GPJA #442 (Part 2): International news & Analysis – 28/9/12

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“… the spirit of the market steals life from the vulnerable” Sir Paul Reeves quoted in Anne Salmond: Shifting New Zealand’s Mindset

“The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil. We see before us a huge community of producers the members of which are unceasingly striving to deprive each other of the fruits of their collective labor – not by force, but on the whole in faithful compliance with legally established rules. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals.” Albert Einstein

“Since the late 1970s, economic policy has increasingly served the interests of those with the most wealth, income, and political power and effectively shifted economic returns from typical American families to the already well-off.” Lawrence Mishel, Josh Bivens, Elise Gould, and Heidi Shierholz, The State of Working America, 12th edition, Economic Policy Institute, September 12, 2012.

STATS OF THE WEEK

In 2011, new Census data show, the share of U.S. income going to the statistical middle class — the nation’s middle 60 percent of households — fell to 45.7 percent, the lowest share since the Census Bureau started tracking this stat in 1967.

FEATURES

Culture of Concessions Has Gutted Organized Labour by Sam Gindin http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/702.php

Ignorance on Parade – Islamophobia, Left and Right http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/09/18/islamophobia-left-and-right/

Deadly Denim: Workers Burned Alive Making Jeans for Export http://laborrightsblog.typepad.com/international_labor_right/2012/09/deadly-denim-workers-burned-alive-making-jeans-for-export.html

US preparing for long siege of Arab unrest http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/us-preparing-for-long-siege-of-arab-unrest/

The failed war on drugs http://www.onlinecriminaljusticedegree.com/failed-war-on-drugs/

What if there are no unions anymore http://unionrenewal.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/what-if-there-are-no-unions-anymore.html

Vygotsky versus Gove: The recent furore over GCSE grades has once again thrown into sharp relief the clash between two philosophies of education that underpins most controversies in the sector, explains Sean Ledwith http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/156-education/16018-vygotsky-versus-gove http://links.org.au/node/3038

The problem with unions is they’re not strong enough: Trade unions are subject to hysterical abuse, but they are essential to democracy, equality and economic recovery by Seumas Milne http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/11/trade-unions-not-strong-enough

The Black Bloc Doth Protest Too Much http://www.indypendent.org/2012/09/15/black-bloc-doth-protest-too-much

Mark Weisbrot on AEI Panel about Julian Assange’s Asylum to Ecuador

Social Democracy After the Cold War: Edited by Bryan Evans and Ingo Schmidt, published by AU Press. Guest speaker: Leo Panitch.

Offering a comparative look at social democratic experience since the Cold War, the volume examines countries where social democracy has long been an influential political force – Sweden, Germany, Britain, and Australia – while also considering the history of Canada’s NDP, the social democratic tradition in the United States, and the emergence of New Left parties in Germany and the province of Québec. Once marked by redistributive and egalitarian policy perspectives, social democracy has, the book argues, assumed a new role – that of a modernizing force advancing the neoliberal cause. http://www.socialistproject.ca/leftstreamed/ls150.php

Marta Harnecker: Conquering a new popular hegemony http://links.org.au/node/3038

LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Green is also the colour of money: EU carbon trading failure as a model for the ‘green economy’ http://links.org.au/node/3024

Keystone XL pipeline raises tribal concerns http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/keystone-xl-pipeline-raises-tribal-concerns/2012/09/17/3d1ada3a-f097-11e1-adc6-87dfa8eff430_story.html

Fracking: Boom or Doom – America’s hydraulic fracturing gold rush portends the greatest environmental disaster of a generation http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-09-19/news/boom-or-doom-fracking-environment/

Speculating Banks Profit as World’s Poorest Go Hungry https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/09/03-3

Global carbon trade collapses into hot air http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52285

WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

South America shows different way from Euro crisis http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52197

How to End Hard Times? Reduce Inequality http://inequality.org/hard-times-reduce-inequality/

What Krugman & Stiglitz Can Tell Us http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/sep/27/what-krugman-stiglitz-can-tell-us/

Why Inequality Matters, a pamphlet produced by members of My Fair London in association with the Equality Trust, with funding support from Centre for Labour and Social Studies, September 2012, 32 pp. http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/docs/why-inequality-matters.pdf

Reports from the Economic Front by Martin Hart-Landsberg – Taxes And The Wealthy http://blogs.lclark.edu/hart-landsberg/2012/09/20/taxes-and-the-wealthy/

CULTURAL DISSENT

Who’s Afraid of Pussy Riot? http://www.rebelfrequencies.net/2012/09/whos-afraid-of-pussy-riot.html

A Man of No Mind by Colm Tóibín: review of The Dream of the Celt by Mario Vargas Llosa, translated by Edith Grossman. http://www.lrb.co.uk/v34/n17/colm-toibin/a-man-of-no-mind

New Novel of Harlem Renaissance Is Found http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/15/books/harlem-renaissance-novel-by-claude-mckay-is-discovered.html

Red hot opposition to Chilli Peppers over Israel gig http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/red-hot-opposition-to-chile-peppers-over-israel-gig/

Pricing exploitation: A new book delves into the lives of the women migrants who toil 15 hours a day in garment factories on the Thai-Myanmar border http://www.nationmultimedia.com/life/Pricing-exploitation-30190461.html

Which side are you on? Ken Loach’s documentary about the 1984 UK Miners Strike and the Tory government’s vicious campaign of violence which finally subdued it. The film features the miners and their families experiences told through songs, poems and other art. http://pulsemedia.org/2012/09/19/36885/

The Flint Sit-Down Strike in Comics http://www.dissentmagazine.org/online.php?id=630

Joss Whedon’s Monster Riot – Adam Turl reviews Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard’s Cabin the Woods http://www.redwedgemagazine.com/5/post/2012/09/joss-whedons-monster-riot.html

Jasper Bernes and Joshua Clover on The Rebirth of History: Times of Riots and Uprisings by Alain Badiou http://lareviewofbooks.org/print.php?id=949

Thieves of Bay Street Review by Roger Annis: The title of this new book by Bruce Livesey pretty much sums it up. And in case there should be any misunderstanding, the title is not referring to “rogue traders” or “bad apples” in the bank towers and stock trading rooms of Canada’s financial strip. No, it’s the whole financial edifice that is examined. http://www.rogerannis.com/thieves-of-bay-street/

Come Back Woody Guthrie http://dissentmagazine.org/online.php?id=618

AFGHANISTAN

Drone warfare’s deadly civilian toll: a very personal view – “I was minutes from ordering a drone strike on a Taliban insurgent – until I realised I was watching an Afghan child at play” http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/19/drone-warfare-deadly-civilian-toll

AUSTRALIA

Eyewitness account of police riot against peaceful Muslim protest in Australia http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52259

Don’t Say “West Papua” in Australia? http://dontsaythesewords.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/cant-say-west-papua-in-australia/

Gina Rinehart’s moral universe is twisted http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52180

Cuba educator: Yes we can eradicate illiteracy http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52340

We must reject the anti-Muslim hysteria http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52331

Five reasons to build big solar power in Port Augusta http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52321

CANADA

Major victory for Quebec students, environmental activists http://lifeonleft.blogspot.ca/2012/09/major-victory-for-quebec-students.html

PQ acts on pledge to tax the wealthy http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/pq-acts-on-pledge-to-tax-the-wealthy/article4565716/

Together, we can block Harper: Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois and CLASSE to tour Canada By Ethan Cox, http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/ethan-cox/2012/09/nadeau-dubois-and-classe-tour-canada

Funeral for Collective Bargaining Rights – First We Mourn, Then We Fight http://www.socialistproject.ca/leftstreamed/ls149.php

Canada’s pipeline wars of the 1950s: a memoir http://tinyurl.com/9rt6nrc

PQ confirms it’ll close Gentilly nuclear power plant http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Ahead+documentary+raising+questions+about+safety+Quebec/7226682/story.html

Another NHL Lockout: An Alternative View by Julian Ammirante and Tyler Shipley http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/698.php

Quebec nationalist leader critiques PQ’s anti-immigrant ‘charter of exclusion’ http://lifeonleft.blogspot.ca/2012/09/quebec-nationalist-leader-critiques-pqs.html

Taking Liberties: Canada’s Growing Torture Infrastructure by Matthew Behrens http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/700.php

CHINA

China’s Inequality Gini Out of the Bottle http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/09/17/chinas-inequality-gini-out-of-the-bottle/

Apple’s new products increase pressure on Foxconn workers http://www.industriall-union.org/apples-new-products-increase-pressure-on-foxconn-workers

COLOMBIA

Colombian Prison Strikes Continue-Inhumane Conditions “Made in the USA” https://afgj.org/colombian-prison-strikes-continue-inhumane-conditions-%E2%80%9Cmade-in-the-usa%E2%80%9D

Colombian GM Workers Back on Hunger Strike After Negotiations Break Down http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=8831

CUBA

Report to the UN: Cuba and the world versus the US blockade, 2012 http://links.org.au/node/3034

EGYPT

After The Revolution In Egypt, What Has Changed For The Workers? http://www.equaltimes.org/in-depth/after-the-revolution-in-egypt-what-has-changed-for-the-workers

In Egypt, anti-US and union protests challenge president http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/in-egypt-anti-us-and-union-protests-challenge-president/

Egyptian workers go on strike over pay and policies http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/egyptian-workers-go-on-strike-over-pay-and-policies/

WORKERS TAKE OVER AUTO FACTORY IN EGYPT

Egypt’s left launches ‘Democratic Revolutionary Coalition’ http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/53304.aspx

HAITI

Over 150 Thousand Haitians Benefited with Cuban Literacy Program http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2012/0910Haitians-%20Benefited.htm

UN human rights official visits Haiti, deplores lack of progress on housing, justice system and prison conditions http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/roger-annis/2012/09/un-human-rights-official-visits-haiti-deplores-lack-progress-hous

UN official: Despite progress, Haiti facing challenges on justice reform and poverty http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42916&Cr=haiti&Cr1

Anti-Martelly uprisings sweep Haiti By Yves Pierre-Louis & Kim Ives, published in the weekly Haiti Liberté, Sept 19, 2012

http://canadahaitiaction.ca/content/anti-martelly-uprisings-sweep-haiti

UN human rights official visits Haiti, deplores lack of progress on housing, justice system and prison condition http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/roger-annis/2012/09/un-human-rights-official-visits-haiti-deplores-lack-progress-hous

NICARAGUA

Optimism and Hope in Nicaragua https://afgj.org/optimism-and-hope-in-nicaragua

PACIFIC

Indonesian Police’s Pot of Gold in Papua http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/indonesian-polices-pot-of-gold-in-papua/545507

PAKISTAN

Pakistan Factory Fires Tied to Criminal Negligence by Government and Employers http://tinyurl.com/9r4hod7

Drone attacks in Pakistan are counterproductive, says report – US academics’ report says drones kill large numbers of civilians and increase recruitment by militant groups http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/25/drone-attacks-pakistan-counterproductive-report

PALESTINE

‘Liberation’ needed from Oslo Accords: West Bank leaders http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/liberation-needed-from-oslo-accords-palestinian-leaders/

Anti-Austerity Protests Sweep West Bank

Calls for justice 30 years after Israeli-led atrocity in Lebanon http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/calls-for-justice-30-years-after-israeli-led-atrocity-in-lebanon/

Video: Ilan Pappe on ‘The forgotten Palestinians’ http://links.org.au/node/3033

Imagining a Post Two-State Solution for Israel and Palestine http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/26/israel-palestine-post-two-state-solution

PORTUGAL

Portugal: the spell is broken – Portugal has seen the biggest protests since the 1974 revolution – the people have unequivocally said no to the troika and no to austerity http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/international/16043-portugal-the-spell-is-broken

SOUTH AFRICA

Terry Bell: Marikana — and SA’s frayed social fabric http://terrybellwrites.com/2012/09/24/marikana-and-sas-frayed-social-fabric/

Terry Bell: Cosatu congress to paper over cracks before Mangaung http://www.iol.co.za/business/business-news/cosatu-congress-to-paper-over-cracks-before-mangaung-1.1382936

Mine Strike Spreads to Chrome Sector http://allafrica.com/stories/201209170679.html

SPAIN

Thousands Surround Spanish Parliament in Bid to “Occupy Congress” and Stop Austerity http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/26/thousands_surround_spanish_parliament_in_bid

Farewell Spain? Catalan independence march sends huge shockwave http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52258

Anti-Austerity Protests Hit Spain, Portugal As Government Tries To Implement Cuts http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/16/anti-austerity-protests-spain_n_1887971.html

Spanish unions lead workers in protest against austerity http://www.industriall-union.org/spanish-unions-lead-workers-in-protest-against-austerity

¡BASTA! Revolution becomes reality in Spain http://www.occupy.com/article/%C2%A1basta-revolution-becomes-reality-spain

SRI LANKA

New history book details Tamil struggle http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52278

SYRIA

Among the Alawites – Nir Rosen reports from Syria http://www.lrb.co.uk/v34/n18/nir-rosen/among-the-alawites

For background on the history of the Assad family dynsasty in Syria, watch a new, one hour braodcast, in two parts, on PBS’ Frontline program: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/battle-for-syria/

The Kurdish question in Syria: a litmus test http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/international/16052-the-kurdish-question-in-syria-a-lithmus-test

UK

How We Happened to Sell Off Our Electricity by James Meek http://www.lrb.co.uk/v34/n17/james-meek/how-we-happened-to-sell-off-our-electricity

Hillsborough: we got truth, now we want justice http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/124-investigations/16032-hillsborough-we-got-truth-now-we-want-justice

USA

The Meaning of the Chicago Teachers’ Strike – What Really Happened in Chicago http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/09/26/what-really-happened-in-chicago/

“Empowerment” Against Democracy: Tinseltown and the Teachers’ Unions http://dissentmagazine.org/online.php?id=631

7 Days that Shook Chicago: The 2012 Chicago Teachers Strike by Peter Brogan http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/697.php

Chicago teachers beat off attack, show way forward http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52326

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis: Deal Ending Strike a Victory for Education http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/19/chicago_teachers_union_president_karen_lewis

‘Class’ Warfare: A Primer on the Chicago Teachers Strike by Justin Panos http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/696.php

Chicago teachers’ strike defies onslaught on education http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52216

From Guantánamo to NDAA: Obama Admin Bids to Preserve Indefinite Detention at Home and Abroad http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/18/obama_admin_appeals_ndaa_ruling_in

Voting’s Outcasts: Why One in Five Blacks in Kentucky Can’t Cast a Ballot http://www.thenation.com/blog/170002/votings-outcasts-why-one-five-blacks-kentucky-cant-cast-ballot

US census figures show more than one in five children are living in poverty http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/sep/12/us-census-figures-children-poverty

The 47% (sorry 46%) – an addendum http://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/the-47-sorry-46-an-addendum/

America’s Refusal to Extradite Bolivia’s Ex-President to Face Genocide Charges http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/09/america-refusal-extradite-bolivia

The Uprising of ’34: How could such a pivotal moment in American history be kept a secret for 60 years? Textile workers recall with pride the long-supressed story of the General Textile Strike of 1934 when 500,000 Southern mill laborers walked off their jobs. George Stoney, Judith Helfand and Susanne Rostock’s probing film explores how the strike still impacts labor, power and economics in the South today. http://www.pbs.org/pov/uprisingof34/full.php?ref=povhpc1

“Harvest of Empire”: New Film Recounts How U.S. Intervention Caused Mass Latin American Migrations http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/25/harvest_of_empire_new_film_recounts

VENEZUELA

High stakes in Venezuelan election: A rightwing victory for Capriles over Chávez next month would kill Venezuela’s political culture and hopes of a new world order http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/16/high-stakes-venezuela-election-capriles-chavez

Former US President Carter: Venezuelan Electoral System “Best in the World” http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/7272

President Chávez, “Deepening the Revolution” with Housing Mission http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/7267

Chavez campaign points to gains of revolution, youth mobilise for socialism http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52334