GPJA #491 (2 of 2): International news & analysis – 23/2/14

STATS OF THE WEEK

• The net worth of billionaires in India, points out IMF chief Christiane Lagarde, has increased by 12 times in the past 15 years, “enough to eliminate absolute poverty in this country twice over.”
• One of every eight human beings on the face of the Earth “do not have enough food to eat,” United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan points out, at the same time as “the richest 85 people in the world own as much wealth as the poorest 3.5 billion.”
• America’s corporate executives and financial sector power-suits, notes Americans for Financial Reform, have collected well over half the post-1980 income growth of the top 1 percent and more than two-thirds the even more remarkable gains of the nation’s top 0.1 percent.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“It’s all very well to talk in the abstract about the dignity of work, but to suggest that workers can have equal dignity despite huge inequality in pay is just silly. In 2012, the top 40 hedge fund managers and traders were paid a combined $16.7 billion, equivalent to the wages of 400,000 ordinary workers.” Paul Krugman, Inequality, Dignity, and Freedom, February 14, 2014

“When power, luxury, and money become idols, they take priority over the need for a fair distribution of wealth. Our consciences thus need to be converted to justice, equality, simplicity, and sharing.” Pope Francis, Lenten message, February 4, 2014

FEATURES

‘Jaywalking’: How the car industry outlawed crossing the road http://farefreenz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/02/jaywalking-how-car-industry-outlawed.html?spref=fb

What Cold War CIA Interrogators Learned from the Nazis http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/11/what-cold-war-cia-interrogators-learned-from-the-nazis.html

Russell Brand Vs Jon Snow: Comedian Loses His Temper During Heated Talks On Drugs And Revolution (VIDEO) http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/15/russell-brand-jon-snow_n_4793555.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Full video interview with Brand: http://www.channel4.com/news/russell-brand-revolutionary-drug-law-full-interview-jon-snow-video

Álvaro García Linera: A message to the left of Europe and the world http://links.org.au/node/3712

The Sixth Extinction: Earth is on the brink of another massive loss of animal species but this time the calamity isn’t an asteroid or ice age… http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-sixth-extinction-earth-is-on-the-brink-of-another-massive-loss-of-animal-species-but-this-time-the-calamity-isnt-an-asteroid-or-ice-age-9132053.html

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

The Mobsters of Wall Street By Jim Hightower: Assume that you ran a business that was found guilty of bribery, forgery, perjury, defrauding homeowners, fleecing investors, swindling consumers, cheating credit card holders, violating U.S. trade laws and bilking American soldiers. Can you even imagine the kind of punishment you’d get?

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37633.htm

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Michael Klare, In the Carbon Wars, Big Oil Is Winning http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175806/tomgram%3A_michael_klare%2C_in_the_carbon_wars%2C_big_oil_is_winning/

CULTURAL DISSENT

The painful truth of Twelve Years a Slave http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/92-film-review/16924-the-painful-truth-of-twelve-years-a-slave

“Operation Paperclip" U.S. Government Recruited Nazi Scientis

Rumsfeld: Why We Live in His RuinsMark Danner http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2014/feb/06/rumsfeld-why-we-live-his-ruins/

Springsteen’s Tribute To Australian Workers http://workinglife.org.au/2014/02/17/springsteens-tribute-to-australian-workers/

The Hunger Games: their world and ours http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/92-film-review/16929-the-hunger-games-their-world-and-ours

AUSTRALIA

Racism and police brutality in Queensland http://redflag.org.au/article/racism-and-police-brutality-queensland

CFMEU chiefs blacklisted from all Victorian building sites http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/cfmeu-chiefs-blacklisted-from-all-victorian-building-sites/story-fni0fit3-1226825141640

Royal Commission targets unions and penalty rates https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55885

Refugees denied legal rights and deported https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55886

Victoria Goes After Protest And Picket Rights https://newmatilda.com/2014/01/21/victoria-goes-after-protest-and-picket-rights

Rupert Murdoch’s empire receives $882m tax rebate from Australia http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/feb/17/rupert-murdoch-receives-882m-tax-rebate

BAHRAIN

Bahrain protest attracts tens of thousands, no clashes http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/94319.aspx

BOSNIA

Bosnia’s magnificent uprising: Heralding a new era of class politics? http://links.org.au/node/3708

Bosnia presents a terrifying picture of Europe’s future – The ordinary people of Bosnia-Herzegovina are showing Europe how to avoid sleepwalking into a disaster to rival that of a century ago http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/17/bosnia-terrifying-picture-of-europe-future

Plenum of Sarajevo http://www.demotix.com/news/3959920/plenum-sarajevo#media-3959912

BRAZIL

Brazil and Coercion: One Step Further Into the Criminalization of the Radical Left http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/938.php

CAMBODIA

Garment unions regroup, plan peaceful strike in March http://asiancorrespondent.com/119588/cambodia-garment-unions-regroup-plan-peaceful-strike-in-march/

Cambodian Embassies besieged – Free the 23! http://www.industriall-union.org/cambodian-embassies-besieged-today-free-the-23

CANADA

Speaking tour of Mi’kmaq activists appeals for solidarity with New Brunswick anti-fracking struggle http://www.rogerannis.com/speaking-tour-of-mikmaq-activists-appeals-for-solidarity-with-new-brunswick-anti-fracking-struggle/

EGYPT

An international initiative against repression inEgypt
https://gpjanz.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/egypt-solidarity-add-your-name/

Resurgence of strikes and industrial action across the country http://madamasr.com/content/resurgence-strikes-and-industrial-action-across-country

Sisi’s Turn by Hazem Kandil http://www.lrb.co.uk/v36/n04/hazem-kandil/sisis-turn

Unfinished business: The government’s decision to allocate LE157 million to meet the financial demands of textile workers has not convinced the Mahalla workers, writes Noha Moustafa http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/5399/18/Unfinished-business-.aspx

Egyptian army’s role in torture and disappearances – leaked document http://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2013/apr/10/egyptian-army-torture-disappearances-document

Workers strike at Egypt’s biggest public textile hits day 7 http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/94383/Business/Economy/Workers-strike-at-Egypts-biggest-public-textile-hi.aspx

Mahalla textile workers’ strike enters eighth day http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/02/17/mahalla-textile-workers-strike-enters-eighth-day/

Spinning and weaving workers at Kafr Al-Dawar strike in solidarity with Mahalla workers – See more at: http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/02/16/spinning-weaving-workers-kafr-al-dawar-strike-solidarity-mahalla-workers/#sthash.R5ssrI65.dpuf

Did Arab leftists betray the revolution? http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/02/did-arab-leftists-betray-revolu-201421674037574769.html

Canadian journalist, two colleagues deny charges in Cairo court http://www.rogerannis.com/canadian-journalist-two-colleagues-deny-charges-in-cairo-court/

FRANCE

Feminism can save France from Islam: that’s the real message of Majorité Opprimée – The gender role reversal video purports to target sexism and homophobia. But its essence is class bigotry, racism and misogyny http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/13/feminism-france-islam-majorite-opprimee-racism

JAPAN

Japan’s Right-Wing Stirrings http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/opinion/kato-japans-right-wing-stirrings.html?ref=japan&_r=1

Tokyo Elections and the Future of the Anti-Nuclear Movement http://iso.org.nz/2014/02/18/tokyo-elections-and-the-future-of-the-anti-nuclear-movement/

KOREA

Appeals Court Annuls Dismissal of Ssangyong Workers – See more at: http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/article/3215/annulment-layoffs-appeals-court-annuls-dismissal-ssangyong-workers#sthash.fV8CK8rS.dpuf

MEXICO

Twenty Years after NAFTA, Mexico Has Experienced Lagging Growth, Persistent Poverty and Increased Unemployment http://tinyurl.com/np57aeo

For Mexico, Legalization is Freedom By Vicente Fox (former Mexican President) http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37672.htm

PALESTINE

The boycott is our Palestinian non-violent resistance http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.co m/2014/02/11/the-boycott-is-our-palestinian-non-violent-resistance/

Video: Stone Cold Justice – A Special Four Corners / The Australian Newspaper Investigation reveals evidence that shows the army is targeting Palestinian boys for arrest and detention. http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2014/02/10/3939266.htm

Brokers of Deceit: Massive US Aid to Israel has Enabled a Colonial Project http://www.juancole.com/2014/02/brokers-colonial-project.html

Israeli soldiers pose for photos while abusing Palestinian child http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/israeli-soldiers-pose-photos-while-abusing-palestinian-child

Brokers of Deceit: Massive US Aid to Israel has Enabled a Colonial Project http://www.juancole.com/2014/02/brokers-colonial-project.html

POLAND

Poland is having a sexual revolution in reverse – The backlash sees sex education and contraception being restricted – and gay people compared to paedophiles http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/11/poland-sexual-revolution-reverse-education-contraception

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa’s emerging new left: the birth of a new socialist party http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/01/south-africas-emerging-new-left-birth-new-socialist-party

NUMSA Rupture Could Mark New Start for Socialist Politics in South Africa by Sam Ashman and Nicolas Pons-Vignon http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/935.php

“Manifestos and Reality” – A Presentation to the Cape Town Press Club by NUMSA General Secretary Irvin Jim http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/936.php

‘Leadership faction wants COSATU to be a toothless giant’, declare nine affiliates http://links.org.au/node/3715

SRI LANKA

High Commissioner Navi Pillay report on Sri Lanka leaked: international inquiry mechanism recommended http://www.srilankabrief.org/2014/02/high-commissioner-navi-pillay-report-on.html

Sri Lanka: Tamil leader says ethnic conflict has ‘deepened’ https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55912

TURKEY

Turkish Unionists: ‘We Are Not Terrorists’ http://www.labornotes.org/blogs/2014/02/turkish-unionists-we-are-not-terrorists

UK

Britain hammered by ocean surges and ‘most exceptional rainfall in 248 years’ http://www.rogerannis.com/britain-hammered-by-ocean-surges-and-most-exceptional-rainfall-in-248-years/

UKRAINE

A New Cold War? Ukraine Violence Escalates, Leaked Tape Suggests U.S. Was Plotting Coup http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/20/a_new_cold_war_ukraine_violence

USA

Obama’s State of the Union Dilemma: Pushing Fast Track for TPP Would Increase Income Inequality http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lori-wallach/obamas-state-of-the-union_b_4658767.html

Legalizing Oppression: Chris Hedges interviews Lynne Stewart – The lynching and disbarring of civil rights lawyer Lynne Stewart, is a window into the collapse of the American legal system.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37604.htm

Our Sinister Dual State By Chris Hedges http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/our_sinister_dual_state_20140216/

Four Reasons Why Torture (Still) Matters http://www.war-times.org/four-reasons-why-torture-still-matters

The U.S. Middle Class Is Turning Proletarian http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2014/02/16/the-u-s-middle-class-is-turning-proletarian/

USA – WORKERS REVOLT

Union Advantage for Black Workers http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/union-advantage-for-black-workers

After Historic UAW Defeat at Tennessee Volkswagen Plant, Theories Abound http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/16300/after_uaw_defeat_at_volkswagen_in_tennessee_theories_abound/

VENEZUELA

March in support of Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela

US support for regime change in Venezuela is a mistake: The US push to topple the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro once again pits Washington against South America http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/18/venezuela-protests-us-support-regime-change-mistake

Right calls more protests after deadly clashes https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55875

Opposition Violence Continues in Some Venezuelan Cities, Attacks on Journalists http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/10345

Violent right wing has no popular base http://www.venezuelawearewithyou.blogspot.co.nz/2014/02/violence-to-discredit-bolivarian.html

Economic Sabotage: Venezuela Under Attack Again http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/02/17/venezuela-under-attack-again/

Venezuelan Protests: Another Attempt by U.S.-Backed Right-Wing Groups to Oust Elected Government? http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/20/venezuelan_protests_another_attempt_by_us

Venezuela expels US officials, huge march against coup and for peace (PHOTOS) https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55909

Sorry, Venezuela haters: this economy is not the Greece of Latin America http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/07/venezuela-not-greece-latin-america-oil-poverty

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro raises his fist next to vice-president Jorge Arreaza, during a rally.

WESTERN SAHARA

“These camps will never be our home, we want to return to our homeland.” http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/western-sahara-these-camps-home-return-homeland/

YEMEN

Turning a Wedding Into a Funeral: U.S. Drone Strike in Yemen Killed as Many as 12 Civilians http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/21/turning_a_wedding_into_a_funeral