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GPJA #432: Part 2. International news & Analysis – 29/6/12

June 29, 2012 Leave a comment

CULTURAL DISSENT

The Violent Visions of Slavoj Žižek http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/jul/12/violent-visions-slavoj-zizek/

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“This is the world’s biggest banks stealing money that would otherwise have gone toward textbooks and medicine and housing for ordinary Americans, and turning the cash into sports cars and bonuses for the already rich. It’s the equivalent of robbing a charity or a church fund to pay for lap dances.” Matt Taibbi, on the little-publicized recent municipal bond bid-rigging convictions that involved nearly all America’s top banks, Rolling Stone, June 21, 2012

STATS OF THE WEEK

Billionaire Sheldon Adelson is planning on dumping $100 million into this year’s elections. But that sum equals just 0.4 percent of Adelson’s total net worth. That’s the equivalent of a typical American family — net worth $77,300 — making a $310 political contribution.

FEATURES

Open University of the Left, Dr. William Pelz, Austerity and Democracy: North American and European Comparisons.

John Pilger: History is the enemy as “brilliant” psy-ops become the news – From Agent Orange in South Vietnam to Obama’s drone attacks in Afghanistan and war in Syria, Washington spins its assaults on the world as it cynically lives up to a reputation for casual slaughter. http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/international-politics/2012/06/history-enemy-brilliant-psy-ops-become-news

Zionism versus the Jewish labour movement http://tinyurl.com/7rpl7hm

Who fought anti-Semitism? Socialism vs. Zionism in the 1930s http://tinyurl.com/7bj4q3o

Julian Assange, Noam Chomsky and Tariq Ali http://therealnews.com/t2/component/hwdvideoshare/?task=viewvideo&video_id=73991

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

NYT graphic on growing inequality in USA http://unitenews.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/new-york-times-graphic-on-economic-trends-from-1947-to-now/

The Chart That Scares The “1%” The Most: Capitalists have been gripped by ‘systemic fear’ making them worry not about the day-to-day movements of growth, employment, and profit, but about ‘losing their grip’. An interesting recent article by the Real-World Economics Review on the Asymptotes of Power focuses on the fact that the capitalists are forced to realize that their system may not be eternal, and that it may not survive in its current form. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/chart-scares-1-most

Introducing the Robin Hood Tax: Chris Martin (Coldplay), Mark Ruffalo (Avengers, The Kids Are Alright), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) and economist Jeffrey Sachs star alongside ordinary Americans in calling for a Robin Hoo http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Bd_U2mnHqMU

The Scam Wall Street Learned From the Mafia http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-scam-wall-street-learned-from-the-mafia-20120620#ixzz1ywIozcpX

Reports from the Economic Front by Martin Hart-Landsberg – The Production Behind The Consumption: Apple products continue to enjoy high praise for their performance and appearance. Largely ignored are the oppressive conditions experienced by those workers that produce them. http://media.lclark.edu/content/hart-landsberg/2012/06/27/the-production-behind-the-consumption/

A Diamond standard by Michael Roberts: Bob Diamond is chief executive officer of the giant UK bank, Barclays. This American executive is paid more than any other banker in the UK. http://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/a-diamond-standard/

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIROMENT

The RIO+20 U.N. Conference: An Ecosocialist Assessment http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/656.php

Credo of a Passionate Skeptic: Essay & Poems in Remembrance of Adrienne Rich by Adrienne Rich http://monthlyreview.org/2012/06/01/credo-of-a-passionate-skeptic-remembrance-of-adrienn-rich

AUSTRALIA

Refugee Action Collective (Vic) – Government to blame for asylum seeker lives lost at sea http://enpassant.com.au/2012/06/22/refugee-action-collective-vic-government-to-blame-for-asylum-seeker-lives-lost-at-sea/

FOREIGN INVESTORS SUING GOVERNMENTS: Australian National radio interview on ISDS and leaked TPP investment chapter http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/foreign-investors-suing-governments/4082456

Gina Rinehart stalks crisis-hit media http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51423

Rescue was too slow in asylum boat tragedy http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51410

Greens leader reflects on way forward on asylum policy http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-27/greens-leader-reflects-on-way-forward-on-asylum/4096638

BOLIVIA

Evo Morales rules out troops, warns his supporters will defend the government “to the last” as police rebel http://boliviarising.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/bolivia-leader-rules-out-troops-warns.html

Social organisations reject attempts at coup and announce mobilizations in defence of democracy http://boliviarising.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/bolivia-social-organisations-reject.html

Bolivia, fearing coup from police mutiny, deploys troops http://boliviarising.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/bolivia-fearing-coup-from-police-mutiny.html

Despite pay deal, police recommit to mutiny http://boliviarising.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/bolivia-despite-pay-deal-police.html

BULGARIA

We want nature not concrete: Anti-privatisation protests continue in Bulgaria http://tinyurl.com/7q4j3pa

CANADA

Summer of organizing ahead: The challenges facing Quebec’s student movement http://www.rogerannis.com/summer-of-organizing-ahead-the-challenges-facing-quebecs-student-movement/#more-941

Québec solidaire agrees to talks on electoral agreement with other pro-sovereignty parties http://www.rogerannis.com/quebec-solidaire-agrees-to-talks-on-electoral-agreement-with-other-pro-sovereignty-parties/

Paraguay’s Parliamentary Coup and Ottawa’s Imperial Response http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/657.php

Quebec’s inquiry into corruption in construction industry/government http://www.rogerannis.com/quebecs-inquiry-into-corruption-in-construction-industrygovernment/

“You know society is sick when education is regarded as a commodity and the Grand Prix is seen as a social project”

CUBA

Translation: How to view the glass? http://cubasocialistrenewal.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/translation-how-to-view-glass.html

ECUADOR

Ecuador’s support for media freedom — the real story http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51416

EGYPT

Cheers greet Morsi’s win amid fears of Egypt’s military junta http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/cheers-greet-morsis-win-amid-fears-of-egypts-military-junta/

Morsi in office but not in power http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/international/15859-egypt-morsi-in-office-but-not-in-power

GREECE

‘Our struggle resumes’, SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras’ election night speech http://links.org.au/node/2916

Greek Election Result: An Assessment http://www.social-europe.eu/2012/06/greek-election-result-an-assessment/

Greece’s far right rears its head http://socialistworker.org/2012/06/20/greek-far-right-rears-its-head

Greece: The aftermath – Following the Greek elections, James Meadway argues that a mass movement needs to be built against austerity as the European crisis worsens http://tinyurl.com/7mjq686

The Challenges of the Greek Left After the Election – An Assessment and Report-Back: Leo Panitch – Editor, Socialist Register, Professor of Political Economy, York University. After two years of anti-austerity street battles, Greece is in the midst of a highly polarized electoral battle, with voting set for Sunday June 17th. Syriza, the Coalition of the Radical Left, gained 10% over their previous election result. But the direction and programme of Syriza is far from settled, and containing many contradictions and tensions. The crisis in Greece and Europe is far from settled, and will enter a new phase. Leo Panitch having just returned from a week in Greece where he met many senior officials in Syriza, and also of the radical left coalition Antarsya, speaking at one of their congresses. http://www.socialistproject.ca/leftstreamed/ls144.php

HONDURAS

hree Years After Coup in Honduras, Legacy is One of Murders, Impunity, and Coups and Attempted Coups Elsewhere in the Region, CEPR Co-Director Says http://tinyurl.com/da63xf

Honduras police roadblock

ICELAND

A crisis continues in Iceland http://socialistworker.org/2012/06/21/crisis-continues-in-iceland

INDONESIA

Indonesian anti-corruption fighter Sely Martini works to help the disadvantaged http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pmc-blog/indonesian-anti-corruption-fighter-sely-martini-works-help-disadvantaged

IRAN

Iranian unionists jailed while regime steals nation’s assets http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/iranian-unionists-jailed-while-regime-steals-nations-assets/

LIBYA

Libya’s former PM Mahmoudi ‘tortured’ on forced return to Tripoli http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/27/libya-mahmoudi-tortured-return-tripoli

MEXICO

A Left-Wing Comeback in Mexico’s Presidential Elections? http://www.thenation.com/article/168564/left-wing-comeback-mexicos-presidential-elections

NICARAGUA

Poverty or a roof and cheap beans? Why Nicaragua chose Ortega http://mondediplo.com/2012/06/11nicaragua

PACIFIC

Pacific Buzz: Voting in PNG | Rio wrap | Tongan democracy | Media concerns…and more http://www.pacificpolicy.org/blog/2012/06/27/pacific-buzz-voting-in-png-rio-wrap-tongan-democracy-media-concerns-and-more/

KIRIBATI: RSF concerned over delay, ‘harassment’ over newspaper licence http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/kiribati-rsf-concerned-over-delay-harassment-over-newspaper-licence-7989

PAKISTAN

Free Baba Jan – sign the open letter*Watch the new GLTV video

Video a short message of solidarity to Baba Jan* and his four comrades jailed with him and post it to the Free Baba Jan Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/124069531026580/

Join Noam Chomsky, Tariq Ali and many others* around the world in signing the open letter in support of Labour Party Pakistan activist Baba

Jan http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/free-baba-jan

PALESTINE

Gaza: where every moment counts by Julie Webb-Pullman http://gaza.scoop.ps/2012/06/gaza-where-every-moment-counts/

Children in military custody: In September 2011 a UK delegation of 9 lawyers travelled to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to assess the treatment of Palestinian children under Israeli military law… http://www.childreninmilitarycustody.org/

Outrage as Israel breaks prisoner agreement http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=497473

The Ultra Zionists http://documentarystorm.com/the-ultra-zionists/

‘Police state!’ chant Israelis after protest leader arrested http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/police-state-chant-israelis-after-protest-leader-arrested/

Palestinian child victim of Israeli attacks on Gaza

TA protest: Police arrest social justice leader Leef http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=274833

Segregated Roads: The Infrastructure Of Apartheid http://stopthewall.org/segregated-roads-infrastructure-apartheid

Israeli prime minister vows to escalate attacks on Gaza http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/israeli-prime-minister-vows-to-escalate-attacks-on-gaza/

Palestinian women overcome hurdles to become footballers http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/palestinian-women-overcome-hurdles-to-become-footballers/

PARAGUAY

What will Washington do about Fernando Lugo’s ouster in Paraguay? This hasty, trumped-up impeachment of President Lugo amounts to a coup d’etat. The US must back democratic process http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/22/washington-fernando-lugo-ouster-paraguay

Paraguays president, former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo greeting the crowd after his swearing in ceremony in Asunción in 2008

SOUTH KOREA

200,000 South Korean taxi drivers strike for better pay http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-06-20/south-korean-taxi-drivers-strike-for-better-pay/964062

SPAIN

Seven miners still occupy the Santa Cruz del Pil mine after a month underground in protest of huge government cuts in Spanish mining that will see mass redundancies and the destruction of the industry. http://www.reportdigital.co.uk/public/publicshowfootage.php?fn=JSP120621001

Spain: After austerity, the rescue? http://tinyurl.com/8x9ta7v

The Spanish Miners’ Strike http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/international/15858-the-spanish-miners-strike

SUDAN

Regime digs its own grave in face of popular uprising http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51442

Sudanese Anti-government Protests Mushroom http://www.globalpolicy.org/home/206-sudan/51716-sudanese-anti-government-protests-mushroom.html

SYRIA

Syria Debate: Brian Becker exposes US effort to re-colonize Middle East – Why US is promoting civil war in Syria http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/video-brian-becker-rt-syria-debate-06-15-2012.html

Syrian leftist decries Western leftists who shun the uprising http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/syrian-leftist-decries-western-leftists-who-shun-the-uprising/

Syria: Only Diplomacy Can Stop the War

UK
Blair blocked Cabinet from hearing legal advice on Iraq http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/blair-blocked-cabinet-from-hearing-legal-advice-on-iraq-7878737.html

G4S chief predicts mass police privatisation http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/20/g4s-chief-mass-police-privatisation

How G4S is ‘securing your world’ http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/20/g4s-securing-your-world-policing