GPJA #500: Forum on Hawaii tonight 7pm, Unite Union Office

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER No. 499, April 18, 2014

WHAT’S ON IN AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND

Saturday, April 26, 7pm, Unite Union, 6A Western Springs Road, Morningside
Film evening with Hawaiian filmmaker Keala Kelly – . Keala will introduce and screen her documentary film “Noho Hewa: The Wrongful Occupation of Hawaii” in which the US Military has turned Hawaii into a testing and training ground for its wars in the Middle East. Evening hosted by Global Peace and Justice Auckland with support of several community groups.

April 25-27, Sir Paul Reeves Building, AUT city campus, Auckland
Militarisation in the Pacific: Women, Peace and Security. A regional meeting convened by WILPF Aotearoa. The meeting will comprise two days of information sharing through panels, workshops and presentations, and one day of work on WILPF activity in the region. Women from around the Pacific will be coming to the meeting to share information about issues, such as foreign military bases, being under military occupation, the links between globalization and militarization. It will be a great opportunity to meet our sisters from around the region and learn firsthand about issues of peace and security in the Pacific.
The programme
Saturday 26 April 9.00am – 5.00pm. There will be a mixture of workshops, plenary presentations and panel discussions.
Sunday 27 April will focus on WILPF business, in particular, the 100th birthday in 2015 and the possibility of the Asia-Pacific WILPF sections working together as a regional grouping within International WILPF.
For further detail go to www.wilpf.org.nz (The site is being regularly updated).
Registration now open via wilpfaotearoa

Sunday, April 27, 2-4pm, Thorndon School Hall, immediately next door to Thorndon pool, on Murphy Street in Thorndon, Wellington
Memorial Service. Part of the Workers Memorial Day events. We are having three events – the forestry memorial service on 27 April and the collection and procession to Parliament on 28 April to remember all workers killed at work. Plans are shaping up well for the three events to mark workers memorial day but we need some assistance from affiliates to ensure that these Wellington events are great for members from all unions.

Sunday, April 27, 10.30-12.30, Kelly Tarlton’s SeaLife Aquarium, 23 Tamaki Dr, Auckland.
You’re invited to an Election year Oceans Forum. Hear oceans experts talk about our marine challenges, and hear from political parties what they’ll do in response. Register to attend at either mauisandhectorsdolphins or on the fb event, or via ‘Eventfinda’. Entry is free but numbers are limited.

Monday, April 28, 12 noon, Wellington Railway Station, Bunny St to Parliament
Workers Memorial Day procession https://www.facebook.com/events/391333954343226/

Thursday, May 1, Blackball, West Coast, South Island
Damien O’Connor MP opens a new public art exhibition. Runanga Miners Hall 4.00pm. Meet and greet Damien O’Connor MP at Runanga Workingmen’s Club. Refreshments served. 7.00pm. followed by the inaugural Schools Debate Grey High School versus John Paul II: Voting is no longer relevant. Young people can make change in other ways. Runanga Workingmen’s Club 7.30-9.00pm.
Friday, May 2, Blackball
The annual Blackball versus Runanga debate: You can’t vote Labour because it means the bloody Greens could be in government. Runanga, current champions, will be arguing the affirmative. Chaired by Denise Roche, MP Green Party. Blackball Workingmen’s Club, 7.30pm All welcome.
Saturday, May 3, Blackball
Exhibition Opening, You & the Boss: Employment Relations and the coming election. Blackball Museum 5.00pm. Performance of the play based on the Spring Creek Mine closure and the proposed workers co-operative The Judgement of Ben Alder, script by Paul Maunder, performed by Kiwi/Possum Productions at Blackball Community Centre 6.30pm followed by dinner 7.30pm with keynote speech by Kevin Hague, MP Green Party, on the topic of Just Transition from fossil fuels. There could even be some singing. Dinner and play $20. Please book wkcultur; Play only gold coin/koha at the door.

Saturday, May 3, 7.30pm,Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North
May Day Concert.

Saturday, May 3, 10am-3pm, Corbans Estate, 426 Great North Rd, Auckland
West Fest For A Living Wage

Saturday, May 3, 6:30 for 7pm start. St. Heliers Community Centre, 100 St Heliers Bay Road
Amnesty International Quiz Night. Hosted by the Remuera Group of Amnesty International. Tickets: $25/single or $150/table of 8. Discounted tkt prices for pre-purchase. Food and beverage available for purchase. Raffle and prizes too. Contact Jeanette or Richard at 09-521-2050 for more information.

GPJA Special Forum: Monday 5th May 7.30pm at Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road Grey Lynn.
Guest Speaker Murray Horton from the Christchurch-based CAFCA (Campaign against Foreign Control of Aotearoa) and the ABC (Anti Bases Campaign) Murray will be speaking on: “Who’s running the show and in whose interests?” and focusing on: People’s Rights before Corporate Profit; Public service, not private profit; An independent foreign policy; No unjust secret treaties. Murray’s GPJA forum is part of a nationwide tour. We don’t see him often in Auckland so we welcome everyone to what will be an entertaining, amusing and politically important presentation.

Tuesday, May 6, 5.30 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. at WG 126, AUT University, Sir Paul Reeves Building, 2 Governor Fitzroy Place, AUCKLAND.
The New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO in conjunction with the AUT University Pacific Media Centre has great pleasure in inviting you to join us for the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day Lecture 2014. The Lecture will be given by Dr Gavin Ellis, senior media lecturer at the University of Auckland and former editor-in-chief of The New Zealand Herald. The title of his lecture will be: "No-one died covering celebrity news." Please feel free to pass this invitation to your colleagues also and ask them to RSVP with their names and contact details when convenient. RSVP to: susan.isaacs by Monday 28 April.

Friday, May 9, 4-6pm, Room WG808 (Level 8), Sir Paul Reeves Building, AUT University
WHAT THE MEDIA DON’T TELL YOU: WHO’S RUNNING THE SHOW? AND IN WHOSE INTEREST? "We want an independent Aotearoa, based on policies of economic, military and political self-reliance, using Aotearoa’s resources for the benefit of the people of Aotearoa. "This country needs people power to let the world know that Aotearoa is not for sale." – Murray Horton, spokesperson for the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA) and the Anti-Bases Campaign (ABC)

Saturday, May 10, 7.30pm, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington.
DREAMS LIE DEEPER – A CONCERT COMMEMORATING MINERS EVERYWHERE. The Orpheus Choir of Wellington, the city’s much-acclaimed symphonic choir, has programmed a major concert entitled Dreams Lie Deeper, as a tribute to miners the world over. It brings together three premières of choral music dedicated to miners, inspired by historical events that recall the tragedies, the struggles and also the rejoicing when rescue from a mining disaster was achieved. The theme of the evening will be dedicated to mining communities and a commemoration of events that have irrevocably changed the course of their lives.

The major work in the programme is the New Zealand première of 17 Days, by young UK composer James McCarthy. He was commissioned to compose a piece by Crouch End Festival Chorus, dedicated to the dramatic rescue of the Chilean miners in 2010. The work was premiered in the Barbican Theatre London in 2011 and received a standing ovation; a second performance last year was received with the same acclamation. It is a very moving expression of the tremendous emotion the whole world felt during those 17 days when the miners were underground and no word had yet been heard from them.

At our concert, the award-winning Wellington Brass Band and Wellington Young Voices, a recently established children’s choir in the city, join us in this very powerful presentation.

The second première is If Blood Be the Price, a work by New Zealand composer Ross Harris, inspired by the 1912 Waihi Miners’ Strike, and is set to a poem by NZ Poet Laureate Vincent O’Sullivan. The significance of the tragic consequence of the industrial action by those Waihi workers is indelibly written into mining history in this country, and the performance will be an evocative reminder of the working life of those who work under the ground.

The final focus of "Dreams Lie Deeper" will be on the tragedy that threw a whole community into turmoil and brought their plight into every New Zealand household overnight – the Pike River Mine disaster. The concert will showcase a new work by high profile and well-loved singer/songwriter, Dave Dobbyn, who has been commissioned to write both the lyrics and music for a tribute to the miners who lost their lives in the tragedy of 2011.

Friday, May 16, 7pm, Thames Sailing Club

May 19, 21, & 23, Fisher Paykell Auditorium of the University of Auckland
Sir Douglas Robb Lectures: The Human Cost of Inequality – Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson. Lecture series to be given by the authors of The Spirit Level. Details: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/news-events-and-notices/events/events-2014/05/sir-douglas-robb-lectures.html

Saturday, May 24, 9:45am – 5:30pm, Cityside Baptist, 8 Mt Eden Road, Newton, Auckland
Amnesty International Annual Meeting & Skillshare 2014. The date is set and the venue booked! Amnesty International is holding its Annual Meeting to celebrate human rights heroes, tell you about our priority campaigns and give you a say on important Amnesty matters. This year’s meeting will take place on 24 May and gives you the chance to participate in the direction and decision making your organisation. oin us the following day for a Skillshare where you’ll get the opportunity to exchange skills and knowledge with activists from around New Zealand. The day also includes training and more in-depth workshops on our current campaigns. Where: Auckland Venue: TBC hen: 25 May 2014, 10am – 3pm. http://www.amnesty.org.nz/get-involved/annual-meeting-2014

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CPAG: SAVE THE DATE: FRIDAY 16 MAY
Please save the date for CPAG’s annual post budget breakfasts on Friday, May 16. What will the 2014 budget hold for children? Join us for breakfast to hear our analysis of how the 2014 budget affects children and young people. We’re holding breakfasts in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch with the possibility of extending events to Whangarei, Hamilton and Dunedin! Watch out for more details soon. http://tinyurl.com/mqakeww

MURRAY HORTON SPEAKING TOUR: MAY 4-29, 2014 – WHO’S RUNNING THE SHOW? AND IN WHOSE INTERESTS?
Murray Horton is the long serving Organiser and spokesperson for two Christchurch-based groups, the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA) and the Anti-Bases Campaign (ABC). He has been a political activist since the late 1960s and has a national profile as a campaigner, writer, speaker, organiser and researcher. During May he is undertaking an election year North Island speaking tour, from Kaitaia to Wellington, and many places inbetween. He has already toured the South Island, in March and April (he has been doing these election year tours for a couple of decades, most recently in 2011). The full itinerary is at http://2014cafcatour.blogspot.co.nz/p/blog-page.html

JOIN THIS YEAR’S AUSTRALIAN SOLIDARITY DELEGATION TO VENEZUELA DECEMBER 2 – 13, 2014
Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network. Registrations are now open for the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network’s 2014 solidarity tour to revolutionary Venezuela. http://links.org.au/node/3700

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

The drone strike killing of a Kiwi http://thestandard.org.nz/the-drone-strike-killing-of-a-kiwi/

Rachel Smalley: Kiwi killed in drone strike raises more questions than answers http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/opinion/rachel-smalley-17apr2014

Brian Edwards: What ACT’s Jamie Whyte could learn from Albert Einstein http://brianedwardsmedia.co.nz/2014/04/what-acts-jamie-whyte-could-learn-from-albert-einstein/

“They Got The TV – We Got The Truth” – Boots Riley Visits NZ http://occupysavvy.wordpress.com/2014/04/22/they-got-the-tv-we-got-the-truth-boots-riley-visits-nz/

Rio Tinto judged worst company of the year http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/nz-rio-tinto-judged-worst-company-year-8568

Click here for the full 2013 Roger Award Judges’ Report http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/Roger2013.pdf

MPs clash over sick Fijian http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11243000

Bronwyn Pullar: ACC abused claimants’ rights with consent form Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Bronwyn-Pullar-ACC-abused-claimants-rights-with-consent-form/tabid/1771/articleID/341271/Default.aspx#ixzz2zx228ria

POVERTY & INEQUALITY

Dying mother trapped in two-bedroom flat with four sons http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11242343

Why the Labour movement should support a Universal Basic Income By Mike Treen http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/04/18/why-the-labour-movement-whould-support-a-universal-basic-income/

Sympathy For The One Per Cent – The uber-rich have problems, too by Gordon Campbell http://werewolf.co.nz/2014/04/sympathy-for-the-one-per-cent/

NZ – ECONOMY

CTU: Focus on housing costs, raise wages not interest rates http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1404/S00348/focus-on-housing-costs-raise-wages-not-interest-rates.htm

12 Reasons Why New Zealand’s Economic Bubble Will End In Disaster http://www.forbes.com/sites/jessecolombo/2014/04/17/12-reasons-why-new-zealands-economic-bubble-will-end-in-disaster/

Forbes ‘bubble-ologist’ jabs back at Steven Joyce http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/forbes-bubble-jabs-back-steven-joyce-ck-155047

Brian Fallow: Four reasons not to panic about a property bubble http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11242228

Trade and Investment Agreements: Human Rights For Sale By James Ritchie http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/04/22/trade-and-investment-agreements-human-rights-for-sale/

NZ – WORKRIGHTS

Global unions applaud NZ ‘slave ships’ progress http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1404/S00304/global-unions-applaud-nz-slave-ships-progress.htm

Families before commerce at Easter http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1404/S00303/families-before-commerce-at-easter.htm

Workers support plain packaging of tobacco http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1404/S00261/workers-support-plain-packaging-of-tobacco.htm

Labour backs ‘subbies’ http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9958017/Labour-backs-subbies

CTU: Focus on housing costs, raise wages not interest rates http://union.org.nz/news/2014/focus-housing-costs-raise-wages-not-interest-rates

Greens: Govt fails Southern Cross Forest workers http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1404/S00386/govt-fails-southern-cross-forest-workers.htm

NZ-HISTORY

Lest We Remember – As millions of dollars are spent on World War I and the Anzacs, the 150th anniversary of the wars at home are getting short shrift by Alison McCulloch http://werewolf.co.nz/2014/04/lest-we-remember/

STATS OF THE WEEK

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“To learn to see all the crimes against humanity, all the indignities to which the human body and spirit are subjected, as the twisted outgrowths and expressions of the existing social system, in order to direct all our energies into a collective struggle against this system – that is the direction in which the burning desire for revenge can find its highest moral satisfaction.” – Leon Trotsky, “Why Marxists Oppose Individual Terrorism”, November 1911

“Humanity faces a crisis of a scale unlike any it has encountered in the past. Those who are alive today have the power to ensure that human beings have a desirable future on this planet. We can accomplish this historic task or we can condemn succeeding generations to utter misery and, ultimately, to nonexistence.” – Umair Muhammad in ‘Confronting Injustice’

FEATURES

Free Transit:: Three Reasons It Is an Idea Whose Time Has Come by Michael Laxer http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/969.php

Robert Fisk: Do those who flaunt the poppy on their lapels know that they mock the war dead? http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-do-those-who-flaunt-the-poppy-on-their-lapels-know-that-they-mock-the-war-dead-6257416.html

Raising Our Expectations by Sam Gindin https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/04/raising-our-expectations/

"Utopian Potential of the Internet": Astra Taylor on How to Take Back Power & Culture in Digital Age http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/25/utopian_potential_of_the_internet_astra

Internet For The Wealthy On The Way Unless We Stop It: – Take Action Today: Immediate mobilization required to save open Internet

http://www.popularresistance.org/internet-for-the-wealthy/

Brazil’s ‘Internet Bill of Rights’ a Victory for Web Freedom:

"This is a truly historical day for people power, with Brazil now leading the world in keeping the net neutral." http://shamassiah.blogspot.mx/2014/04/brazils-internet-bill-of-rights-victory.html

Brands’ commitment to Rana Plaza compensation fund woefully inadequate http://www.industriall-union.org/brands-commitment-to-rana-plaza-compensation-fund-woefully-inadequate

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

Dean Baker | Economic Policy in a Post-Piketty World http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/23205-economic-policy-in-a-post-piketty-world

Time To Rein In Grossly Overpaid Ceos http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/4/ceo-pay-executivecompensationdoddfrank.html

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Exposing the ugly truth about Rio Tinto http://www.industriall-union.org/exposing-the-uggly-truth-about-rio-tinto

What’s behind the expansion drive of fossil fuel industries across North America? http://www.rogerannis.com/whats-behind-the-expansion-drive-of-canadas-and-north-americas-fossil-fuel-industries/

Earth Day Special: "Fierce Green Fire" Documentary Explores Environmental Movement’s Global Rise http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/22/earth_day_special_fierce_green_fire

CULTURAL DISSENT

Gabriel García Márquez in His Own Words on Writing "100 Years of Solitude" http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/18/gabriel_garcia_marquez_in_his_own

"He Gave Us Back Our History": Isabel Allende on Gabriel García Márquez in Exclusive Interview http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/18/he_gave_us_back_our_history

Review: Cesar Chavez Remembered, Warts and All http://labornotes.org/blogs/2014/04/review-cesar-chavez-remembered-warts-and-all

Toms River: How a Small Town Fought Back Against Corporate Giants for Toxic Dumping Linked to Cancer http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/23/toms_river_how_a_small_town

Out Of The Past: In films like A Separation and The Past, Asghar Farhadi has become Iran’s most celebrated cultural export. There’s a price. by Gordon Campbell http://werewolf.co.nz/2014/04/out-of-the-past/

"Silenced" Film Explores the Human Toll of Obama’s Crackdown on National Security Whistleblowers http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/24/silenced_film_explores_the_human_toll

AUSTRALIA

Assault on unions steps up – Govt sends in bailiffs to take workers’ homes http://www.cpa.org.au/guardian/2014/1634/01-assault-on-unions-steps-up.html

BOLIVIA

Coeur Mines Treading in Dangerous Water at San Bartolome Mine in Bolivia

by Kirsten Francescone http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/971.php

BOSNIA

Hope in Bosnia-Herzegovina revolt; Graphic new doco on wave of people’s power http://links.org.au/node/3809

BURMA

Striking Burmese Workers at Mae Sot Factory Win Concessions http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/striking-burmese-workers-mae-sot-factory-win-concessions.html

CANADA

Wife of Canada’s prime minister shows callous disregard for missing and murdered women http://www.rogerannis.com/wife-of-canadas-prime-minister-shows-callous-disregard-for-missing-and-murdered-women/

CHINA

48,000 Chinese Strikers Say, Adidas, Nike, Timberland: You Fix It! – See more at: http://labornotes.org/2014/04/48000-chinese-strikers-say-adidas-nike-timberland-you-fix-it#sthash.UhKlg0dK.dpuf

Statement on large strike at the Yue Yuen shoe factory http://www.chinalaborwatch.org/news/new-482.html

Yue Yuen Drops in Hong Kong as Strike Disrupts Output http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-21/china-strike-at-nike-adidas-factory-extends-to-sixth-day.html

HAITI

U.N. Struggles to Stem Haiti Cholera Epidemic http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/20/world/americas/un-struggles-to-stem-haiti-cholera-epidemic.html

INDIA

Victory against all odds in the MSWU elections! http://marutisuzukiworkersunion.wordpress.com/2014/04/11/victory-against-all-odds-in-the-mswu-elections/

JAPAN

Robert Fisk: Sinister efforts to minimise Japanese war crimes and portray the empire as a victim must be exposed http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/robert-fisk-sinister-efforts-to-minimise-japanese-war-crimes-and-portray-the-empire-as-a-victim-must-be-exposed-9242156.html

KOREA

South Korean film spotlights claims of sickness linked to Samsung plants http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/05/south-korean-film-claims-sickness-samsung

The Tragedy of Sewol Reveals Structural Problems in South Korean Society http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?code=790101&artid=201404211623357

NIGERIA

Mass protests sweep Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan http://links.org.au/node/3815

PACIFIC

Marshall Islands Case against the Nuclear-Armed States http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1404/S00365/marshall-islands-case-against-the-nuclear-armed-states.htm

PALESTINE

US Pursues ‘Peace’ on Israel’s Terms http://www.palestinechronicle.com/us-pursues-peace-on-israels-terms/

Special Report: Palestinian Prisoners Denied the Right to Education http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1404/S00191/palestinian-prisoners-denied-the-right-to-education.htm

"How and When I Stopped Being Jewish": Shlomo Sand and Demystifying the Myths of Zionist Historiography http://english.dohainstitute.org/release/2fd3c06b-ab8e-41f1-8744-73b83a546252

Israel’s War on American Universities http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/israels_war_on_american_universities_20140316/

The New York Times Criticized for Submitting to Israeli Censors http://www.juancole.com/2014/04/criticized-submitting-israeli.html

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia jails lawyer and human rights activist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k68rOq24l90&feature=youtu.be

SOUTH AFRICA

Ronnie Kasrils calls for ‘no vote’ for African National Congress http://links.org.au/node/3814

SWEDEN

How the welfare state was stolen http://links.org.au/node/3813

SYRIA

Rebel In-Fighting Endangers Syrian Civilians in their Territory http://www.damascusbureau.org/?p=6705

THAILAND

Thailand’s Rich and Powerful Royalists (Trailer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcX8p-ReCYo&list=TLRJl-eez61NaptdUUArAtWjrZySiDVcq4

TURKEY

(Re)Radicalization of the Working Class in Turkey?: An Appraisal of Recent Workplace Occupations by Mehmet Erman Erol http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/972.php

UK

Cumbrian nuclear dump ‘virtually certain’ to be eroded by rising sea levels http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/apr/20/choice-cumbria-nuclear-dump-mistake-environment-agency

GCHQ, the Guardian and British political culture: lessons from the Snowden leaks – See more at: http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/opinion/17160-gchq-the-guardian-and-british-political-culture-lessons-from-the-snowden-leaks-

UKRAINE

Threats and attacks by NATO and Kiev government against eastern Ukraine http://www.rogerannis.com/threats-by-nato-and-ukraine-against-the-russian-and-ukrainian-people/

The Ukraine Imbroglio and the Decline of the American Empire http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/04/18/the-ukraine-imbroglio-and-the-decline-of-the-american-empire/

Ukraine, Russia and the miners of the Donbass http://rs21.org.uk/2014/04/16/ukraine-russia-and-the-miners-of-the-donbass/

The Perils of Intervention – Ukraine: From Crisis to Catastrophe http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/04/22/ukraine-from-crisis-to-catastrophe/

USA

Kshama Sawant — ‘Not enough to boo Democrats, we have to pose a real challenge’ http://links.org.au/node/3810

An Int’l Trail of Death and Heartbreak: How the Bush Wars came home with the Vets http://www.juancole.com/2014/04/trail-death-heartbreak.html

Too Big to Jail? Why Kidnapping, Torture, Assassination, and Perjury Are No Longer Crimes in Washington http://www.juancole.com/2014/04/kidnapping-assassination-washington.html

How the revolving door lets Hollywood shape Obama’s trade agenda http://www.vox.com/2014/4/22/5636466/hollywood-just-hired-another-white-house-trade-official

m Crow in the Classroom: New Report Finds Segregation Lives on in U.S. Schools http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/23/resegregation_of_american_students_new_report

USA – WORKERS REVOLT

Auto Parts Workers Strike for Recognition, Strategy Is to Shut Down Assembly Plant – See more at: http://labornotes.org/2014/04/auto-parts-workers-strike-recognition-strategy-shut-down-assembly-plant

Viewpoint: More Seattles, Please http://labornotes.org/2014/04/viewpoint-more-seattles-please

Minimum Wage & McDonald’s Spending Journal http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/8fg72p/minimum-wage—mcdonald-s-spending-journal

Why Passengers Cheered a Vermont Bus Strike http://labornotes.org/2014/04/why-passengers-cheered-vermont-bus-strike

Peter Van Buren, I’m a Whistleblower: Want Fries with That? http://www.tomdispatch.com/dialogs/print/?id=175835

VENEZUELA

Can A Country Have A Revolutionary State and A Capitalist Economy? An Interview with Steve Ellner http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/973.php