From Ytzhak at telus.net Mon Jul 7 20:56:38 2003 From: Ytzhak at telus.net (Ytzhak) Date: Mon, 07 Jul 2003 20:56:38 -0700 Subject: [news] New Jersey Assembly Votes to Cut Embattled Poet's Job Message-ID: <3F0A40F6.BDBC71F5@telus.net> New Jersey Assembly Votes to Cut Embattled Poet's Job By LAURA MANSNERUS RENTON, July 1 ? The New Jersey General Assembly approved a measure today to eliminate the post of state poet laureate. The legislation would effectively remove the poet, Amiri Baraka, who had caused a furor with his poem referring to the 9/11 attacks. The 69-to-2 vote sends the bill to Gov. James E. McGreevey, who has vigorously denounced Mr. Baraka for the poem, which suggests that Israelis knew about the terrorist plot in advance. In the uproar that followed Mr. Baraka's public reading of the poem last fall, Mr. McGreevey asked him to resign. When he refused, and the governor learned that he had no authority to dismiss the poet laureate, legislators gathered dozens of sponsors for the bill abolishing the post. The State Senate approved the measure in January with 21 votes, the minimum needed for passage, after a debate in which some expressed concerns about censorship. The other 19 senators abstained. The two dissenting votes today were cast by Assemblymen William D. Payne and Donald Tucker, both of Newark. Mr. Baraka is a longtime resident of Newark, and while he was under attack in Trenton, he was named poet laureate of the Newark public school system. Under the name LeRoi Jones, Mr. Baraka, who is black, wrote an autobiography, in addition to poems and essays growing out of his experience during Newark's racial turmoil in the 1960's. Shai Goldstein, the regional director of the New Jersey office of the Anti-Defamation League, said today that Mr. Baraka did not have strong support among blacks. Mr. Goldstein said that 4 of the original 16 sponsors of the bill were African-American, and that the Black Ministers' Council of New Jersey was one of the first groups to support it. "It's all part of the ongoing process of confronting those who engage in bigoted behavior," he said. Mr. Baraka did not return a telephone call today asking for comment. In February, he told The New York Times in an interview, "Everything that was flowing into my mind at the time flowed into the poem. "I can understand people being excited and outraged, but the point is that you have to investigate." Governor McGreevey froze the $10,000 stipend for the two-year appointment, which expires in August 2004. But Mr. Baraka has demanded payment of the money. -- ___ Stay Strong "Peace sells but who's buying?" Megadeth http://www.sleepybrain.net/bum.html http://ilovepoetry.com/search.asp?keywords=braithwaite&orderBy=date http://groups.yahoo.com/group/THCO2 From Ytzhak at telus.net Thu Jul 10 19:56:44 2003 From: Ytzhak at telus.net (Ytzhak) Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 19:56:44 -0700 Subject: [news] Michigan city erupts: Years of neglect blamed Message-ID: <3F0E276E.19F525DC@telus.net> Michigan city erupts: Years of neglect blamed By Cinque L. Muhammad Staff Writer Updated Jul 8, 2003, 10:10 pm Mich. Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, flanked by local ministers, addresses the national media on how the needs of aid for Benton Harbor will be worked out. Forced into a local state of emergency in response to several days of violent protests following the tragic high-speed chase death of motorcyclist Terrence Shurn, Michigan?s poorest city, Benton Harbor, recently served as the pulse of American civil unrest. In a seemingly inevitable chain of events June 16-19, dissatisfied citizens expressed their outrage over the relentless police misconduct, meager employment opportunities, inadequate living conditions, lack of social services and local government indifference that they experience in the southwest Michigan town in Berrien County. At 2 a.m. June 16, a high-speed chase ensued after Berrien County Sheriff?s Deputy Mark Lundin saw two motorcyclists exceeding speeds of 100 mph traveling north in Royalton Township. As the chase escalated beyond his capability, officer Lundin discontinued pursuit and radioed the description of the vehicles into Benton Township. The two speeders apparently split up, because Benton Township Patrolman Wes Koza only spotted Terrance Shurn, 28. The other motorcyclist was not identified. Officer Koza continued the chase into Benton Harbor. In a catastrophic accident, Mr. Shurn died of a torn artery shortly after losing control of his motorcycle and crashing into an abandoned building at the intersection of Empire and Pavone streets in the downtown area, where some neighbors say he was born and raised. State troopers position themselves in front of a liquor store, one of the few business on Empire Street. According to Benton Harbor Police Chief Samuel Harris, the city?s police do not chase people for traffic violations; they chase people after they have been informed of, or have just witnessed that person commit a felony. Michigan state law allows area police departments to practice their chase rules inside of neighboring jurisdictions, unless the chase becomes "dangerous to the public." This leaves the citizens of Benton Harbor open to the judgment of individual officers, which has led to their harassment from departments in surrounding townships. Chief Harris said that Mr. Shurn was illegally driving at up to 70 mph on residential streets, which made Off. Koza?s actions lawful. Implying that Terrence knew the area too well to have such an accident, neighbors claim that Off. Koza caused Mr. Shurn?s death by bumping his motorcycle with his squad car. They also say the victim didn?t receive proper medical attention?claims that police deny. "There was no contact between the police car and the motorcycle," said State Police Lt. Joseph Zangaro. He claims that the officer?s car was several blocks away when Mr. Shurn?s bike smashed into a house, and that neither of the pursuing vehicles was equipped with video cameras. He further reported that Mr. Shurn was driving with a suspended license and had marijuana in his possession. Witnesses dispute cop?s story "This is where they hit him the first time. I heard them slam their brakes and I saw sparks fly," a friend of Mr. Shurn and alleged eyewitness Johnnie C. Williams told The Final Call, as he pointed out a car?s tire tracks on the sidewalk and a deep scratch in the asphalt on the corner of Lake and Pavone streets, three blocks away from where Mr. Shurn died. Mr. Williams said he?d be willing to take a polygraph test. "If they?re wrong, they?re wrong," he concluded. Evette Taylor, residing only a block away from the accident, said she saw blood and a dent on the hood of Off. Koza?s squad car. A cousin of Mr. Shurn, who wished to remain anonymous, claims that he saw Off. Koza laughing at the scene of the crash. Several neighbors referred to Mr. Koza as a "racist" who only stops Blacks and Hispanics, and said he has been involved in numerous offenses against citizens, including the choking death of a man in April. "We?re not going to tolerate it anymore," said activist Belinda Brown of the Banco organization, who claims she has filed complaints against Off. Koza for harassing her, to no avail. "If they were doing their jobs, in protecting our city, then we would have a better city. This has been going on too long." Officer Koza was on paid leave pending investigation at Final Call press time. Citizens uprise Around 8:15 p.m. on the day of Mr. Shurn?s death, his friends and family were disallowed by cops to hold a memorial prayer vigil at the site of the accident. Upset that they couldn?t honor their companion, the group went to Benton Harbor?s City Commission chambers to protest. "They took our flowers and cards and told us to go to our houses," said resident Tonya Gibbs. By 9:30 p.m., several hundred angry people took to the streets and began torching vacant houses and bombarding police with bricks, chunks of asphalt, bottles and tree branches. Vehicles were turned over and set on fire. The Benton Harbor Police Department, having only 15 officers, was outnumbered and unable to control the uprising. "Things got out of hand," Chief Harris said to the media on June 17. On the evening of June 17 a crowd protested at Benton Township Hall, saying that Off. Koza should be removed from the force without pay until the state police investigation is completed. Meanwhile, Benton Harbor City Manager Joel Patterson and Berrien County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bret Witkowski signed a local state of emergency, which allowed surrounding police departments to provide assistance, the state police to take control, and for police to set up road blocks. It also allowed Benton Harbor to enforce its longstanding 10:30 p.m. curfew for children, ages 16 and under. More than 200 officers from various departments, including tactical response teams dressed in fatigues, were all staged and waiting for orders at St. Joseph River, where a bridge connects Benton Harbor to nearly all-White, affluent St. Joseph city. Resident Larry Hardin believes that the local state of emergency was declared to protect the residents of St. Joseph. "They didn?t want it to escalate across that bridge over there. Two or three more days of this here, it would have went across to St. Joseph," he said. War zone Michigan State troopers and SWAT teams travel in armored personnel carrier in Benton Harbor. The June 17 evening?s rebellion, which began at about 8:30 p.m., was more heated than the previous night. More buildings, some occupied, were burned when fire spread from the adjacent vacant homes. Resident Joshua Taylor said that state police neglected to help him remove things from his neighbor?s burning house. "I begged them to get out of their car and help. An officer said, ?That?s your problem.? They laughed at us," he said. When Mr. Taylor called the fire department, they refused to respond, due to the high-risk situation. "These houses didn?t have to burn down like this," he said. "It was enough good neighborhood people out here to fight the mob. We would have helped fight them off while they tried to save our houses," he added. Nevertheless, crowds kept firefighters away from the burning buildings, including the one that Mr. Shurn crashed into. Police waited until 2:30 a.m. June 18 before they used teargas to disperse crowds in what Lt. Zangaro called a "war zone." Several firemen were injured and two firetrucks received considerable damage. Gunshots were fired at officers from a vehicle. Broken glass, bricks and stones were strewn through the streets. There were over a dozen injuries, but no deaths reported. Police made over 10 arrests. "It was enough good neighborhood people out here to fight the mob. We would have helped fight them off while they tried to save our houses," Mr. Taylor said. Dialogue begins By June 18, violence had subsided in the five-block neighborhood surrounding the downtown area of Benton Harbor and people were ready to talk. The Benton Harbor Ministerial Alliance wore yellow "God Squad" T-shirts and walked the streets reasoning with citizens that violence is not the answer. Several town hall meetings were held during the tense days to help mediate between the city, the citizens and the police force. Police mistrust and abuse of power were discussed as the root causes of the unrest, and Chief Samuels openly admitted that his officers are young, inexperienced and ill-equipped to deliver proper service. Raynard Shurn, the older brother of the victim, called for an end to the violence during a June 18 meeting at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church. "I ask that the events of the past several days become more than just another tragic incident," he demanded. Several people were wearing white T-shirts with Terrance?s picture and many residents spoke up on behalf of Terrance, noting his plans to go to automotive college and get married. On hand was an NAACP representative to hand out petitions. "This is not the way God wants this thing done, nor do we want it," said Rev. James Atterberry, alliance president and a Berrien County commissioner. After meeting for two hours with the Shurn family, clergymen, elected officialss and community leaders on June 19, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm said in a press conference that, for Benton Harbor, "This is the beginning of a new day." She spoke of plans to assemble a "reconciliation team" to leverage state help and expressed her desire to address the people?s hopelessness by providing jobs and education. Stressing the need for economic development, Gov. Granholm urged business investors to look at Benton Harbor and promised that the state would commit to focusing on prioritizing the needs of the city. Many residents echoed the sentiment that they?ve "heard this all before." "It?s a shame it took somebody to die for the governor to come down," said Mr. Shurn?s cousin, Jaton Swanson. Terrance Shurn?s funeral was held June 23. A tale of two cities Called the former "Mecca of Southwest Michigan" by one resident, Benton Harbor has a 96 percent Black population of 12,000, a 25 percent unemployment rate, and a median income of $17,400 a year. It has been named one of the worst U.S. cities to live in. Directly adjacent to the south of Benton Harbor is the highly affluent city of St. Joseph. It sits on Lake Michigan, has a 90 percent White population of 8,700, a 2 percent unemployment rate and a median income of $37,000 a year. Incorporated as a township, the two cities have not always been in their current condition. According to former Benton Harbor Mayor Wilson Cook (?82 to?87), in the ?20s and ?30s, Benton Harbor was the largest municipality in southwest Michigan, affectionately called "Bungtown" as the leading producer of the metal rings that go around barrels. Its booming economy boasted the largest outdoor fruit market in the world (excluding citrus) that shipped fruit globally. There were four movie theaters in the city. Factories such as Superior Steel, Voice of Music, COVOL, Otto?s, and Whirlpool would send buses to the South and shuttle Blacks to the city to work and settle down for better housing. Meanwhile, St. Joseph was poor and relied heavily on revenue generated by Benton Harbor. Decades later, the auto industry weakened and a lot of the factories left town. With little reason to stay in Benton Harbor, Whites started to populate the surrounding cities of Benton Township, St. Joseph and St. Joseph Township. In the ?60s and ?70s, "White flight killed Benton Harbor," said Mr. Cook. A city sucked dry Basically left behind, Blacks in Benton Harbor started getting involved in government. "They moved out. We came in," said City Commissioner Ricky Hill. "It wasn?t like we were experts at running cities. This was new to us about 50 years ago." Mr. Hill claims that Benton Harbor was "an area that was striving. We were not striving with it. We had a lack of community responsibility." Gradually, he said, Benton Harbor fell, until the mid-80s, when "we started bringing the city back with the help of the governor and state legislature." In the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor city government, the mayor and eight commissioners set policies and they are carried out by the city manager. Former Mayor Cook said he saw Benton Harbor lose Mercy Hospital to St. Joseph. Mercy was the most progressive hospital in southwest Michigan, he said. Mercy was equipped to facilitate open-heart surgery, nuclear medicine, dialysis and ontology. He said that St. Joseph?s Memorial Hospital was only equipped to facilitate tonsillectomies and cataract surgery. In ?84, he recalls, the board of directors of both hospitals voted in three Black members. The new boards, Mr. Cook said, worked out a merger that allowed them to become one board, "and dismantle the hospital in Benton Harbor in favor of the one in St. Joseph." Benton Harbor residents blame the city government for allowing the surrounding communities to "suck the city dry." City Manager Joel Patterson was not available for comment. Frustrated town "This thing has been building up for years. There?s always been a rift between Benton Township police and the citizens of Benton Harbor," said current Benton Harbor Mayor Charles Yarbrough. "There is a lack of respect for the citizens here, and I think the police need to do a better job of community policing and get to know the residents." "Given the circumstances here, all of this couldn?t be over one incident," added Police Chief Samuel Harris. Many residents in this town feel?perhaps rightly so?that they have nothing to lose and the revolt finally helped bring attention to the problem. One woman said the children aren?t scared that they might die. Educator Gladys Peeples-Burks explained that the children mostly rebelled because they have low self-esteem and don?t feel they are valued. "It strikes me that so many of these people are caught up in just what they are feeling. I don?t think they are aware of the many avenues for dialogue present in the community," she said. People feel like they are not being heard, so now they?re "taking it to another level," said Rev. Henry R. Griffin. During a speech to several dozen people on Juneteenth (the June 19 date celebrated as the last day of slavery when Texans got the news two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation), famed boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, who was in town to hear the governor?s address and to raise concerns about police misbehavior, suggested that people are frustrated because they can?t talk to "their so-called government." Residents speak out The only way to get a job, citizens say, is by applying at a temporary employment agency, such as ManPower. There are very few permanent jobs. "They work you for 89 days, then they lay you off," said Joshua Taylor. Others say the agency doesn?t give a person their full wages for the jobs they perform. "With the temp agency, if you make $10, they give you $7," said one man. Residents say that there are a lot of educated people in Benton Harbor without jobs. There?s only one high school in Benton Harbor?Benton Harbor Senior High. Robert Thompson, a teacher?s aid at North Lincoln, a school in St. Joseph, said that in 1981 he graduated from Benton Harbor Senior High within a class of 500 students. This year, only 84 out of an original 400 freshmen graduated from the high school. Mr. Thompson teaches children that have been diagnosed with learning disabilities and behavioral problems. "I get children from Benton Harbor that are in 7th grade, that are reading at the 2nd grade level. The school system there is inadequate," he said. The fact that better schools are in the surrounding cities, Mr. Thompson said, discourages parents from sending their children to schools in Benton Harbor. "The teachers don?t care. They won?t make you come to class. They just want you to leave them alone," SoCyarria Ward told The Final Call. Nevertheless, St. Joseph Mayor Mary Goff noted that there were several programs in place between the two cities. Among these, she said, are Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes in both communities. She also referenced a recent pickup basketball event that was open to Benton Harbor teams, as well as certain educational programs that Benton Harbor children are involved in. "All kinds of things are going on," said Mayor Goff. "Unfortunately, it?s not being talked about right now." According to Betty Haynes, a resident of Benton Harbor for over 20 years, the city government doesn?t tell citizens much about the policies and practices of Benton Harbor. The house that she rents, like most people in the neighborhood, is deteriorating. She said that two to three families live in one home to help pay rent, she rarely sees her landlord and doesn?t know where her landlord lives. Seventy-five percent of the families live in nearly derelict public housing and collect government aid to support them, statistics show. "There?s not an opportunity to own anything around here. It?s always somebody who doesn?t live in your city and don?t look nothing like you that owns your house," said Mr. Taylor, whose home was destroyed by fire. He said people pay the average rate for a good house to live in poor houses. He claims that the city allows "landlords to be slumlords." Mr. Taylor has lived in Benton Harbor for 32 years and says much hasn?t changed in "this burnt out town." Holding back tears of bitterness over the loss of his house, Mr. Taylor said, "My own people took away everything I had. It?s hard to start over, and I don?t think I?m coming back to this neighborhood." ? Copyright 2003 by FinalCall.com www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_851.shtml -- ___ Stay Strong "Peace sells but who's buying?" Megadeth http://www.sleepybrain.net/bum.html http://ilovepoetry.com/search.asp?keywords=braithwaite&orderBy=date http://groups.yahoo.com/group/THCO2 From christoff at dojo.tao.ca Fri Jul 11 19:57:06 2003 From: christoff at dojo.tao.ca (Stefan Christoff) Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 22:57:06 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [news] CKUT Radio: Tent City Montreal Message-ID: CKUT Radio: Tent City Montreal Listen to a series of interviews with members of CLAC (the Anti-Capitalist Convergence) & OCAP (the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty) from the July 5th Tent City action at Parc Lafontaine in Montreal. The interviews address the housing & homelessness crisis in Montreal, Toronto and other major cities throughout Canada. The interviews also look at the growing movement of anti-poverty & housing activists throughout the country who are fighting for an end of the criminalization of poverty & homelessness and the right for communities to squat empty buildings. The interviews took place during the day on July 5th at Tent City in Parc Lafontaine and also during the riot police eviction of Tent City. -> To listen to the interviews visit: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=7383 -> To get updates about Tent City in Montreal visit: http://tentcity.taktic.org ---------------------- From gflett1 at shaw.ca Mon Jul 14 04:47:11 2003 From: gflett1 at shaw.ca (Gordon Flett) Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 04:47:11 -0700 Subject: [news] Benefit Concert Report & Thanks References: <20030702195750.44804.qmail@web10807.mail.yahoo.com> <004401c340df$09542520$d3ae5418@vc.shawcable.net> Message-ID: <3F12983E.FE9888CE@shaw.ca> A benefit concert was organized by the IWW Vancouver/Coast Salish Territory for the Modern Auto Plating workers, on strike against their employer since January 24th, 2002. The concert took place at the WISE Hall in Vancouver on July 1st, 2003, featuring the IWW Vancouver's good friends Anne Feeney & Chris Chandler, donating their talents to raise funds and support for the 46 strikers of USWA Local 2952. We had our IWW banner up, thanks to FW Dave Saraceno, high above us on the balcony, and there was a big Steelworkers "Solidarity Forever" banner at the front of the stage, and "Steelworkers On Strike" signs all around the room. Great young local artist Joey Only, an organizer with the IWW's sister organization in Vancouver, the Anti-Poverty Committee, opened the show with a rousing set of working class and Wobbly tunes. This was the first time that many people there had seen Joey, proudly wearing an IWW t-shirt, perform, and they were suitably impressed. Joey's first song was "Working Class Hero". Quite appropriate, as he himself fights on the front lines of the class struggle almost every day. That's what Joey Only is, a true working class hero, and we were proud to have him perform for us. Scott McRitchie, the president of USWA Local 2952, spoke about the workers' long struggle at Modern Auto, which is mostly a fight for decent, safe working conditions, and against union-busting. The workforce is mostly composed of immigrant men from Eastern Europe, and some of their own members have now crossed the picket line, and are scabbing on them. Their chief shop steward also spoke to the crowd about this, and 2 other strikers were also in attendance as honoured guests. But still they are hanging in and refusing to give up the fight, determined to last "one day longer" than the company and their scabs. Anne and Chris, based in Pittsburgh, but currently on the road touring, where they are most of the time, then delighted the crowd in their usual fantastic way. Their unique Flying Poetry Circus act is something to behold, and Anne played some solo tunes and related tales of other Steelworker struggles she's been involved in. The night ended with a draw of raffle prizes that was a big hit and raised some more funds for the strikers to aid in their struggle. We didn't have as large a crowd as we'd have liked, only 60 odd not including organizers, but pretty good considering numerous complications we ran into, including a competing concert on the same night, and the fact that it was the "Canada Day" holiday with many people still out of town. This was also the first time that the IWW has organized one of these benefits without the co-sponsorship of the local labour council, but as we are the premiere organizers of benefit concerts for struggling workers in the area, that is how it will be from now on. Their experience and participation has been invaluable to us, and a special thanks must be given to John Fitzpatrick for all his guidance, and for being such a great emcee for us in the past. We appreciate their continued support, but it's time for us to start doing things like this on our own, without relying on others so much, and to grow our own organization. We can and will improve on attendance and money raised next time, it's only going to get better and better. All in all a great event in every other respect. People had a great time, you could feel the positivity in the air, and the Steelworkers were thrilled that someone would care enough to do something like this for them. Scott was very impressed that a single union would actually do this for another, and we made a new ally in the Steelworkers, and they will be receiving $320 proceeds from the benefit. Special thanks goes out to all the IWW organizers: Pat Stenner, Marjorie Brown, Dave Saraceno, Davide Turcato and Mark Dickson, whose hard work made this all possible, and FW Graeme Moore for being our kickass emcee. Also thanks to Murray Lamb for volunteering to be our door security, and Roger the sound guy for his great work. Vanessa was a great bartender who cleaned up winning 5 prizes in the raffle, and gave most of them away to her fellow workers in the WISE Club bar afterwards. More thanks to Calvin Woida of the APC, Susan Stout and other members of the Solidarity Notes Choir who didn't perform this time for us but came out in support, The Vancouver & District Labour Council, Vancouver Co-op Radio, Julius Fisher of Working TV, Megan Adam of the APC and Flying Folk Army, Meghan of the WISE Club, Joey Hartman, Jim Gorman, Maryann Abbs, all others who came out, and anyone else I may have missed who helped out. Thanks to CUSO, The Council Of Canadians, Spartacus Books, The Mouse & The Bean Cafe, the Ten Thousand Villages fair trade store in Kitsilano, and yes me, Gord Flett for the donations of the raffle prizes. The most thanks is reserved for our great perfomers Anne, Chris, and Joey, USWA Local 2952 President Scott McRitchie, and of course the Steelworkers of Local 2952, the Modern Auto Plating workers who continue to inspire us in their determination to last one day longer than their scummy employer. We salute you. _______________________________________________ From pnbrown at vcn.bc.ca Tue Jul 15 18:43:23 2003 From: pnbrown at vcn.bc.ca (Paul Browning) Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2003 18:43:23 -0700 Subject: [news] Fw: [mobglob-discuss] July 22 is boycott Coke day Message-ID: <005d01c34b3b$a51eaaf0$6401a8c0@PAUL> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bella" To: "mobglob" ; "Nick" ; "Raiden" ; "Sean" ; "Kym" ; "Vancouver Activist" ; "Janine Bandcroft" ; "Bea Bernhausen" Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 11:21 AM Subject: [mobglob-discuss] July 22 is boycott Coke day > Boycott Coca-Cola - 22nd July 2003 > International Day of Action & Boycott Launch > > Boycott Coca-Cola - 22nd July 2003 - International Day of Action & > Boycott Launch As you are hopefully aware, the World Social Forum has > declared the 22nd July, as the International Day of Action against Coca > Cola, and the start of a boycott of all its products. These actions > are in solidarity with SINALTRAINAL, the Colombian Food and Drinks > Workers Union. SINALTRAINAL have suffered the assassination of 8 union > leaders, killed by paramilitaries financed by Coca Cola management, as > well as the isappearance, arbitrary detention, torture, kidnap and > sacking of hundreds more of their workers at Coca Cola bottling plants > throughout Colombia. In a court case in the USA, brought by the United > Steelworkers Union, in solidarity with SINALTRAINAL, a judge has ruled > that Coca Cola's bottlers have a case to answer, but the multinational > refuses to cooperate with the union, and continues its policy of > repression. In a similar case in Guatemala during the 80s, Coca Cola stood > by and watched as union members within their bottling plants were > assassinated by death squads. Coca Cola only acted to protect the lives of > their workers when pressured into it by a consumer boycott. For this > reason, we are asking you to participate in this boycott, to throw the > Coke machine out of your school, college or workplace, to organise in your > area, and to demand that Coca Cola be answerable for > the heinous abuses of their workers in Colombia. Join us for the > International Day of Action and organize an event in your area. Help make > the day as truly international as Coca Cola's corporate abuses, help out > in activities planned for all over the world! If you need help, > materials, information or speakers, contact The Colombia Solidarity > Campaign, PO Box 8446, London N17 6NZ tel : 07932 > 034477: Email: colombia_sc at hotmail.com website: > http://www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk The Coca Cola Campaign Coca > Cola and Nestl? both stand accused of serious human rights violations in > Colombia. While Nestl? sack union members, Coca Cola kill them. > Paramilitary Death Squads, acting under orders from Coca Cola > management, have assassinated 8 trade union leaders in their workplaces. > The union, INTRAMINERCOL, has responded by calling for an international > boycott of Coca Cola and all of their products, to start on 22 July. > > ===== > "Here's a message for the masses, never ass kiss" Ozo Matli > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! > http://sbc.yahoo.com > _______________________________________________ > mobglob-discuss mailing list > mobglob-discuss at lists.resist.ca > https://lists.resist.ca/mailman/listinfo/mobglob-discuss From pnbrown at vcn.bc.ca Wed Jul 16 17:46:03 2003 From: pnbrown at vcn.bc.ca (Paul Browning) Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 17:46:03 -0700 Subject: [news] Fw: [R-G] Union-busting U.S. law firm drawing up Afghan labour law Message-ID: <003f01c34bfc$cd162c10$6401a8c0@PAUL> ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 3:49 PM Subject: [R-G] Union-busting U.S. law firm drawing up Afghan labour law > http://workers.labor.net.au/184/news5_awe.html > > Workers Online June 27, 2003 > > Now For Industrial Shock and Awe > > A US law firm that prides itself on busting unions and breaking pickets has > been handed a key role in drafting labour laws for post-Taliban Afghanistan. > > > General secretary of Union Network International Phillip Jennings this week > called on the International Labour Organisation to explain how private > lawyers had taken control of the legal process and to ensure a similar > process does not occur in Iraq. > > The firm, Dechert, supplies one of the lead lawyesr to the Afghanistan > Transitional Commercial Law Project, which was initiated by the Center for > International Management Education and the American Bar Association. > > Dechert prides itself on its anti-union credentials, crowing on its website > that: > > We help employers maintain a union-free environment, conduct collective > bargaining negotiations, secure injunctive relief from strikes, boycotts, > and mass picketing, and develop compliance programs. > > We regularly handle labor arbitrations and defend employers facing unfair > labor practice charges. > > It also proudly cites its work representing Big Tobacco, overturning a $145 > punitive damages claim in a Florida case that puts at risk all damages > actions against tobacco companies. > > Speaking to the ILO Conference in Geneva, Jennings also raised concerns the > World Bank was trying to promote investment in Afghanistan by slashing the > minimum wage by 10 percent. > > "In both nations we want to see the emergence of a free and independent > trade union movement," he said. > > Federal ALP IR spokesman Robert McClelland expressed concern that > Afghanistan and potentially Iraq might end up with labour laws that fall > short of international standards and contain no effective right to organise > and bargain collectively. > > "Such rights have always been essential to enable working people to raise > and maintain their living standards at dignified levels," McClelland says. > > McClelland says Australia, as a long-standing member of the ILO, should be > seeking that the ILO plays a role in assisting these nations, which are > emerging from the trauma of war, to develop labour laws that meet > internationally agreed minimum standards. > > He says it was a disgrace the Howard Government had all but ignored the ILO > for seven years, and would be raising the matter of Afghanistan and Iraq > with Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Minister Alexander > Downer through the Parliament. > > > > _______________________________________________ > Rad-Green mailing list > Rad-Green at lists.econ.utah.edu > To change your options or unsubscribe go to: > http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green From christoff at dojo.tao.ca Thu Jul 17 02:30:48 2003 From: christoff at dojo.tao.ca (Stefan Christoff) Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 05:30:48 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [news] CKUT Radio: Stateless & Deported - Palestinian Refugees in Montreal Message-ID: CKUT Radio: Stateless & Deported - Palestinian Refugees in Montreal Listen to an interview with Rabie Masri and Bashar a Palestinian refugee facing deportation from Canada, two organizers with the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees. A Campaign has been launched in Montreal to fight against pending deportation of over 100 Palestinian refugees from Canada. Most of the refugees are from the refugee camps of Lebanon and from Occupied Palestine. They have claimed refugee status in Canada over the last couple of years. Systematically Palestinian refugee claims are being rejected by Immigration Canada post September 11th. The Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees has called a demonstration in Montreal for July 19th and is currently seeking the support and solidarity of groups, organizations and individuals from Montreal & beyond for the Campaign to Stop the Deportations Palestinian Refugees. The Campaign to Stop the Deportation of Montreal's Palestinian refugees is demanding that Citizenship and Immigration Canada: 1) Immediately stop all deportations of Palestinian refugees & 2) Accept Palestinian refugee claims, thus giving them the title of Landed Status in Canada. -> To listen to the interview visit: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=7412 -> To get more information contact: The Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees 514.591.3171 / refugees at riseup.net -> To read a recent article written about the Campaign to Stop Palestinian Deportations in Montreal by Justin Podur visit: http://www.rabble.ca/rabble_interview.shtml?x=23605 ---------------------- STATELESS & DEPORTED March in Solidarity with Montreal's Palestinian Refugees Facing Deportation from Canada =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= SATURDAY JULY 19TH @ 1:00 PM Gather at Norman Bethune Statue corner of Guy and de Maisonneuve (metro Guy-Concordia) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This march has been called by the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees in solidarity with over 100 Palestinian refugees who are facing deportation from Canada in the coming days, weeks and months. Most of the refugees are from the refugee camps of Lebanon and from Occupied Palestine. They have claimed refugee status in Canada over the last couple of years. Systematically Palestinian refugee claims are being rejected by Immigration Canada post September 11th. This march "Stateless and Deported" has been called to build concrete solidarity for Montreal's Palestinian refugees, as they organize to fight against Citizenship and Immigration Canada's attempt to deport them to the illegal and deadly Israeli military occupation which plagues everyday life throughout Occupied Palestine and to the violence, poverty and persecution which defines life in the Palestinian refugee camps of Lebanon. The Palestinian refugees facing deportation have been self-organizing, with their allies, the past several months. The Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees is seeking the support and solidarity of groups, organizations and individuals from Montreal & beyond for the Campaign to Stop the Deportations Palestinian Refugees. This march in solidarity with Montreal's Palestinian refugees will be demanding that Citizenship and Immigration Canada: 1) Immediately stop all deportations of Palestinian refugees & 2) Accept Palestinian refugee claims, thus giving them the title of Landed Status in Canada. STOP THE DEPORTATIONS OF PALESTINIAN REFUGEES! JUSTICE FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS & REFUGEES! Organized by the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR), the No One is Illegal Campaign & the International Solidarity Movement of Montreal. For more information: By Phone: 514.591.3171 By Email: refugees at riseup.net From resist at resist.ca Wed Jul 23 10:54:54 2003 From: resist at resist.ca (resist) Date: 23 Jul 2003 10:54:54 -0700 Subject: [news] Police Raid Safe Injection Site at 327 Caroll st. Message-ID: <1058982894.766.732.camel@murray> Police Raid Safe Injection Site at 327 Caroll st. On Saturday July 20 th at 1:24 three police officers forced their way into 327 Carroll st, the Safer Injection Site in the Downtown eastside, questioning and detaining people accessing the drop-in area of the safe injection site. Officers 3202, 1454 and 1886 involved had no warrant to enter the private premises, and had no reasonable cause to enter the safe injection site, in fact they are violating an agreement that involves Mayor Larry Campbell, City Council and the Safe Injection Site. While the volunteer's working the safe injection site managed to remove the police from the premises, the intimadation and harassment has a prolonged effect of deterring drug user's from accessing a place where they can obtain clean supplies, have access to a nurse and inject in safety. Already on a nightly basis the people who both access and volunteer at the Safe Injection site are subject to police harassment. They park their cruisers directly in front of the 327 Safe Injection Site door, they walk their drug dogs in front of the Safe Injection Site main door, the police harrass and intimidate people who come in and out of 327 Safe Injection site, the police drive their police motorcycles on the sidewalk and through crowds of people in Pidgeon park and people standing in front of the 327 Safe Injection Site, and harrass the volunteers who open and close the Safe Injection Site. This is a blatant intimidation, and ultimately when the police intimidate someone from using ANY Safe Injection Site, the police are forcing them into the alternative, a dark back alley, or fixing in their hotel room alone. In any case, into riskier situations, with exposure to violence, untreated overdose, no access to medical attention, and exposure to health risks. The Vancouver Police department is once again exposing it's ANTI- harm reduction stance and it's sick disregard for the lives of people who live with addiction and people who live in poverty. Although they claim to have working partnership with health authorities like Vancouver Coastal Health Authorities,they refuse to meet with the volunteers operatinf the safe injection site at 327 Caroll st., they refuse to engage in any community forums on policeing in the DTES, they refuse to participate in Harm Reduction and Anti-opppression workshops and to enforce throughout their rank and file the agreements that are made between Chief Jamie Graham and Larry Campbell in regards to respecting the role of a safe injection site. Turning their backs on fulfilling their role in a harm reduction parntership and protecting the rights of injection drug users. The safe injection site sees 25-35 people from 10pm to 2am to inject under supervision of a nurse, it sees 2-4 people a night accessing referrals to low threshold treatment, like methadone clinics , detox and recovery facilities, and shelters. In one month the safe injection site exchanges 5000-6000 needles. Recent studies have shown that an increased police presence at the Safe Injection Site located at 327 Caroll st. have dramatically impacted the number of people accessing the safe injection site. On a nightly basis, with police presence recorded outside the safe injection site the number of people accessing the safe injection site have dropped from 35 people to 2 people, from 150 needles exchange on a nightly basis to 2 needles exchanged. This is more than unacceptable. The Vancouver Police department have to be accountable. Please lend us your support by volunteering for a safety and security shift at 327 Carolls st. Contact Megan Oleson 251-3127 Please give us your support by contacting Mayor Larry Campbell who is acting Chair and Media Contact Person of the Vancouver Police Department 604-873-7685 larry_campbell at city.vancouver.bc.ca demanding action taken against the Vancouver Police Department on behalf of the people who access the Safe Injection Site. Please give us your support by contacting Chief Jamie Graham 604-717-3535 or jamie_graham at vancouvercity.bc.ca and SGT. Scott Thompson 604-717-3321 and demand that the Vancouver Police Department take responsibility for their actions, and decease their harrassment of the Safe Injection Site at 327 Caroll st. Please Contact Megan Oleson, volunteer Registered Nurse at the Safe Injection Site 604-251-3127 for more information. From gflett1 at shaw.ca Wed Jul 23 15:47:56 2003 From: gflett1 at shaw.ca (Gordon Flett) Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 15:47:56 -0700 Subject: [news] Hungry in Hazelton! CEP Local 404 Needs Help Message-ID: <3F1F109C.C5E94F89@shaw.ca> Hungry in Hazelton When the anti-union B.C. Liberal provincial government sold pulp producer Skeena Cellulose, the buyer closed the doors of the Carnaby mill in Hazelton. Over 100 workers were left without jobs. That was two years ago, and the Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP), Local 404 members have been trying to get the mill reopened ever since. The new owner cut timber and sold off raw logs. Then it attempted to sell the heavy movable equipment at the mill. CEP members lobbied the District of Hazelton and the District placed a lien on the equipment for unpaid taxes. The employer then called for bids to sell the fixed equipment in the mill. The union began a blockade to stop the owner from dismantling and selling off the mill piece by piece. EI has run out -- welfare for some, nothing for others! All CEP members have run out of Employment Insurance benefits. Some have received welfare, but under the new Liberal rules, many have not qualified. There are a few casual jobs around Hazelton, but most workers are desperate and they and their families are HUNGRY. They can't even put gas in their tanks to get to the blockade. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Send Mo Azaz, President of Local 404, a message of solidarity by e-mail to mo at bulkley.net Send funds by check, bank draft, or money order, made out to CEP Local 404: Save Carnaby, to the following address: PO Box 160 New Hazelton, BC, Canada V0J 2J0 WHO CAN I CONTACT? For more information: Call: Joy Langan, CEP Representative, 604-945-6616; Fax: 604-945-0113; E-Mail: joy_langan at telus.net; Call: CEP Local 404, 1-250-842-6483 Fax: 1-250-842-6481 E-Mail: mo at bulkley.net * WHAT DO THE WORKERS IN HAZELTON WANT? * To save the mill; * To get the Liberals to turn the mill over to the workers and the community of Hazelton; * To get back to work and feed their families. PLEASE HELP!!! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From resist at resist.ca Fri Jul 25 12:02:12 2003 From: resist at resist.ca (resist) Date: 25 Jul 2003 12:02:12 -0700 Subject: [news] MCFD eliminates special needs child care subsidy Message-ID: <1059159732.768.880.camel@murray> -----Forwarded Message----- From: latinsol To: apc-discuss at lists.resist.ca, apc-ctte at lists.resist.ca Subject: [APC-Discuss] MCFD eliminates special needs child care subsidy Date: 25 Jul 2003 00:39:21 -0700 MCFD eliminates special needs child care subsidy NEWS: More cuts, more red tape for children with special needs The Ministry for Children and Family Development (MCFD) has quietly eliminated a subsidy program that helped parents of children with special needs to cover the costs of child care, including pre-school and after-school programs. Instead, the Ministry of Human Rersources will in future provide such subsidies only for low-income families. In a June 3, 2003 letter, families were advised that administration of the two subsidy programs was being transfered to a different ministry. One program provides a monthly subsidy of $107 to help offset the costs of care, including pre-school and after-school programs, for children with special needs. The second provides additional child care subsidies for low-income families. The carefully-worded letter to families gave the impression there would be no change in eligibility for either program. "Importantly, the transfer of your Child Care Subsidy file will in no way affect your current authorization for Child Care Subsidy or the $107 Support Payment," the letter stated in bold letters. The letter went on to note that the MCFD's $107 special needs payment would be replaced by a similar program introduced by the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services (MCAWS) in conjunction with the Ministry of Human Resources (MHR). However, families now trying to navigate through the three government bureaucracies to locate their files and renew the subsidies are discovering that most will no longer be eligible for them. This is the second time in two years that the provincial government has restricted eligibility for these subsidy programs for children with special needs. Prior to April 2002, all designated children with special needs qualified for the $107 special needs subsidy to offset the cost of child care, including pre-school and after-school programs. In addition, many working middle- and lower-income families of children with special needs qualified for an additional subsidy, the exact amount of which was based on a formula that took into account family size and income. In April 2002, the province lowered the income thresholds for eligibility, so most families became ineligible for the additional income-tested subsidy. However, the basic $107 special needs subsidy remained, regardless of family income. For example, before April 2002, a working two-parent family with one child and a monthly income of $2,000 would have been eligible for the $107 special needs subsidy, plus an additional income-tested subsidy that would have more than doubled the amount available. After April 2002, the same family would have received only $107 per month. With this latest change now, the same family would also become ineligible for the basic $107 monthly special needs supplement and would therefore have to pay the full cost of child care, pre-school or after-school programs for their child with special needs. The cuts will apply immediately to new applicants, although families currently receiving the subsidies will be given several months' grace before the reduction takes effect, front-line ministry staff said yesterday. This latest cut comes just after MCFD Minister Gordon Hogg reaffirmed his earlier commitment to protect services for children with special needs, following the recent outcry over the impact of his proposed 23% cuts to Child & Family services. In both cases, the reductions and changes to the subsidy programs were imposed without any discussion of their benefits, or of the implications for families and children of restricting eligibility and transferring the administration to yet another ministry. Two years ago, families complained that access to special needs services and programs was fragmented across three ministries -- health, education and MCFD -- as well as local health and education bureaucracies. This fragmentation frustrates efforts to provide integrated programming that effectively and efficiently addresses individual children's needs, instead promoting piecemeal services that are shaped more by individual bureacucratic budgets and priorities than by actual children's needs. Now, MCFD's special needs services are being further split among two other ministries [MHR and MCAWS], an extra junior minister (Linda Reid), and the four new bureaucracies that will replace the ministry under its current restructuring plans! Dawn Steele Parent, Vancouver July 22, 2003 ---- From ericr at zoolink.com Sat Jul 26 12:23:01 2003 From: ericr at zoolink.com (Eric R.) Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 12:23:01 -0700 Subject: [news] Anti-War Nuns Sentenced to 2 1/2 Years Message-ID: <000f01c353ab$5632f900$03000004@oemcomputer> Anti-War Nuns Sentenced to 2 1/2 Years By JUDITH KOHLER, Associated Press Writer DENVER - Calling them "dangerously irresponsible," a federal judge sentenced three nuns to at least 2 1/2 years in prison Friday for vandalizing a nuclear missile silo during an anti-war protest last fall. Despite his strong words, U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn gave the women less than the six-year minimum called for under sentencing guidelines. Jackie Hudson was sentenced to 2 1/2 years, Carol Gilbert to two years, nine months, and Ardeth Platte to three years, five months. "We're satisfied," prosecutor Robert Brown said. Hudson, 68, Gilbert, 55, and Platte, 66, were convicted in April of obstructing the national defense and damaging government property. The Roman Catholic nuns cut a fence and walked onto a Minuteman III silo site in northeastern Colorado last October, pounding the silo with hammers and painting a cross on it with their blood. Officials said they caused at least $1,000 in damage. The nuns had until Aug. 25 to report to prison but chose to go immediately. Some peace activists have said the felony convictions were harsh and intended to have a chilling effect on other protesters, but the prosecutor said the nuns were repeat offenders who deserved prison. He said Platte had been arrested at least 10 times at anti-war protests, Hudson five times and Gilbert at least 13 times. "These ladies could not be deterred for the last 20 years. They will be deterred for the time the court sentences them," Brown said. On Friday, the defense asked the judge for leniency, saying even prosecution witnesses agreed the nuns did not harm the national defense. Beforehand, the nuns defiantly told a crowd of 150 supporters outside the courthouse they were not afraid of prison. "Whatever sentence I receive today will be joyfully accepted as an offering for peace and with God's help it will not injure my spirit," a choked-up Platte said. As for vandalizing the silo, Hudson said: "When someone holds a gun to your head or someone else's head do you not have a right and a duty to enter that arena and stop that crime?" Many of those outside court waved anti-war banners, including one that read: "No Blood for Oil." The Roman Catholic nuns are longtime anti-war activists. Platte and Gilbert lived in a Baltimore activist community founded by the late peace activist Philip Berrigan. Hudson lived in a similar community in Poulsbo, Wash. After their arrest, the women chose to stay in jail, refusing the government's offer to release them on their own recognizance. Hudson's lawyer, Walter Gerash, insisted during the trial the nuns did nothing to prevent the missile from "doing its demonic damage." He compared the women to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the American colonists who dumped tea into Boston Harbor. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ron at resist.ca Tue Jul 29 09:04:54 2003 From: ron at resist.ca (ron) Date: 29 Jul 2003 09:04:54 -0700 Subject: [news] [Fwd: [mobglob-discuss] homeless left for dead in Kelowna landslide] Message-ID: <1059494694.1820.24.camel@murray> this is from a couple of weeks ago but i thought i would share it. i haven't seen anything else about it. we have a friend that came to stay with us from montreal on his way to pick cherries in Kelowna. he arrived just before this and we have not heard from him since. http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=850a74bb-bef0-4cff-b812-608f4313b246 Residents fear homeless trapped in bluff collapse Monday, July 14, 2003 KELOWNA, B.C. - A bluff has collapsed along the shoreline of Okanagan Lake in Penticton. The 60-metre-wide landslide completely covered an area that is a popular camping spot for transients. It is popular among fruit pickers and other homeless people. "They are frequently people from Quebec and other parts of the country that are kind of transients," said concerned local Dr. Deiter Wittel. "And no, they would not be noticed missing." Despite the possibility that someone could have been trapped, area residents say no major effort is being made to clear the debris. The slide was first reported by former Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day when he was out for his morning jog. Copyright 2003 CHBC From resist at resist.ca Tue Jul 29 09:23:46 2003 From: resist at resist.ca (resist) Date: 29 Jul 2003 09:23:46 -0700 Subject: [news] City of Vancouver Uniforms Made in Burma Message-ID: <1059495826.1820.27.camel@murray> -----Forwarded Message----- From: Tom Sandborn Date: 29 Jul 2003 00:25:41 -0700 WHY DO VANCOUVER FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TO WEAR PARKAS "MADE IN BURMA"? VANCOUVER - The Vancouver and District Labour Council revealed today that parkas purchased by the Vancouver Fire Department (and which firefighters are required to wear as part of their winter uniform) were supplied by a Montreal company which purchased them from a manufacturer in Burma. "The City of Vancouver should not be spending public tax dollars in sweatshops," says Labour Council President Bill Saunders. "It's time for the City of Vancouver to adopt effective procedures to prevent this kind of thing from happening in the future." The Vancouver and District Labour Council is part of a coalition of local labour, community, student, and international development organizations called the BC Ethical Purchasing Group. The Ethical Purchasing Group has been lobbying local municipalities and universities to adopt a "NO SWEAT" purchasing policy in order to prevent inadvertent purchases of goods from factories or countries using forced labour, child labour, or committing other violations of human rights in the manufacture of their goods. The Burmese military government has been implicated in the use of forced labour since a military coup deposed the democratically-elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi who is currently being held under house arrest in Burma. The current military government in Burma has banned all labour unions and student organizations in Burma and has been accused of widespread violations of human rights, including forced conscription and slave labour. In 2000, the United Nations' International Labour Organization called on all governments to review their relations with Burma in light of the country's system of forced labour. The Canadian Government has asked companies to voluntarily refrain from doing business with Burma. "Vancouver Fire Fighters would not have to wear sweatshop uniforms if we had an effective 'No Sweat' policy in place," said BC Ethical Purchasing Group Chair Tom Sandborn. "No one in the movement for justice for sweatshop workers believes that anyone at Vancouver City Hall - elected officials or staff - consciously wants to spend city tax dollars in support of slave labour, child labour, or other 'sweat shop' abuses." The City of Vancouver currently does not require its uniform suppliers to disclose any information about where and under what conditions uniforms are manufactured. However, city councillors in other Canadian cities, such as Saskatoon, Toronto, and Windsor, have all endorsed the idea of becoming "No Sweat" cities. From resist at resist.ca Tue Jul 29 09:24:52 2003 From: resist at resist.ca (resist) Date: 29 Jul 2003 09:24:52 -0700 Subject: [news] Montreal: More than 150 arrests at the opening of the WTOmini-ministerial Message-ID: <1059495891.1820.29.camel@murray> -----Forwarded Message----- From: Gordon Flett To: `MobGlob Discuss Subject: [mobglob-discuss] Canada, Montreal, More than 150 arrests at the opening of the WTOmini-ministerial (fr) Date: 29 Jul 2003 05:56:03 -0700 ________________________________________________ A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E http://www.ainfos.ca/ http://ainfos.ca/index24.html ________________________________________________ (For more infos, pics... about the actual anti-WTO-mobilisation in Montreal see the CMAQ-site [French]: http://cmaq.net/ ) Early this morning (local time) several hundred protestors who started from two different meeting points gathered and approached the security fence around the Sheraton center where the Montreal preparation meeting ("mini-ministerial") for the 5th WTO-conference of ministers is starting, which will take place in Canc?n (Mexico) in September. Near the Sheraton center, police arrested activist Jaggi Singh (see article in La Presse [French]: http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/article/1,63,0,072003,379601.shtml). During the following hours, there happened about a dozen more arrests. Later in the morning, several persons gathering in the green zone on rue St-Laurent between avenue Sherbrooke and Ontario were surrounded by the tactical squad of the Montreal police, supported by elements of Security Qu?bec. According to the last news of the radio station Rock the WTO, sending on http://rock-the-wto-radio.taktic.org/ directly from the alternative library in rue St-Laurent and actually under siege by maybe 50 cops, at the moment there are 150 persons arrested. Only few have really been taken in, but all the surrounded people have been informed that they are under arrest, accused of illegal assembly and participation in riot. (For more infos, pics... about the actual anti-WTO-mobilisation in Montreal see the CMAQ-site [French]: http://cmaq.net/ ) Trans/ Uli From resist at resist.ca Tue Jul 29 09:37:40 2003 From: resist at resist.ca (resist) Date: 29 Jul 2003 09:37:40 -0700 Subject: [news] Clayoquot First Nation Evicts Interfor Message-ID: <1059496660.1798.36.camel@murray> http://www.alternatives.com/prms/2003/focs0728.pdf July 28, 2003 For Immediate Release CLAYOQUOT FIRST NATION EVICTS INTERFOR Tofino, BC -- The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations have issued a notice of eviction to International Forest Products (Interfor), informing the logging company to leave their traditional territory in Clayoquot Sound. "We've had enough," said Chief Moses Martin of the Tla-o-qui-aht. "This logging tenure was given out decades ago without our consent, and Interfor and the government continue to operate without meaningfully accommodating our interests. Distant corporations will only ever pay lip service to sustainability and ensuring long-term jobs and benefits for local communities. The only real solution is for us to manage the tenure ourselves." Recently the Ministry of Forests approved a 10-year forest development plan by Interfor for 19,000 logging trucks worth of wood, ignoring the rejection of the plan by the Clayoquot Sound Central Region Board. The Board, a local body established under an interim measures agreement between the Clayoquot Sound Hereditary Chiefs and the Province in 1994, proposed changes to the plan that Interfor refused to make. "This unresponsive attitude makes a mockery of the Board and the agreement we signed in 1994," said Chief Martin. The eviction notice, addressed to Ric Slaco, Interfor's Chief Forester, states: "Effective immediately, you will cease and discontinue all activities associated with forestry operations within Tla-o-qui-aht Territory, including all engineering, road lay out, road building and forest harvesting. The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations demand control over how the forest resources within our traditional territory, as well as all other resources, are managed to enable our people to achieve our goals now and in the future. We will negotiate with the Province of British Columbia in support of transferring control of Tree Farm License 54. We will explore our full range of options to vigorously defend our Aboriginal rights and title against infringements related to the alienation of resources from our traditional territory." The eviction notice comes just weeks before a major gathering in Tofino on August 9 marking the 10-year anniversary of the Clayoquot protests that put BC in the international spotlight for bad forest practices. For more information contact Chief Moses Martin, 250-726-8418 or Councillor Simon Tom, at 250-731-9154 From resist at resist.ca Tue Jul 29 12:19:57 2003 From: resist at resist.ca (resist) Date: 29 Jul 2003 12:19:57 -0700 Subject: [news] Montreal: WTO PROTESTS MET WITH POLICE PURSUITS, MASS ARRESTS Message-ID: <1059506397.1798.110.camel@murray> -----Forwarded Message----- From: global solidarity To: pga @ riseup Cc: chicagodan at yahoogroups.com Subject: [pga] Montreal: WTO PROTESTS MET WITH POLICE PURSUITS, MASS ARRESTS Date: 29 Jul 2003 20:49:48 +0200 > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > > WTO PROTESTS MET WITH POLICE PURSUITS, MASS ARRESTS > > Montreal, July 28, 2003. > > Building on weeks of popular education and organizing, activists took to > the streets today to protest the policies of the WTO during its > Mini-Ministerial in Montreal which is taking place until July 30th. The > activist moblization, linked to global movements resisting the basic > injustices brought on by the transnational movement of capital also took a > stand yesterday during the No One is Illegal Demonstration to defend the > rights of free movement and refuge for populations from less priviledged > countries. Closely watched by communities opposing corporate > globalization, news of the protest is being simultaneously streamed in > text, audio and video through a worldwide network of independent media > centres such as quebec`s www.cmaq.net. > > > SNAKE MARCHES > > At 7:30 am this morning, hundreds of marchers left in two groups from > Norman-Bethune Square and Phillips Square converging at the security > perimiter surrounding the Sheraton Hotel (where the WTO is meeting is > being held) at the corner of Peel and Rene-Levesque. At around 8:50 am, > police in riot gear declared the march an ``illegal assembly`` and rushed > the crowds causing protestors to disperse into smaller groups which fled > throughout the downtown core. > > > ARREST OF JAGGI SINGH > > During today`s actions, Montreal activist Jaggi Singh was providing media > with interviews and staying away from the Sheraton Hotel in accordance > with his legal conditions. Nevertheless, though he was not involved with > the marches, at 9:10 am on the corner of Peel and Ste. Catherine, about a > dozen police converged on Jaggi and apprehended him for ``unlawful > assembly``. Several witness were on hand and can attest to the fact that > Singh was singled out. > > > MASS ARRESTS AT THE ``GREEN ZONE`` > > Meanwhile, police pursued protestors throughout the downtown core; several > were apprehended in small groups by roving police squads. Many others > sought refuge at and around The Alternative Bookstore on St. Laurent just > south of Sherbooke. This Bookstore was meant was to serve as a space for > alternative radio broadcast and popular education during the protests as > well as a predetermined GREEN ZONE (a place for peaceful assembly away > from the marches). Though far away from the security perimeter and the > marches, police came to encircle the Green Zone at 10:30 am and began > arresting around 200 people for unlawful assembly loading them into two > waiting buses. Among the arrested was one independent journalist. No > injuries stemming from arrests have been reported. > > > PROPERTY DAMAGE > > Several from among the demonstrators broke windows at downtown locations > of The Gap, Buger King and an Army Recruitment Centre. These targets were > not indiscriminate. The Gap is being targetted by activists > internationally for its labour practices while the Recruitment Centre was > targetted as a symbol of militarism- war, post Iraq, being linked more and > more with the violence of the global economy addressed by activists. > > www.cmaq.net