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it." – MLK

"An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." – MLK

"The essence of oligarchical rule is not father-to-son inheritance, but the persistence of a certain world-view and a certain way of life … A ruling group is a ruling group so long as it can nominate its successors… Who wields power is not important, provided that the hierarchical structure remains always the same.": George Orwell, 1984

FEATURES

Noam Chomsky on the Legacy of Ariel Sharon: Not Speaking Ill of the Dead "Imposes a Vow of Silence" http://www.democracynow.org/2014/1/13/noam_chomsky_on_the_legacy_of

You Won’t Believe What the Food Industry Is Doing to Keep Americans Hooked on Junk http://www.alternet.org/food/3-most-disgusting-deceptions-junk-food-industry-using-you

Patrice Lumumba: the most important assassination of the 20th century http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jan/17/patrice-lumumba-50th-anniversary-assassination

Patrice Lumumba `will live forever’ — exclusive book excerpt http://links.org.au/node/624

Nick Turse, Secret Wars and Black Ops Blowback http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175794/tomgram%3A_nick_turse%2C_secret_wars_and_black_ops_blowback/

Europe’s left has seen how capitalism can bite back – Social democrats wrongly thought the reforms they won were won for good. In Greece, the lesson has been learned by Syriza http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/12/europe-left-capitalism-social-democrats-reforms

FROM OUR HISTORY

Their history and ours: the first world war that won’t be commemorated in 2014 – See more at: http://tinyurl.com/lvsvgfu

95 Years Ago Today: Rosa Luxemburg was murdered in Berlin http://rosaluxemburgblog.wordpress.com/

Finished with War: A Soldier’s Declaration http://the-tap.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/finished-with-war-soldiers-declaration.html

Lions and donkeys: Dan Snow’s 10 myths about World War One debunked by No Glory http://noglory.org/index.php/articles/112-lions-and-donkeys-dan-snow-s-10-myths-about-world-war-one-answered-by-no-glory

The First World War: Those who refused http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/37316/The+First+World+War%3A+Those+who+refused

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

“Emerging market bloodbath” as crisis enters new phase http://roarmag.org/2014/01/financial-crisis-emerging-markets/

Larry Elliot: The next crisis could be here soon http://www.theguardian.com/business/economics-blog/2014/jan/20/next-financial-crisis-here-soon-history

Noam Chomsky: Obama Trade Deal A ‘Neoliberal Assault’ To Further Corporate ‘Domination’ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/13/noam-chomsky-obama-trans-pacific-partnership_n_4577495.html Europe’s left has seen how capitalism can bite back http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/12/europe-left-capitalism-social-democrats-reforms

Nafta failures a warning to treat TPP trade deal with caution http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11184560

Income gap poses biggest threat to global community, warns WEF http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/16/income-gap-biggest-risk-global-community-world-economic-forum

Why has Europe’s economy done worse than the US? The eurozone experience shows what can happen when people lose control over their government’s economic policies http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/16/why-the-european-economy-is-worse

Oxfam: 85 richest people as wealthy as poorest half of the world http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/20/oxfam-85-richest-people-half-of-the-world

The Most Exclusive Circles: Sorting the world’s top 50 billionaires by age, location, how they got their moolah, and more. http://www.slate.com/articles/business/billion_to_one/2013/11/the_world_s_top_50_billionaires_a_demographic_breakdown.html

The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Warnings From NAFTA http://truth-out.org/news/item/21330-dean-baker-the-trans-pacific-partnership-warnings-from-nafta

Must-see morning clip: Welcome to Davos, where rich people talk about poor people http://www.salon.com/2014/01/24/must_see_morning_clip_welcome_to_davos_where_rich_people_talk_about_poor_people/

IMF fears global markets threat as US cuts back on cash stimulus http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/25/imf-fears-us-cash-stimulus-argentina

Gates unmasks real face of Davos https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55722

UN Report Says Small-Scale Organic Farming Only Way to Feed the World http://www.technologywater.com/post/69995394390/un-report-says-small-scale-organic-farming-only-way-to

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Beyond Growth or Beyond Capitalism? http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/21215-beyond-growth-or-beyond-capitalism

Green Capitalism: The God That Failed http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/21060-green-capitalism-the-god-that-failed

‘Toothless!’ WikiLeaks reveals secret draft of TPP environment chapter http://rt.com/news/tpp-envirnoment-criticism-wikileaks-643/

The new revolutionaries: Climate scientists demand radical change http://links.org.au/node/3664

Peak or no Peak, Oil is Unsafe at any Price http://www.juancole.com/2014/01/peak-unsafe-price.html

Are We Falling Off the Climate Precipice?: Scientists Consider Extinction http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024191033

CULTURAL DISSENT

Diego Luna’s film recognizes role of Filipino farm workers in US history http://entertainment.inquirer.net/93245/diego-lunas-film-recognizes-role-of-filipino-farm-workers-in-us-history

The Hunger Games: Their World and Ours http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/the_hunger_games_their_world_and_ours

The Man Who Loved Dogs Centers on Trotsky http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/22/books/the-man-who-loved-dogs-centers-on-trotsky.html

Juan Gelman dies at 83; renowned Argentine poet and political exile http://articles.latimes.com/2014/jan/15/local/la-me-juan-gelman-20140116

Pete Seeger, Songwriter and Champion of Folk Music, Dies at 94 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/arts/music/pete-seeger-songwriter-and-champion-of-folk-music-dies-at-94.html?emc=edit_na_20140128&_r=0

Recent novels about Leon Trotsky http://louisproyect.org/2014/01/27/recent-novels-about-leon-trotsky/

Record 4,000 Attend Open-Air Premiere of "Utopia" in Australia http://truth-out.org/news/item/21358-record-4000-attend-open-air-premiere-of-utopia-in-australia

6 videos to watch on imperialism http://www.critical-theory.com/6-videos-watch-imperialism/

Watch Judith Butler Explain Her Book ‘Parting Ways’ in Six Minutes http://www.critical-theory.com/watch-judith-butler-explain-book-parting-ways-minutes/

Watch: Karl Marx for Kids http://www.critical-theory.com/karl-marx-kids/

Not art but communism http://thecharnelhouse.org/2013/12/20/not-art-but-communism/

SPORT

Israel, Palestine, Pinochet… and a Soccer Jersey? http://www.thenation.com/blog/177943/israel-palestine-pinochet-soccer-jersey

Game, set and sexism at the Australian Open https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55720

Why cricket? http://www.mikemarqusee.com/?p=1499

New Year sports resolutions for 2014 http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/opinion/16889-2014-new-year-sports-resolutions

AFGHANISTAN

The west’s legacy in Afghanistan: so much for so little http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/15/west-legacy-afghanistan-peace-presidential-election

In Kabul by Fatima Mojaddedi http://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2014/01/24/fatima-mojaddedi/in-kabul/

Seumas Milne: Mission accomplished? Afghanistan is a calamity and our leaders must be held to account http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/18/afghanistan-mission-accomplished-war-leaders-calamity

AUSTRALIA

Turn the boats back and people will die – Abbott knows this http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/turn-the-boats-back-and-people-will-die–abbott-knows-this-20120123-1qe3o.html

Christmas Island hunger strike spreads to family compound http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/16/christmas-island-hunger-strike-spreads-to-family-compound

Pilger’s Utopia a devastating expose of Australian apartheid https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55637

John Pilger: Utopia is one of the most urgent films I have made http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/08/john-pilger-utopia-is-one-of-the-most-urgent-films-i-have-made

Forever uncompromising: Long time Aboriginal activist Gary Foley spoke to Red Flag’s Sarah Garnham. – See more at: http://redflag.org.au/article/forever-uncompromising#sthash.cc8AJPW8.MBn0R2I2.dpuf

Victoria’s new anti-protest bill is a threat to our freedom of assembly http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/29/victorias-new-anti-protest-bill-is-a-threat-to-our-freedom-of-assembly

Long way to go on deaths in custody: experts http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2011/04/14/long-way-go-deaths-custody-experts

AUSTRIA

Vienna ‘far-right’ ball condemned in mass protests http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25890188

BAHRAIN

Bahrain’s fate https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/01/bahrains-fate/

Thousands protest in Bahrain capital, demand ‘torturers be brought to justice’ http://rt.com/news/bahrain-protests-opposition-repression-194/

BANGLADESH

Climate disasters threaten Bangladesh’s social gains https://johnriddell.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/climate-disasters-threaten-bangladeshs-social-gains/

BOLIVIA

Communitarian Socialism in Bolivia http://www.opendemocracy.net/roger-burbach/communitarian-socialism-in-bolivia

CAMBODIA

One week later: Coming to terms with Cambodia’s brutal protest crackdown http://asiancorrespondent.com/118064/cambodia-garment-worker-crackdown/

CANADA

Oil-by-rail industry in North America begins 2014 with another spectacular crash http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/commentary/oil-rail-industry-north-america-begins-2014-another-spectacular-crash

Ideology and Central Banking in the Crisis: The Canadian Experience http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/931.php

CHINA

China iPhone makers earn more, but still work grueling hours

Income disparity continues to rise in China http://www.clb.org.hk/en/content/income-disparity-continues-rise-china

The Ups and Downs of Chinese Unionists, and the ‘Interests of Humanity’ http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/7101/ups_and_downs_for_chinese_unionists/

CUBA

Why South Africa Loves Cuba http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/why-south-africa-loves-cuba-9705

EGYPT

Mass Protests Grow as Military Drags Egypt Back to Dictatorship Roger Annis http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/928.php

The Regime is Dead, Long Live the Regime! Chronicling the Egyptian Counter-Revolution http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/01/27/chronicling-the-egyptian-counter-revolution/

GREECE

Syriza Succeeds in Greece by Challenging European Social Democrats’ Approach to Reform http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=11364

INDIA

India’s rejection of Vedanta’s bauxite mine is a victory for tribal rights http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2014/jan/14/india-rejection-vedanta-mine-victory-tribal-rights?CMP=fb_gu

INDONESIA

Who Will be Indonesian President in 2014? article by Max Lane http://maxlaneonline.com/2013/07/20/article-who-will-be-indonesian-president-in-2014-article-by-max-lane/

IRAQ

A Black Hole of History – The American Legacy in Iraq http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/01/10/the-american-legacy-in-iraq/

The US Role in Iraq’s Upsurge in Violence By Stephen Zunes – Not only did the U.S. invasion and occupation fail to bring a functional democracy to Iraq, neither U.S. forces nor the successive U.S.-backed Iraqi governments have been able to provide the Iraqi people with basic security. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37487.htm

JAPAN

Okinawa’s Revolt: Decades of Rape, Environmental Harm by U.S. Military Spur Residents to Rise Up http://www.democracynow.org/2014/1/16/okinawas_revolt_decades_of_rape_environmental

LIBYA

Libya: The Dictatorship of the Militias http://www.juancole.com/2014/01/libya-dictatorship-militias.html

MEXICO

20 years since the Chiapas rebellion: the Zapatistas, their politics and impact http://links.org.au/node/3669

Laura Gottesdiener, Visiting a Revolution That Won’t Go Away http://tinyurl.com/kx3jayn

PACIFIC

300 hotel workers strike in Fiji http://fightback.org.nz/2014/01/29/300-hotel-workers-strike-in-fiji/

The Human Tragedy of West Papua http://thediplomat.com/2014/01/the-human-tragedy-of-west-papua/

Massacre investigation exposes Indonesian army atrocities http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/9852

PALESTINE

Ten things we’ve learned about opposition to academic boycott http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/steven-salaita/ten-things-weve-learned-about-opposition-academic-boycott

Israel to destroy another Haifa neighborhood, evict Palestinian residents http://electronicintifada.net/content/israel-destroy-another-haifa-neighborhood-evict-palestinian-residents/13072

Backlash against boycotting Israel’s universities reeks of hypocrisy http://electronicintifada.net/content/backlash-against-boycotting-israels-universities-reeks-hypocrisy/13093

The truth about Israel’s secret nuclear arsenal http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/15/truth-israels-secret-nuclear-arsenal

African truth of Israeli apartheid http://nsnbc.me/2014/01/09/african-truth-israeli-apartheid/

Harry Fear & Jeff Halper discuss Palestine today http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/harry-fear-jeff-halper-discuss-palestine-today/

Netanyahu: I will not uproot a single Israeli http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.570418

Goodbye Gaza: our correspondent reflects on her time in the Middle East http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/25/goodbye-gaza-harriet-sherwood-palestine-israel

Mass grave uncovered containing dozens of Palestinians killed in 1948 war that founded Israel http://tinyurl.com/k8w6awk

QATAR

Qatar World Cup: 185 Nepalese died in 2013 – official records http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/24/qatar-2022-world-cup-185-nepalese-workers-died-2013

SOUTH AFRICA

Gatvol Numsa cuts ties with ANC http://mg.co.za/article/2013-12-20-00-gatvol-numsa-turns-off-anc-tap/

South Africa: NUMSA cuts political ties with ANC http://www.marxist.com/south-africa-numsa-cuts-political-ties-with-anc.htm

"There is Marikana everyday in South Africa" – an interview with Abahlali baseMjondolo http://www.opendemocracy.net/opensecurity/opensecurity/there-is-marikana-everyday-in-south-africa-interview-with-abahlali-basemjo

Madiba From A to Z: The Many Faces of Nelson Mandela – See more at: http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/book-reviews/16904-madiba-from-a-to-z-the-many-faces-of-nelson-mandela#sthash.64I71oh7.dpuf

Revisiting a Cde Moss vision http://terrybellwrites.com/2013/12/22/revisiting-a-cde-moss-vision/

"You must be vigilant! How many times has a labour movement supported a liberation movement, only to find itself betrayed on the day of liberation? There are many examples of this in Africa. If the ANC does not deliver the goods you must do to it what you did to the apartheid regime." Nelson Mandela to special COSATU conference in 1993

http://www.numsa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Secretariat-Report-as-in-.pdf

SPAIN

Basque Country: Huge march advances struggle for peace, national rights http://links.org.au/node/3673

Leading the Charge Against Spain’s Mortgage Crisis http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/21/world/europe/leading-the-charge-against-spains-mortgage-crisis.html http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/12/21/pike-river-manslaughter-review-of-tragedy-at-pike-river-minehow-and-why-29-men-died/

SYRIA

How we can oppose the Assad regime and Western intervention at the same time http://mondoweiss.net/2014/01/oppose-western-intervention.html

The Syrian opposition: who’s doing the talking? http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jul/12/syrian-opposition-doing-the-talking

THAILAND

Anti-democratic thugs unleash violence around Bangkok’s voting stations http://links.org.au/node/3682

TIMOR LESTE

East Timor takes on Australia in ‘rip off’ spy case with country’s future on line http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2014/01/east-timor-takes-on-australia-in-rip-off-spy-case-with-countrys-future-on-line/

Australia has violated Timor-Leste’s sovereignty, UN court told http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/21/australia-has-violated-timor-lestes-sovereignty-un-court-told

TURKEY

The Perfect Storm In Turkey – Corruption Conflict Conspiracy http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1401/S00016/the-perfect-storm-in-turkey-corruption-conflict-conspiracy.htm

UK

Who’s to blame for the crisis, bankers or benefit claimants? http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/16/crisis-bankers-benefit-claimants-class?CMP=twt_gu

Britain is scared to face the real issue – it’s all about inequality – The growing gap between rich and poor precipitated the last crash. Ominously, the same forces are abroad again http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/19/inequality-threat-recovery-poverty-pay?CMP=fb_gu

Yes minister, we are all Trots now – Lord Deben’s ‘Trotskyite’ jibe against green activists follows a long Tory tradition of commie-baiting. Let’s embrace it http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/21/lord-deben-trotskyites-green-activists-conservatives

70 years of foreign troops? We should close the bases http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/23/seventy-years-time-close-us-bases

The truth is we are all living on Benefits Street – Everyone is on the take, and whole industries are on white-collar subsidies. Some of us are just smarter at concealing it http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/21/truth-is-we-are-all-living-on-benefits-street http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1401/S00045/gordon-campbell-on-housing-as-an-election-issue.htm

Mark Duggan: no justice, no peace http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/analysis/16903-mark-duggan-no-justice-no-peace

USA

The Radicalization of Martin Luther King http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=767&Itemid=74&jumival=9502

80 percent of U.S. adults face near-poverty, unemployment, survey finds http://www.cbsnews.com/news/80-percent-of-us-adults-face-near-poverty-unemployment-survey-finds/2/

Seattle’s Socialist councilwoman to accept less than half of $117K salary http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/27/22472667-seattles-socialist-councilwoman-to-accept-less-than-half-of-117k-salary

Angela Davis: "support BDS, and Palestine will be free" http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/nora-barrows-friedman/angela-davis-support-bds-and-palestine-will-be-free

Why you can’t "bootstrap" yourself out of poverty http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/no–you-can-t-just–bootstrap–yourself-out-of-poverty-172104522.html

Martin Luther King Jr’s radicalism muted by MLK archives’ corporate sponsors http://links.org.au/node/3674

5 Right-Wing Myths About Raising the Minimum Wage, Debunked http://www.alternet.org/economy/5-right-wing-myths-about-raising-minimum-wage-debunked

The Human Cost of Income Inequality in America http://www.juancole.com/2014/01/income-inequality-america.html

The 20 Richest Americans Are Greedy Takers—Not Inspirational ‘Makers’ http://www.alternet.org/economy/20-richest-americans-are-greedy-takers-not-inspirational-makers

The GOP’s War on Science Endangering America: Climate Change, Evolution, Regulation http://www.juancole.com/2014/01/endangering-evolution-regulation.html

“Bride and Boom!” – We’re Number One… In Obliterating Wedding Parties http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175787/tomgram%3A_engelhardt%2C_washington%27s_wedding_album_from_hell/#more

USA – WORKERS REVOLT

The Amazing Raise: Fast food workers demand a livable wage, and the financial news media explains why this will destroy the very foundation of America’s democracy. (04:04) http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-5-2013/the-amazing-raise

"Fast Food Forward" member Naquasia LeGrand discusses organizing strikes for her fellow fast-food workers and argues for increasing the minimum wage. (06:31) http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/432243/january-16-2014/naquasia-legrand

Hackers Leak A Disturbing Walmart Guide on ‘How to Silence Workers’ http://politicalblindspot.com/hackers-leak-walmart-guide-on-how-to-silence-workers/

Why There’s No Outcry Despite A Declining Middle Class http://www.social-europe.eu/2014/01/class-why-theres-no-outcry/

USA – SPYING SCANDAL

NSA program stopped no terror attacks, says White House panel member http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/19/21975158-nsa-program-stopped-no-terror-attacks-says-white-house-panel-member?lite

4 Ways Obama has Misled on NSA Surveillance http://www.juancole.com/2014/01/obama-misled-surveillance.html

VENEZUELA

Venezuelan Government to Continue Pace of Land Expropriations for “Agrarian Socialism” http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/10275