[Onthebarricades] Health and welfare protests, November 2008

[global resistance roundup]

* ZIMBABWE: Doctors and nurses strike and protest in face of repression, 
collapse
* INDONESIA: Protest for better allocation, monitoring of health budget
* INDIA: Orissa - State bans doctors' strike
* INDIA: Jharkhand - Food poisoning deaths protested
* INDIA: Vehicle damaged in hospital death protest
* INDIA: Health protests roundup
* UK: Protest at fire station downgrade
* US: North Carolina - Protest against hospital closure
* BULGARIA: Doctors plan protest
* US - Philadelphia - Cuts protests
* AUSTRALIA: Pensioners stage naked horseback protest
* AUSTRALIA: Queensland - Ambulance workers protest
* CANADA: Health workers protest attack on right to strike
* US: Toledo - Health furlough protested
* SCOTLAND - UK: Protest to save post office
* IRELAND: Rally against cervical cancer vaccine scrapping
* AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory - Mothers, midwives protest for better 
maternity services
* US: Pittsburgh - Protest against hospital closure
* NEPAL: Bandh over road death
* US: New Orleans - Protesters want renovation of charity hospital
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - ex-servicemen protest job cuts
* US: Philadelphia - Library closure plan protested
* IRELAND: Hospital workers, patients protest cuts
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Train passengers stage flash protest over service
* IRELAND: Protest wins water filters
* UK: Rail users in sardine protest against overcrowding
* EGYPT: Hundreds protest accident death
* BULGARIA: Blockade over unsafe road
* US: South Carolina - Protest over cinema closure
* AUSTRALIA: Rural doctors in beach rally








http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-1662_2428458,00.html

Zim riot cops break up protest
18/11/2008 17:22 - (SA)
Harare - Riot police in Zimbabwe are preventing striking doctors and 
nurses from protesting against the country's collapsing health system.
Eyewitnesses say police broke up a protest on Tuesday at a Harare hospital.
The health workers regrouped later but are being prevented by riot 
police from leaving the hospital.
The protesters planned to present a petition to the government calling 
for "urgent action" to address the crisis in the public health system.
Their grievances include a lack of medical supplies, equipment and 
drugs, leaving poor Zimbabweans unable to access proper care. A cholera 
outbreak has killed at least 130 people.
Zimbabwe's economic collapse has resulted in chronic shortages of food, 
fuel and other basic goods.
- AP





http://allafrica.com/stories/200811181127.html

SW Radio Africa (London)
Zimbabwe: Doctors and Nurses Beaten by Police During Peaceful Protest
Tichaona Sibanda
18 November 2008
About one hundred health workers were injured on Tuesday, some of them 
seriously, after heavily armed riot police baton-charged their peaceful 
protest march in central Harare.
The health workers from Harare, Parirenyatwa and Chitungwiza hospitals 
had just embarked on a peaceful procession towards the Ministry of 
Health offices, to express concern against the total collapse of the 
health delivery system.
Dr Simba Ndoda, one of the protest organizers and a victim of the police 
brutality, told us the authorities went to extremes in dealing with the 
unarmed health workers. He said over one thousand health workers, 
including doctors, nurses, radiographers, administrators and 
pharmacists, had gathered at Parirenyatwa hospital for the protest march.
However hundreds of police in riot gear deployed outside the hospital 
and cordoned off all link roads. They stopped the health workers and 
unleashed a baton charge, which left dozens of members of the health 
fraternity injured.
The police flushed out leaders of the protest march and manhandled them 
before dragging some of them to waiting police vehicles. Unconfirmed 
reports say a number of protesters were hauled off to different police 
stations.
'This was supposed to be a peacful demonstration. We were unarmed. We 
only had our uniforms and stethoscopes. We tried to reason with the 
police so that we could proceed with the march but like a lightining 
bolt they just set upon us, without warning and savagely beat us, 
inflicting serious injuries on many of our compatriots,' Dr Ndoda said.
The strike action comes amid the failure of the government to contain 
the spread of cholera, which has so far killed hundreds of people, due 
to lack of medicines and drugs. The protesters were also demanding that 
the government review their salaries, which are not enough to even 
provide food for a family. 'Enough is enough' and 'Pay health workers 
properly' were some of the banners carried.
The country's health system, once among the best in Africa, collapsed 
under the weight of the world's highest inflation rate, officially 
estimated at 231 million percent, but believed to be over 5 quintillion 
percent. Most hospitals are now unable to provide even basic medicines.
Dr Ndoda said conditions at state hospitals were 'traumatising,' 
explaining that he had personally seen some of his patients 'die 
unnecessarily' because of lack of drugs, medicines and basic equipment.
'It is very disturbing. There are no drugs, no equipment and now there 
is no manpower. The country's three major referral hospitals have been 
closed and the government has still not said a word about it. So how are 
the ordinary citizens without money going to survive? Asked Dr Ndoda.
He said the protest was also meant to show their outrage at the lack of 
political will by the government to resolve the health crisis.
The Zimbabwe Doctors for Human rights strongly condemned the manhandling 
and ruthless thrashing of health workers at the hands of the police.A 
doctor who asked not to be named said it was strange the government had 
resources to deal with a peaceful march, but was doing nothing about the 
cholera pandemic that threatened the lives of up to 1.4 million people.
A statement from Doctors without Borders said the whole country is at 
risk if cholera continues to spread unchecked. Officially state media 
reports that only 73 people have died of the disease, but independent 
estimates put the figure closer to one thousand. Many tens of thousands 
have fallen ill.
In Beitbridge, cholera has killed 36 and 431 have been hospitalised at 
the border town since last week. Beitbridge medical officer Taikaitei 
Kanongara said they expected the number of victims to rise.






http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=6277931

Zimbabwe Police Break up Health Protest by Doctors
Zimbabwe Police Break up Protest Against Collapsing Health System; 
Cholera Spreads
HARARE, Zimbabwe November 18, 2008 (AP)
The Associated Press
Zimbabwean Riot police keep a close eye on doctors and nurses 
demonstrating for a better pay and...
(AP)
Riot police prevented striking doctors and nurses Tuesday from 
protesting against Zimbabwe's collapsing health care system, which lacks 
even basic drugs amid a rapid spread of cholera in the country.
Eyewitnesses said police broke up a protest at a hospital in the 
capital, Harare. The health workers regrouped later but were prevented 
by riot police from leaving the hospital.
The protesters planned to present a petition to the government calling 
for "urgent action" to address the crisis in the public health system, 
which is crumbling from lack of medical supplies, equipment and drugs.
Meanwhile, the official Herald newspaper reported Tuesday that cholera 
had killed 36 people since Friday in the town of Beitbridge on the South 
African border. It said that 431 people had been diagnosed with the 
highly infectious intestinal disease.
The Herald said the local hospital had cleared all its wards to make 
room for cholera victims but that there were not enough staff or 
equipment to cope. The newspaper reported 11 bodies "scattered all over 
the place" in the female wards because there was no room in the morgue. 
Health workers had no idea about the situation in surrounding rural 
areas because lack of fuel and transport prevented investigations, it said.
Beitbridge is one of the regions busiest border crossings, with huge 
volumes of vehicles and people passing to South Africa to buy supplies 
that are impossible to find in Zimbabwe.
Even before the Beitbridge outbreak, more than 130 people had died from 
cholera, which is spread by contaminated food and water. The disease is 
thriving in Zimbabwe because there is no money to maintain the sewage 
and draining systems, to clear garbage or supply clean water.
Aid groups fear the outbreaks will worsen as the rainy season progresses 
and Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders, has warned 
that 1.4 million people are at risk. MSF said patients were lying 
outside on the grass at Harare's infectious diseases hospital and the 
charity was putting up
Zimbabwe, which has one of the world's worst AIDS epidemics, once had 
among the best health care systems in sub-Saharan Africa. But the 
country's economic meltdown has led to chronic shortages of food and 
gasoline, and daily outages of power and water.
Zimbabwean Riot police keep a close eye on doctors and nurses 
demonstrating for a better pay and...
(AP)
President Robert Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 
1980, blames Western sanctions for his country's extreme financial woes. 
But critics point to corruption and mismanagement under his increasingly 
autocratic leadership.






http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/11/20081118183917551591.html

Zimbabwe police stop health protest

Police prevented protesters from leaving a Harare hospital after 
blocking the protest [AFP]

Riot police in Zimbabwe have prevented striking doctors and nurses from 
protesting against the country's collapsing health care system.

The blocked strike was being planned against a backdrop of a rapid 
spread of cholera and a chronic lack of basic drugs.
After police broke up the protest on Tuesday at a hospital in the 
capital, Harare, health workers regrouped but were prevented by riot 
police from leaving the hospital.
The protesters planned to present a petition to the government calling 
for "urgent action" to address the crisis in the public health system, 
which is crumbling from lack of medical supplies, equipment and drugs.
Speaking to the Reuters news agency, Simbarashe Ndoda, a representative 
of the striking doctors, said: "There are no drugs and people are dying, 
we want the government to address these issues."
Commenting on pay conditions in the medical sector, Ndoda said: "This 
has to be the only country in the world where a doctor's salary can only 
buy a loaf of bread. That is madness."
Cholera outbreak
Meanwhile, the state-run Herald newspaper reported on Tuesday that 
cholera had killed 36 people since Friday in the town of Beitbridge on 
the South African border.
It said that 431 people had been diagnosed with the highly infectious 
intestinal disease.
The paper said the local hospital had cleared all its wards to make room 
for cholera victims but that there were not enough staff or equipment to 
cope.
Eleven bodies were "scattered all over the place" in the female wards 
because there was no room in the morgue, the paper reported.

Zimbabwe once had one of the best health systems in sub-Saharan Africa [AFP]
It said health workers had no idea about the situation in surrounding 
rural areas because lack of fuel and transport prevented investigations.
Beitbridge is one of the regions busiest border crossings, with huge 
volumes of vehicles and people passing to South Africa to buy supplies 
that are impossible to find in Zimbabwe.
Even before the Beitbridge outbreak, more than 130 people had died from 
cholera, which is spread by contaminated food and water.
The disease is thriving in Zimbabwe because there is no money to 
maintain the sewage and draining systems, to clear garbage or supply 
clean water.

Warning
Aid groups fear the outbreaks will worsen as the rainy season progresses 
and the French charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors 
Without Borders, has warned that 1.4 million people are at risk.
MSF said patients were lying outside on the grass at Harare's infectious 
diseases hospital and the charity was putting up tents to cope.
Zimbabwe, which has one of the world's worst Aids epidemics, once had 
one of the best health care systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
But the country's economic meltdown has led to chronic shortages of food 
and gasoline, and daily outages of power and water.
Robert Mugabe, the country's president, who has been in power since 
independence from Britain in 1980, blames Western sanctions for his 
country's extreme financial woes.
But critics point to corruption and mismanagement under his increasingly 
autocratic leadership.








---------------------------------------------------

Four demos planned for Tuesday

Tempo Interactive - November 11, 2008

Fery Firmansyah/TMC, Jakarta -- Jakarta Police
informed four demonstrations planned for Monday in
the capital, the first at 9 AM outside the State
Palace. The second at 10 AM will be staged at the
Health Ministry office and the Corruption
Eradication Commission office.

At 10:30 AM one group of protester to hold a demo
at the National Police Headquarters in Jl.
Trunojoyo South Jakarta and the parliament building
in Central Jakarta.

The fourth group will stage two demos starting at
11 AM at the Corruption Eradication Commission
office in South Jakarta and the Jakarta Police
Headquarters.

Police said the demos are potential of disrupting
the traffic without informing the number of people
to join the protests or the issues that prompt the
protests. However Tempo received information that
the second demo at the Health Ministry will be
stage by hundreds of malpractice victims and poor
residents to demand better allocation and
monitoring of the health budget.

---------------------------------------------------








http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=NLetter&id=a2afc175-b99e-4058-8228-977b3d6181e2&MatchID1=4898&TeamID1=7&TeamID2=8&MatchType1=2&SeriesID1=1236&PrimaryID=4898&Headline=Cracks+down+on+protesting+doctors

Orissa cracks down on protesting doctors
Indo-Asian News Service
Orissa, November 08, 2008
First Published: 10:12 IST(8/11/2008)
Last Updated: 10:16 IST(8/11/2008)
Orissa on Friday invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) 
against nearly 3,000 government doctors after they refused to call off a 
strike to protest against the dismissal of three colleagues.
The ESMA is a central act, which prohibits strikes in certain jobs, and 
violations of it can lead to imprisonment and penalties. The act 
empowers the government to arrest the violator without a warrant.
"The state government has invoked ESMA against the state doctors after 
accepting the resignation of seven office-bearers of the doctors' 
union," a senior official of the state health department told IANS.
"In the interest of the public. it is necessary to prohibit strikes in 
the form of cessation of work by doctors so that health care delivery in 
the state is not disrupted," a notification issued by the state home 
department said.
The state government last month dismissed Bibek Swain, an 
anaesthesiologist, Santanu Sahu, a surgeon, and Anup Nath Sharma, an 
orthopaedic specialist, for allegedly cutting off the palms of bodies of 
five tribals while performing autopsies in 2006.
Nearly 3,000 government doctors submitted their resignations Monday to 
protest the three doctors' dismissals and threatened not to join work 
from Nov 9 if the orders were not withdrawn.
State Health Minister Sanatana Bisi said the government has accepted the 
resignations of seven doctors and will act against others if they do not 
join work.
"All the seven doctors are office-bearers of the Orissa Medical Service 
Association (OMSA)," he said.
The minister said that the government has taken measures to ensure that 
essential medical services are maintained if the doctors do not join 
work from November 9.
"We are firm on our decision (to hold the protest)," said Madhusudan 
Mishra, the president of OMSA.
"Several doctors posted in remote areas have already left hospitals and 
are heading towards state capital Bhubaneswar to join our protest," he said.
The tribals were killed in police firing during protests in the coastal 
district of Jajpur.
Of the 500 tribals protesting the construction undertaken by Tata Steel 
at the industrial complex in Kalinga Nagar, about 100 km from 
Bhubaneswar, at least 13 were killed during the police firing Jan 2, 2006.
The doctors said they had cut off the palms of the tribals following 
directions from the administration and police officials.
The incident led to a major controversy. Following pressure from various 
human right groups, the state government had suspended the three doctors 
the same year.





http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-45734.html

Jharkhand parents protest food poisoning deaths of children
Ranchi, Nov 14 : A day after five students died of food poisoning at a 
residential school in Baridih, more than one thousand villagers Friday 
protested the deaths and raised slogans against the Jharkhand government.
The villagers, including the parents of school children, blocked the 
Ranchi Bero road in protest.

Students of Adivasi Residential School fell ill Thursday evening after 
taking snacks and drinking milk. The doctors of Rajendra Institute of 
Medical Science (RIMS), where the students have been admitted, suspect 
that adulterated milk caused food poisoning.

Five children were reported dead while the condition of 19 is said to be 
critical. More than 60 students had fallen sick and about 30 were 
admitted at the hospital.

The school, situated at Baridih in Bero block, about 40 km from here, is 
run by the welfare department to ensure free education and food to 
tribal students.

"I had not imagined I would lose my son this way. The state government 
is responsible for the death of my son. Free education and food have 
taken a heavy price," said a mourning father of a dead student.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren had suspended the school teachers 
and announced a compensation of Rs.100,000 to the kin of each of those dead.

"This is a crime against humanity. The culprit will not be spared," said 
Soren, who is expected to visit the school Friday.
--- IANS





http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081120/jsp/siliguri/story_10136046.jsp

Protest after hospital death
OUR CORRESPONDENT

Protesters damage the block development officer’s vehicle at Gajole on 
Wednesday. (Surajit Roy)
Malda, Nov. 19: People ransacked the Gajole rural hospital, attacked the 
doctors quarters and blocked a state highway after a newborn died at the 
health facility today.
Seven policemen were injured also in the scuffle. Panic-stricken 
doctors, nurses and other health employees fled the hospital.
The residents attacked the quarters of the block medical officer, 
Brindaban Roy, and damaged his car. The house of Debasish Seal, another 
doctor, and nurses’ quarters were also ransacked. Later, the crowd 
blocked the Malda-Balurghat state highway for several hours to protest 
against the “negligence of the doctors”.
Around 9pm, a police team, led by deputy superintendent S. Singh, 
reached the spot and resorted to lathicharge to lift the blockade. The 
protesters retaliated by throwing stones, injuring seven policemen who 
were later hospitalised. The police did a route march to control the 
situation.
Bali Biswas of Panchpara in Gajole delivered a baby at the hospital 
around 2pm. The baby died within an hour. Her husband Sonaram alleged 
that there was no doctor around her when she delivered the baby. “I had 
requested the doctor to take care of the baby. But I was virtually 
driven out,” Sonaram said.
Brindaban Roy said the woman had delivered a premature baby. The chief 
medical officer of health, Srikanta Roy, ordered an inquiry.
The CPM MLA of the area, Sadhan Tudu, alleged that the Congress 
leadership had incited the villagers.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/09/stories/2008110954560400.htm

Tamil Nadu

AIADMK cadres stage demonstration
Special Correspondent
VILLUPURAM: About 2,500 cadres of the AIADMK staged a demonstration in 
front of the Kallakurichi Government Hospital here on Saturday. Led by 
MLA R. Kumaraguru, the protestors criticised lack of amenities in the 
hospital.
They pointed out that though the Kallakurichi Government Hospital had 
been declared headquarters hospitals, it lacked adequate amenities.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/16/stories/2008111654830500.htm

Kerala

Blind-folded protest
Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

NOVEL PROTEST: Members of the Kerala chapter of the Indian Optometrist 
Association staging a dharna in front of the Secretariat on Saturday in 
protest against the attitude of the Kerala Public Service Commission.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/09/stories/2008110951320300.htm

Karnataka - Hassan

Government medical officers to stage protest
Staff Correspondent
HASSAN: Government medical officers all over the State will go on strike 
for one day on Monday, protesting against the failure of Government to 
implement their demands.
Elaborating on their demands, president of the Hassan District Medical 
Officer’s Association Dr. Nagaraj said their agitation was the result of 
the decision taken by the State Association. The Karnataka State Medical 
Officers Association had given 45 days time to the Government to 
implement their demands. But there was no response from the Government.
They said they would now attend to only cases of emergency.
The demands are that there should be no disparity in pay scales of 
teaching staff working in medical colleges and that of government 
medical officers; medical officers working on contract basis in rural 
areas should be regular employees with immediate effect; primary health 
centres working round the clock should have doctors on eight-jour-shifts 
only; each PHC should have at least three doctors; stern action should 
be taken against people who attack doctors and staff while on duty. The 
Andhra Pradesh Government had passed an ordinance ensuring that those 
who attacked doctors would be punished. A similar ordinance was needed 
in Karnataka, he added.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112752090300.htm

Karnataka - Gulbarga

HKHS to protest before Parliament next month
Special Correspondent
Leaders of all parties invited to join the protest
GULBARGA: The Hyderabad Karnataka Horata Samiti (HKHS) will hold a 
protest before Parliament House in New Delhi on December 11 demanding 
amendment to Article 371 of the Constitution to provide special status 
to the Hyderabad Karnataka region.
Samiti president and former Minister Vaijnath Patil and general 
secretaries Hanumanthrao Desai and B.S.G Melkundi told presspersons here 
on Wednesday that members of all political parties and organisations 
would participate in the daylong protest to draw the attention of the 
Centre to the plight of the people of the backward region.
Mr. Patil said, “The demand for an amendment to Article 371 has been 
pending for more than two decades, and successive governments in the 
State and at the Centre have ignored it.”
He said the agitation for the cause would be stepped up in the coming 
days if the Centre failed to move a Bill in the session starting on 
December 10. The samiti proposed to organise a bandh in the entire 
Hyderabad Karnataka region in the last week of December or first week of 
January after consulting other leaders, political parties and 
organisations supporting the demand.
Mr. Patil said that all political parties and other social organisations 
had been invited to join the protest in New Delhi. . “When other 
backward regions in the country such as Telangana, Marathwada and 
north-eastern States can be given the benefits of Article 371, why is it 
being denied to the equally or more backward Hyderabad Karnataka 
region,” he asked.
To a question, Mr. Patil said that he would invite Leader of the 
Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani and BJP president Rajnath Singh 
to join the protest.
The former Defence Minister George Fernandes and other Central leaders 
would also join the protest, he added.
Asked whether Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would join the protest in 
New Delhi, Mr. Patil said, “I had spoken to Mr. Yeddyurappa about this 
and he said that he was preoccupied on that day and promised to depute a 
senior leader on his behalf to be a part of the protest.”






http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7715147.stm

Saturday, 8 November 2008
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version

Protest at fire station downgrade

The protesters do not want cover at Balmossie to be cut
Campaigners opposing plans to downgrade a fire station in Dundee have 
said they are "extremely buoyed" by the turnout at a protest against the 
cuts.
Tayside Fire and Rescue bosses are proposing removing the night-time 
crew at Balmossie and providing overnight cover with part-time 
firefighters.
Retired firefighter Eddie Thomson said 500 people attended Saturday's 
march and rally protesting against the cuts.
The fire service said the plans would provide a better service in the area.
It said downgrading Balmossie would free up an extra day crew for Perth 
and Forfar.
The Fire Brigades Union has welcomed additional resources for Perth and 
Forfar, but claimed that people and businesses in the area which 
Balmossie serves would be put in danger.
It has been holding public information meetings and collecting 
signatures for petitions around Monifieth, Broughty Ferry and Barnhill.

We underestimated the amount of people who would turn up for the march

Eddie Thomson
Retired firefighter
Mr Thomson is leading the campaign to stop the Balmossie cuts.
He said: "We know that more people are killed at night and fire deaths 
are up in Scotland.
"If this station goes part-time the men will have to drive from their 
houses to the fire station to get on the fire engine and then go to the 
fire.
"It's going to take longer to get a fire engine to their house, or their 
building or wherever the fire is."
The march set off from Balmossie fire station, accompanied by the Mains 
of Fintry Pipe Band.
The protesters walked to St Aidan's Hall in Broughty Ferry for the mass 
rally.
'Best use'
Mr Thomson believes the public is on their side.
"We underestimated the amount of people who would turn up for the march, 
especially with it coming up to Christmas," he said.
"The whole area is pretty hostile [to the changes], we've had 
overwhelming support.
"We are really hoping that Chief Fire Officer Hunter, in his wisdom, 
will listen to the firefighters that are fighting the campaign, the fire 
brigades union and also the local people who are outraged at this 
attempt to downgrade the fire engine."
Alasdair Hay, deputy chief fire officer, said: "Tayside Fire and Rescue 
have a proposal out for consultation in relation to the best use of the 
organisation's resources to drive down risk and provide an appropriate 
level of operational response to all the communities across Tayside.
"We are disappointed by the Fire Brigades Union's response to this 
proposal but recognise their right, and the wider public's right, to 
voice their opinion in any manner they deem appropriate."









http://www.wsoctv.com/news/17930602/detail.html#-

Workers, Vets Protest End To Services At Salisbury VA Hospital
Friday, November 7, 2008 – updated: 6:06 pm EST November 7, 2008
SALISBURY, N.C. -- Employees and veterans' groups gathered Friday to 
protest the elimination of some health care services at the Hefner VA 
Medical Center.
Members of the American Federation of Government Employees, Rolling 
Thunder and Veterans of Foreign Wars met at a Veterans of Foreign Wars 
Post in Salisbury and then picketed in front of the hospital on Brenner 
Avenue.
A local union leader said eliminating services at the hospital will 
force vets to pay for care previously received for free at the hospital. 
The union represents employees at the Hefner VA Medical Center.
The plan is to end emergency services offered at the VA hospital. That’s 
not what veteran Patricia Howell said should happen.
"We need our health care. We need to be able to go to our hospital and 
be taken care of the same way we've taken care of our country," she said.
But health care would not change, according to hospital leaders. They 
said what would change is the place medical services were provided. They 
said the hospital is developing relationships with area hospitals so 
veterans can get help at medical centers closer to their homes.
Bobby Beaver is a veteran and goes to the medical center twice a month. 
He said he doesn't want anything to change, and he doesn't believe his 
health care plan would work anywhere else.
"We veterans deserve to be taken care of. It's an obligation to veterans 
who have served well," he said.
VA officials said no changes will be made until a final OK is given from 
the Veterans Affairs office in Washington and contracts have been worked 
out with local health care providers. Still, Beaver has his own ideas on 
what should happen.
"I can see them scaling down since they've opened other places in 
Charlotte and other areas, but we have a tremendous number of veterans 
in this area," he said.
Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake has heard the criticism of the 
plan and is having his staff review it. Peake has given his staff 
members a Dec. 5 deadline to report back to him on their review of the 
plan.






http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=98519

Bulgaria's GPs Brace for Protests
3 November 2008, Monday

General practitioners in Bulgaria consider launching protests in the end 
of November over insufficient budget. File photo by Yuliana Nikolova 
(Sofia Photo Agency)

General practitioners in Bulgaria consider launching effective protests 
in the end of November if the budget proposed by the National Health 
Insurance Fund is not approved by the Financial Ministry.

The budget for the GPs proposed by the Financial Ministry is BGN 46 
million less than the Fund's proposition, chair of the Association of 
General Practitioners, Lyubomir Kirov, said.

The NHIF wanted the health budget for 2009 as whole to amount to BGN 2.3 
B, but the ministry said they would approve a budget of BGN 1,9B.

"We cannot understand why this huge sum of BGN 400M must be set aside in 
NHIF's reserve in the Bulgarian National Bank. This is the money of 
health-insured people, which must be spent solely on production of 
health," Mr Kirov declared.







http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20081107_Lots_of_protests_about_cuts.html

Posted on Fri, Nov. 7, 2008

Lots of protests about cuts
By CATHERINE LUCEY & CHRIS BRENNAN
Philadelphia Daily News
luceyc at phillynews.com 215-854-4172
After weeks of speculation, Mayor Nutter yesterday released his plan to 
cut $1 billion out of the city's budget over the next five years.
Now, get ready for the hollering.
Community advocates yesterday promised protests over the planned 
closures of libraries and pools.
Firefighters rallied against plans to cut five engine and two ladder 
companies. And several City Council members said that they expected to 
debate the financial plan before voting on enabling legislation.
Amy Dougherty, executive director of the independent Friends of the Free 
Library, said that she was stunned to learn that 11 of the city's 54 
libraries would be closed.
"I understand the budget challenges that the city is facing and the 
country is facing," Dougherty said. "What I'm troubled by is that the 
libraries seem to be taking the brunt."
Dougherty said that library advocates would protest the decision.
"We're not going to take it quietly. We can't," she said.
Longtime activist Michael McCrea, president of the Philadelphia 
Recreation Advisory Board, said that he expected action against the pool 
closures.
The city plans to close 68 of its 81 pools - six indoor and 62 outdoor. 
McCrea noted that 62 fewer outdoor pools means fewer summer jobs. He 
also questioned how Recreation Department summer camps would manage with 
less pool access.
"Are we going to have to increase the cost of summer camp so we can bus 
kids to a pool for a couple hours a day?" he asked.
The firefighters union, Local 22, yesterday protested Fire Department 
cuts. It plans to go to court to try to keep the engine and ladder 
companies intact.
"The mayor, when he was a councilman, marched with us saying these cuts 
are unsafe," said David Kearney, union spokesman.
Meanwhile, some Council members said that Nutter's plan wasn't a done deal.
Councilman Bill Green complained that Nutter was looking in the wrong 
places for savings, maintaining staffers to work on sustainability and 
bike programs while cutting fire services and library branches. Green 
also wants to find savings in consolidating the city's 
information-technology services and moving toward a paperless government 
that stores information electronically.
"We're going around the fat to get to the muscle and bone," Green said. 
"We're making incremental changes instead of taking this opportunity to 
transform our government." *





http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/02/2407930.htm

Pensioners stage naked horseback protest
Posted Sun Nov 2, 2008 2:05pm AEDT
Updated Sun Nov 2, 2008 2:33pm AEDT

Disability pensioner Marg Lennon was the latter-day Lady Godiva as she 
rode across the Princes Bridge, in the city. (ABC)
• Map: Melbourne 3000
A naked protest on horseback from medieval times has been recreated in 
central Melbourne today to highlight the plight of pensioners.
Fifty-seven-year-old disability pensioner Marg Lennon was the latter-day 
Lady Godiva as she rode across the Princes Bridge near Flinders Street 
Station and Federation Square.
She wore a body suit and long wig to look like the noblewoman, who is 
said to have ridden naked through the streets of Coventry in England in 
protest against taxes imposed by her husband.
Ms Lennon and the Pensioner Action Group are calling for an increase to 
pensioners' fortnightly payments and not just the lump sum that has been 
promised.
"It makes me really angry that our politicians all say they can't live 
on $273 a week," she said.
"They've given us a poxy $1,400 to ease our burden and stop us whingeing 
for Christmas. I call it the appeasement payment."
She says she normally has just $45 a week of disposable income.





http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/03/2408980.htm

Paramedics protest outside Bligh's office
Posted Mon Nov 3, 2008 5:00pm AEDT
• Video: Qld paramedics protest outsider Premier's office (ABC News)
• Map: Brisbane 4000
About 100 ambulance workers have rallied outside the office of 
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh in Brisbane, as part of statewide 
industrial action over wages and conditions.
The union is pushing for a 6 per cent annual pay rise, a new wage 
structure and more staff so workers do not have to go without breaks.
Garry Bullock from the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union 
(LHMU) says the decision to stop work for two hours was not taken lightly.
A delegation will meet the Emergency Services Minister, Neil Roberts, 
and the Industrial Relations Minister, John Mickel.
The wage claim will return to the Industrial Relations Commission tomorrow.





http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2008/11/18/health-care.html?ref=rss

Unions protest 'essential' designations for health workers
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 | 9:55 AM CT Comments27Recommend8
CBC News
Health-care unions involved in contract negotiations say the government 
is trying to declare nearly all of their workers "essential."
Negotiators from three unions, representing 25,000 health-care workers, 
came to the legislature Monday to complain.
They say health regions are including everyone from librarians to music 
therapists in their list of workers who are not allowed to strike. And 
they're worried protracted discussions about essential services could 
derail further talks.
"About 95 per cent of the employees within CUPE's jurisdiction [are] 
being declared essential at this point," said Gordon Campbell, president 
of Canadian Union of Public Employees health care council.
Under the province's new essential services law, a list of who must work 
during job action is supposed to be negotiated between the union and 
employer.
The unions say the employer's starting point is basically everyone.
Those workers are vital to a fully functioning health system, but they 
are not essential to public safety, said Barb Cape, president of the 
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) West.
"Are you honestly telling me that the health-care system could not 
continue to function in a job action situation without the music 
therapies or the libraries?" she asked.
Representatives from the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees 
Union were also at the legislature.
Whether music therapists or librarians should be covered under essential 
services legislation is up to the two sides to negotiate, Labour 
Minister Rob Norris said.
"Certainly the onus is on each side to ensure that fair labour practices 
are being practised and again that remedy remains in place, and that is 
access to the Labour Relations Board," Norris said.
Unions have noted that the Saskatchewan Party government hand-picked the 
new chair of the Labour Relations Board.
However, they don't rule out taking a complaint there, once they receive 
the employer's full list of who it believes is essential.
In the meantime, they say little progress is being made on negotiating a 
new contract.






http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081119/NEWS16/811190372/-1/RSS

Article published November 19, 2008
Workers protest Toledo mayor's plan for 3-day shutdown
Employees cheer move by Ashford to stall proposal

Councilman Michael Ashford is trying to push through an ordinance 
requiring the mayor to honor collective bargaining agreements.
( THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER )

By IGNAZIO MESSINA
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Mayor Carty Finkbeiner's controversial plan to shut down the city's 
nonessential departments for three days before Dec. 31 attracted a rowdy 
crowd of 40 city employees to Toledo City Council's meeting last night 
to protest the idea and, conversely, cheer for Councilman Michael 
Ashford's attempt to block the shutdown.
"I think us being here is having a big effect," said Don Czerniak, 
president of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal 
Employees Local 7.
The mayor is looking for ways to reduce a potential $10 million deficit 
for 2008. His 2009 operating budget calls for a four-day shutdown to 
help reduce a $21 million shortfall for next year.
A number of councilmen have criticized the mayor's idea.

Mr. Ashford, a regular critic of the mayor, last night tried to push 
through an ordinance that would have required Mr. Finkbeiner to adhere 
to the union's collective bargaining agreements and not implement his 
planned shutdown.
VIEW TOLEDO BUDGET
TOLEDO BUDGET CRISIS: Council-Mayor communication, plan assumptions, 
budget comments, revenue chart, proposed budget

Council voted 10-2 to give Mr. Ashford's measure immediate 
consideration. Councilman D. Michael Collins and Mark Sobczak voted against.
However, the proposed ordinance was sent to council's human resources 
committee by a 7-5 vote rather than get a vote. Voting to send it to 
committee were Lindsay Webb, Mr. Collins, Phillip Copeland, George 
Sarantou, Betty Shultz, Mr. Sobczak, and Tom Waniewski.
Adam Loukx, acting city law director, argued that the proposal would 
have violated the city's charter because it prohibits council from 
interfering with the mayor's command decisions.
Mr. Ashford said he disagreed and had hoped the ordinance would have 
sent a "strong message" to the mayor. "An ordinance is city law and, by 
passing it, the unions can go and get an injunction," Mr. Ashford said.
The mayor wants all nonemergency city departments to shut down Nov. 26, 
Dec. 26, and Dec. 31. He said the move would save the city $1 million - 
$300,000 of which would apply to the general operating fund.
Some of the city of Toledo's unions are promising legal action Monday to 
block the shutdown, but as of yesterday they had not filed a request in 
court for a temporary restraining order.
In addition to the shutdown, Mr. Finkbeiner said he plans to balance the 
2008 budget by re-allocating about $8 million from the city's capital 
improvement budget over several years.
Under his proposed 2009 spending plan, the city next year would hire no 
firefighters or police, lay off about 40 employees, eliminate 36 jobs 
that are unfilled, close all but one of its public pools, require health 
insurance co-payments from all city employees, and grant no pay raises - 
except for members of Teamsters Local 20, the union representing trash 
collectors, because of a previous deal.
Contact Ignazio Messina at:
imessina at theblade.com
or 419-724-6171.






http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Royal-Mail-can-afford-to.4700123.jp

Royal Mail can afford to keep post office open say protesters

Published Date: 17 November 2008
By Ian Swanson
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Oxgangs Post Office claim a pledge from 
Royal Mail bosses shows there is no need for the branch to shut.
The post office in Oxgangs Broadway was put forward for closure last 
month to replace two other city post offices which were taken off the 
hit list.

But Royal Mail says if the current consultation ends with Oxgangs being 
saved, no other branch will be put up for closure in its place.

And SNP Lothians MSP Ian McKee said that means there is no need for 
Oxgangs to close at all.

He said: "We have had an assurance from the Post Office that if the 
appeal is successful and Oxgangs Broadway is spared, they will not put 
another post office in the frame.

"That means they must have worked out they can afford to keep Oxgangs 
open. They have decided the financial saving from closing Oxgangs does 
not have to be made – so the closure is unnecessary.

"Why close it if you don't need the money?"

Royal Mail named Oxgangs for closure on October 21, when it announced 
the Calder Crossway and Elm Row branches, which had been earmarked to 
close, were being kept open.

Eleven other city post offices were confirmed for closure as part of the 
UK-wide drive to shut 2500 branches.

But the plan to shut Oxgangs has provoked strong protests, not least 
from the Army and relatives of troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, 
who say the post office is vital in preserving contact between soldiers 
and their families at Dreghorn and Redford barracks.

More than 200 people attended a packed meeting in Pentland Community 
Centre last week.

Dr McKee said he had commented during his speech that after a hard 
fight, campaigners had succeeded in saving Calder Crossway, only to find 
that Oxgangs was then proposed for closure instead.

"I said how dreadful it would be if we managed to save Oxgangs and then 
there was yet another one put forward which we would have to fight for."

But he said after the meeting network development manager Sally Buchanan 
had assured him that would not happen.

"She gave me the assurance that if Oxgangs was saved that would be the 
end of the process."

Norman Tinlin, secretary of Fairmilehead community council, said the 
Post Office was sending out mixed messages.

"They said if Oxgangs was saved, the process had to finish some time and 
this would be the end of it," he said.

"But if that's the situation, they haven't got a very strong case for 
closing Oxgangs.

"Why could they not make that decision when the other two were being 
saved and draw a line under it?"

A Royal Mail spokeswoman confirmed that if it was decided Oxgangs should 
stay open, no other post office would be proposed to close in its place.

She said : "We have been tasked by the Government to close 2500 post 
offices across the country so there is a process in place for that.

"The correct procedures are being followed and Post Office Ltd are 
following the same process for Oxgangs that we have done for other 
replacement branches in previous area plans."






http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/dublin-protests-over-plans-to-scrap-cervical-cancer-vaccine-14064633.html

Dublin protests over plans to scrap cervical cancer vaccine
Saturday, 15 November 2008

A rally is to take place in Dublin today against the Minister for 
Health's plans to scrap the cervical cancer vaccine for young girls.
The protest has been organised as a result of an online discussion group 
on the social networking site Facebook.
The demonstration will begin on O'Connell Street at 2pm this afternoon.





http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/16/2420979.htm?site=darwin

Posted November 16, 2008 13:15:00
Mums, midwives protest for better maternity services
A group of Northern Territory women have gathered with their babies at 
the Darwin office of Health Minister Chris Burns to protest for better 
public maternity services.
The group of at least 20 women, including some midwives, want Mr Burns 
to improve services for pregnant women and their babies.
They are at a Darwin produce market holding up a string of nappies 
inscribed with protest messages, calling for the Minister to act on the 
maternity services review.
They have been granted a meeting with Mr Burns to discuss their concerns.
Mr Burns told the group he has already overseen reform.
"Yes I believe people can have confidence given the changes that have 
occurred," he said.
But Samantha Phelan from the Maternity Coalition says the Government is 
dragging its heels.
"It will take political will to change it and we are yet to see if Chris 
Burns has the political will," she said.
The minister says he will meet with the group again before the end of 
the year.





http://www.wpxi.com/news/18171703/detail.html

South Side Community Protests Hospital Relocation
Posted: 9:36 pm EST November 29, 2008Updated: 10:25 pm EST November 29, 2008
PITTSBURGH -- A protest was held Saturday morning against the closing of 
a local hospital.
People who have relied on UPMC South Side for years want the company to 
get their message loud and clear; keep the hospital open.
Pittsburgh resident Larry Pergzola said, "I was hear 82 years and have 
always depended upon the hospital. To have it taken away from you, that 
is just a disaster." you, that'sjust a disaster."
A group of South Side residents, led by City Councilman Bruce Kraus, 
held a demonstration outside of the facility to protest the relocation 
of its services to UPMC Mercy Hospital.
Kraus said he is fighting the new plan because it will be difficult for 
many patients to travel to the Bluff neighborhood for their medical needs.
"This hospital has a 100-year history in this neighborhood. When UPMC 
purchased it 15 years ago, there was an understanding that this hospital 
would remain in this neighborhood," said Kraus.
Mary Dolgy, like some others who've been treated at the hospital, said 
the move would be an inconvenience, "I would have to take two buses, go 
into town, take another one. I don't have a car and I don't like to 
impose on anyone else."
Leaders of the protest plan to meet with UPMC President Jeffrey Romoff 
on Dec. 8.





http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08335/931769-53.stm?cmpid=localstate.xml

South Side residents protest UPMC's closing of their neighborhood hospital
Sunday, November 30, 2008
By Milan Simonich, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Steve Mellon
Baily Degregorio, center, 12, of the South Side, joins about two dozen 
people yesterday to protest UPMC's decision to close its South Side 
hospital.
About 50 people, many of them gray and frail, stood in the cold 
yesterday to protest the planned closure of UPMC South Side.
They said it is a hospital within walking distance of thousands, a place 
where doctors and nurses know people by name. They worried about losing 
800 jobs in the neighborhood. Mostly, though, they talked about how 
different the South Side would be if it had no hospital for the first 
time in more than 100 years.
"We can't be known just as an entertainment community," said Nancy 
Lardo, one of those at the rally.
State Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-Mount Washington, said what many were 
thinking: If UPMC is committed to serving the region, how can it shutter 
the South Side's hospital?
"One-third of the city population and one-third of the tax base are on 
the South Side. It's obvious that we deserve a hospital," Ms. Wagner said.
UPMC executives did not return calls for comment yesterday. But in June, 
when they announced that UPMC South Side would close and be consolidated 
with UPMC Mercy, they said patients would be the beneficiaries.
UPMC South Side and UPMC Mercy are just two miles apart, and many 
physicians already practice at both hospitals, executives said.
Under the merger plan, $75 million to $90 million would be spent to 
expand Mercy's Uptown campus. The South Side campus on Mary Street would 
close, but its operations would be integrated with Mercy's, improving 
quality of care for patients, UPMC said.
South Side residents do not see it that way.
City Councilman Bruce Kraus said closing UPMC South Side would mean more 
bus rides and longer waits for elderly patients.
He also said UPMC should consider how much economic damage would be done 
by closing the hospital.
The South Side, with its bars and restaurants, has plenty of nighttime 
calling cards. But the hospital is bedrock of the daytime economy, Mr. 
Kraus said.
About 600 people have written letters asking UPMC to reverse itself on 
the closure, Mr. Kraus said. He said he plans to deliver the letters to 
Jeffrey Romoff, president and chief executive officer of UPMC, during a 
personal meeting.
Still, Mr. Kraus sounded pessimistic about reversing the decision.
"They stand pretty firm that the hospital will close," he said.
The rally organizer, Toni Gorenc, said she felt obligated to fight for 
the hospital but wondered if the neighborhood's voices would be heard.
"Perhaps UPMC is so big that the little guy can't have an impact," she 
said.








http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/98444

Two journalists assaulted by protest organisers; another journalist goes 
missing

Country/Topic: Nepal
Date: 13 November 2008
Source: Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ)
Person(s): Dinesh Thapa, Netra Paudel, Jagat Joshi
Target(s): journalist(s)
Type(s) of violation(s): assaulted , missing
Urgency: Threat
(FNJ/IFEX) - On 12 November 2008, Dinesh Thapa, a member of FNJ's 
Sindhupalchowk chapter, and Netra Paudel, a news correspondent for 
"Sindhu Prabaha" weekly, were attacked by organisers of a protest at the 
Araniko highway, in Sindhupalchowk district, central Nepal.
In a press statement, the president of FNJ's Sindhupalchowk chapter, 
Pabitra Kumar Khadka, said the two journalists went to the Araniko 
highway to gather information on the bandh (protest), which had been 
called for after a local citizen, Sahi Kumar Shrestha, died when a 
minibus ran him over. Those who called for the bandh beat the 
journalists for not coming to the scene promptly after they were 
informed of the event and for not disseminating news in their favour.





http://www.wdsu.com/news/17977675/detail.html

Protestors Want Renovation Of Old Charity Hospital
LSU Hopes To Build $1.2 Billion Teaching Hospital
POSTED: 11:37 pm CST November 13, 2008
UPDATED: 11:46 pm CST November 13, 2008

NEW ORLEANS -- The debate over whether to renovate the old Charity 
Hospital or build a new facility was, again, the center of controversy 
Thursday night.
Protesters were out on Thursday to reopen Charity Hospital.
The state has said it doesn't intend to demolish the building, but it's 
not going to reopen it either.
"It's not necessary to build a new hospital," protestor Derrick Morrison 
said.
Community activists and supporters demonstrated, upset that the state 
has no plans to remodel the hospital and, instead, build a new $1.2 
billion teaching hospital.
The rally to reopen the facility is to provide immediate health care for 
the uninsured.
"The majority in the area are saving, rehabbing Charity and saving lower 
mid-city," Morrison said. "Talk to LSU about why they want to tear down 
the neighborhood."
Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration said it wants to market the landmark 
to possible developers and is considering incentives to attract them.
"It'll be offered," said Charles Zewe, of the Louisiana State University 
System. "If state agencies don't want it, then we'll see what else can 
be done with it."
Hurricane Katrina damaged the building and it has been closed ever since.
The future of the building has been through several studies, surveys, 
litigation and other protests. Activists have said they fear the new 
plan will ruin parts of historic neighborhoods.
"It's less money and time to rehabilitate Charity rather than LSU's 
proposal," Morrison said.
"A decision will be made soon, and we're going to start buying 
property," Zewe said. "The 165 people who live in the area will be 
treated fairly."
University officials said the new plans are moving forward.
"We're rapidly at the point where final site selections will be made for 
LSU and the VA," Zewe said.
Protestors said they'll continue to fight, insisting that there are too 
many people locally in need of health care.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/15/stories/2008111559610300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Ex-servicemen protest retrenchment
Special Correspondent
Termination orders have been issued to about 60
— Photo: M.Moorthy

Upset: Tiruchi zone Ex-servicemen and his family members taking out a 
rally in Tiruchi on Friday.
TIRUCHI: Members of the Tiruchi Regional Ex-Servicemen and Family 
Welfare Association took out rally here on Friday protesting 
retrenchment of ex-servicemen employed in various government 
institutions and agencies.
They alleged that various government institutions and agencies were 
retrenching ex-servicemen employed as contract labourers under the 
pretext of cost-cutting. Termination orders have been issued to about 60 
ex-servicemen working as watchmen in the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited 
with effect from November 20.
Many other State and Central government agencies, including the 
Bharathidasan University, Indian Oil Corporation (Inam Kulathur unit), 
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, State Express Transport Corporation, 
and Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation godowns, terminating the 
services of ex-servicemen, the association alleged. This was against the 
Prime Minister’s directive against retrenching ex-servicemen. Despite 
government orders, ex-servicemen were not given priority in recruitment 
by various agencies.
The association appealed to the State and Central governments to direct 
all its agencies not to retrench ex-servicemen. The services of 
ex-servicemen working as temporary/casual labourers should be 
regularised. The State government should also issue farmers identity 
cards to ex-servicemen engaged in farming.
The association members marched from the St.John’s Vestry Anglo Indian 
Higher Secondary School to the Collectorate.





http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20081111_Plans_for_library_closures_spark_Fishtown_protest.html

Posted on Tue, Nov. 11, 2008

Plans for library closures spark Fishtown protest
By DAFNEY TALES
Philadelphia Daily News
talesd at phillynews.com 215-854-5084
Lisa Hoidra blinked back tears as she tightened her grip on the 
children's book she chose for her 7-year-old daughter.
As she sat in the kiddie seat inside the Fishtown Community Library, she 
voiced her frustration over the proposed closing of the library her 
daughter visits weekly.
"A kid is proud when they pick out a book and read it," she said. "That 
stuff is important. It leads to everything else."
Her disappointment was echoed by more than 100 people who huddled in the 
cold in front of the library on East Montgomery Avenue near Moyer last 
night, holding candles and chanting, "Books before the Budget!" in 
protest to Mayor Nutter's proposed closing of 11 branches across the city.
"There are better ways to cut the budget than to cut free spaces for 
kids - safe spaces," said A.J. Thomson, a member of the Neighborhood 
Association in Fishtown.
Last night's rally is the first of several scheduled, Thomson said. 
Others include: Holmesburg on Nov. 17; Kingsessing on Nov. 22; and at 
Central on Dec. 6.
Nutter's sweeping proposals to bridge a five-year, $1 billion budget gap 
also include closing 68 of 81 city pools, postponing tax cuts, cutting 
$2 million in funding for the Community College of Philadelphia and 
reducing the number of proposed additional Philadelphia police officers, 
from 400 to 200.
The 11 library branches slated to close are in mostly lower-income areas 
where nearby public schools don't have libraries of their own, said Teri 
Ramsey, a member of a neighborhood parenting program who attended the 
rally.
Located near two public schools and a Catholic school, all without 
libraries, the Fishtown branch served more than 4,000 people last month, 
said one staffer. Moreover, under the proposed cuts, a neighboring 
recreational pool would close and a nearby firehouse would see equipment 
reductions.
"I don't think it's hard to tell we're on the bottom of the totem pole," 
Thomson said. "We've just about had enough with things being taken away 
from us in this neighborhood."
Councilman Bill Green made an appearance during which he criticized new 
initiatives introduced by Nutter, such as the new Office of 
Sustainability and bike czar.
"We shouldn't balance the budget on the backs of kids. We can find the 
money to save the budget," he said.
Even students contributed to the cause by handing dozens of letters to 
Thomson, who plans to deliver them to Nutter, he said.
He implored residents to remain vigilant.
"In our community this is the only way to get computer use," he said. 
"We should never close a place where kids choose to go." *

YONG KIM / Staff photographer
Ryan Ganzel, 4, joins about 100 others yesterday in protesting the 
proposed closure of the Fishtown library branch, on East Montgomery 
Avenue near Moyer. Eleven branches are slated for closure.






http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1111/1226355683677.html

Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Staff, public protest against Letterkenny hospital cutbacks
NEARLY 200 hospital workers and members of the public braved the wind 
and rain yesterday to protest against recent cutbacks at Letterkenny 
General Hospital.
The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO), Siptu and Impact health unions 
staged a joint lunchtime protest at the hospital gates in response to 
the recent closure of two wards and other services under threat.
"They say cutback, we say fight back" was the over-riding message of the 
protest which attracted representatives from local health pressure 
groups, community groups and Opposition parties.
Richie Carruthers of Impact said the protest was organised to galvanise 
people and politicians into action.
"The situation is critical because we've already been told there's going 
to be less money available in 2009 and we've seen cuts to date. So 
really this is the thin end of the wedge and we're going to see more 
frontline services to be cut."
Mr Carruthers added that the joint action by the three unions was 
significant.
"Normally we would have our own mutual sectoral interests, but clearly 
it is out of necessity that our own individual union issues need to be 
put aside because saving frontline jobs and core services is in our 
collective interest."
Mary Caldwell, an INO representative who is a nurse in the hospital's 
admission and discharge department, said theatre cutbacks had caused 
waiting lists to soar.
"I see clearly what the cutbacks in the reduced theatre services have 
had on the volume of patients coming into the hospital now for elective 
theatre, which will really impact on waiting lists and times in the future."
She added: "It doesn't make sense that the HSE are willing to pay for 
the NTPF [National Treatment Purchase Fund scheme] but they're not 
willing to provide cover for staffing in hospital to allow theatre 
activity to return to normal."
Local Siptu representative Martin O'Rourke said the joint union protest 
reflected the seriousness of the situation.
"Coming into winter, the demand for hospital services is going to be a 
lot bigger and the resources just won't be there. People are going to 
end up on trolleys again."
A 12-bed orthopaedic unit in the hospital was closed by the HSE last 
month following the closure of a 20-bed short-stay ward in August. The 
HSE says further cost-control measures may be extended and some further 
measures introduced if activity levels at the hospital continue to 
surpass the allocated budget.
Fine Gael TD for Donegal South West Dinny McGinley said the situation 
was "absolutely unacceptable". "As usual, these cutbacks are attacking 
the frontline services and it's true that the old and the sick are going 
to suffer once more while the people who brought about the economic 
crisis seem to be getting away scot-free."





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/10/stories/2008111053320300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Train passengers stage flash protest
Staff Reporter

VENTING IRE: Irate passengers of the Coimbatore - Mayiladuthurai 
Janshatabdi Express having heated exchange with the railway officials at 
the Coimbatore Junction on Sunday.
Coimbatore: Irate passengers of the Coimbatore–Mayiladuthurai 
Janshatabdi Express staged a flash protest at the Coimbatore Junction on 
Sunday morning over the issue of inadequate number of coaches. The 
protest led to tense moments delaying the departure of the train by 
nearly one hour and ten minutes.
When the train was scheduled to leave at 7 a.m. some of the passengers 
with had reserved the ticket could not locate their coach. On Sunday the 
train had 154 wait-listed passengers. The agitated passengers had heated 
exchanges with the railway officials decrying them for the missing coach 
and flayed them for not attaching adequate coaches depending on the 
passenger rush.
Even as the commotion was on and when the train started moving as 
scheduled, the agitated passengers got into the train and pulled the 
chain. The Railway officials, railway police and Railway Protection 
Force personnel held talks with the passengers.
Railway officials said that the train being a super fast, ordinary 
coaches though available could not be attached to the train. They also 
said that one of the coaches meant for the train had suffered damages 
when it rammed into a trolley on November 3. The damaged coach is yet to 
be readied for operating it, hence the confusion. After the railway 
authorities arranged to attach a coach , the train left around 8.10 a.m. 
with passengers having reserved tickets.





http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1110/water.html

Council agrees funds for Galway filters
Monday, 10 November 2008 23:05
Members of Galway City Council tonight voted to provide finds for water 
filtration systems for 250 houses in the Mervue area where water has 
been contaminated by lead pollution.
But City Manager Joe McGrath said he would not be able to implement the 
directive until he had received a consultant's report and had 
discussions with the EPA.
He said he would report back to the council on 24 November.
100 residents from Mervue area earlier took part in a demonstration at 
City Hall.
They said they were appalled at what they see as the lack of urgency in 
restoring safe drinking water to the area.
For the past seven weeks 250 families have had to take water from 3000 
litre containers which have been located around the estate by the city 
council.
City engineers say it could take up to two years to replace the 3km of 
lead piping which is causing the problem.
Nora Cahill of the Mervue Senior Citizens Committee says any such delay 
would be totally unacceptable and they want water filtration systems 
installed in the 250 houses which were affected by the latest water 
contamination problem.
Speaking at City Hall tonight, Mervue resident Maureen Gillen said they 
were having to endure what were little better than third world 
conditions, taking water from the tankers in appalling weather 
conditions, and wanted the situation resolved immediately.





http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7747873.stm

Tuesday, 25 November 2008
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Rail users protest with sardines

Passengers said they were packed into trains like sardines
Passengers fed up with overcrowded carriages on East Midlands Trains' 
Liverpool to Norwich line are sending tins of sardines to bosses in 
protest.
Campaigners said they were packed "like sardines" into short trains, 
serving Nottingham, Manchester and Peterborough, which need to be bigger.
Instead of the longer four carriages, trains often arrive with just two, 
causing overcrowding at peak times.
East Midlands Trains said it was working to improve the service.
'Poor communication'
In a statement, a spokesperson for East Midlands Trains, said: "We are 
aware that improvements need to be made on the route and are taking 
steps to increase seating and increase carriages from two to four at the 
busiest times."
A spokesperson from campaign group TrainSardine.org said: "This campaign 
is run by passengers who are sick of the poor service offered and the 
excuses we have been given over the past 12 months to explain the 
shortage of carriages and overcrowding.
"We are frustrated with the inability of anyone to sort the problem, 
poor communication and a lack of respect."
East Midlands Trains took over the Liverpool to Norwich line when it won 
the contract from Central Trains in November 2007.






http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1444714.php/Hundreds_of_Egyptians_protest_death_of_farmer_

Hundreds of Egyptians protest death of farmer
Middle East News
Nov 24, 2008, 13:52 GMT
Cairo - Hundreds of farmers demonstrated near the southern Egyptian town 
of Qena over the death Monday of a 60-year-old farmer by a hit-and-run 
driver, security sources said.
Around 500 demonstrators shouted and burned tyres in the highway through 
the town, complaining about the lack of road bumps to slow down traffic 
through the area.
Accidents are common in the Qena highway due to inadequate road 
facilities. Farmers in nearby villages have asked the Egyptian 
government to build road bumps in the road to prevent accidents.





http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=99192

Samokov Residents Block Major Crossroad in Protest against Heavy Truck 
Traffic
Society | November 24, 2008, Monday
More than 100 residents of Bulgaria's Samokov blocked Monday a major 
crossroad of the town as a sign of protest against the heavy truck 
traffic on the road, which connects the town with the capital city of 
Sofia.

The same measures will be taken every day between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 
p.m., the press center of the Samokov Municipality announced last week.

The initiative is supported by the Town Council of Samokov and aims to 
reduce the truck traffic on the Sofia-Samokov road in order to bring 
down the high number of car crashes there.

The Samokov Mayor Angel Nikolov has warned the state authorities a 
number of times that he was going to place his own desk out on the road, 
and to work there as a protest measure.

If the state authorities have not reacted to the protest by Wednesday, 
the Samokov residents are going to block the road all day starting 
Thursday.

Samokov is located at the foot of the Rila Mountain, and is close to the 
popular winter resort Borovetz.






http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=99108

Bulgaria's Town of Samokov Protests against Heavy Truck Traffic
Society | November 21, 2008, Friday
Every day between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. residents of the southwestern 
Bulgarian town of Samokov are going to protest against the heavy truck 
traffic on the Sofia-Samokov road.

The news was announced Friday by the press center of the Samokov 
Municipality which is organizing the protests itself.

The initiative is supported by the Town Council of Samokov and aims to 
reduce the truck traffic on the Sofia-Samokov road in order to bring 
down the high number of car crashes there.

The Samokov Mayor Angel Nikolov has warned the state authorities a 
number of times that he was going to place his own desk out on the road, 
and to work there as a protest measure.

If the state authorities have not reacted to the protest by Wednesday, 
the Samokov residents are going to block the road all day starting 
Thursday.

Samokov is located at the foot of the Rila Mountain, and is close to the 
popular winter resort Borovetz.







http://www.wyff4.com/news/18038149/detail.html

Students, Mayor Protest Closing Of Movie Theater
Clemson Students Protest Astro 3 Theater Closure
POSTED: 11:26 pm EST November 21, 2008
UPDATED: 10:32 am EST November 22, 2008

CLEMSON, S.C. -- It was an Upstate landmark for 37 years, but the Astro 
3 Theater in Clemson suddenly shut down this summer.
The small theater meant so much to so many people in Clemson.
It ran discount movies in the middle of downtown. The mayor said he's 
gotten so many e-mails from people saying they had their first date or 
first kiss there.
Friday night, some people teamed up to save the Astro, which is 
currently chained up and shut down.
"How a lot of us found out about it is we drove by and there was a sign 
on it that said, 'Closed, thank you and goodbye,'" Clemson University 
senior Kendall Sherwood said. "Nobody saw it coming."
The Astro 3 movie theater closed its doors after 37 years this summer 
with only a few days notice.
Students from Clemson University gathered Friday night to save the 
theater. They rallied in the heart of Clemson with the full support of 
its mayor.
"We're here to demonstrate how much we love the Astro 3, and what an 
important part of our lives it has been for a long, long time," Clemson 
Mayor Larry Abernathy said.
The protesters signed petitions and raised money.
"We don't want to see it turned into condos," a protester said. "We 
don't want to see it turned into a fried chicken restaurant."
They said they were hoping to entice the owners of the small building to 
lease or sell it to someone who will keep it a venue for arts and 
entertainment.
"We feel that this is very important to this community, and we hope 
everybody is listening," a protester said.
But the story doesn't end there.
"These kids, for the past two months, have been killing themselves," 
Clemson professor Mark Charney said.
The students managed to work on the rally for a grade.
"They've had to do PR, they have to do marketing, they had to event 
planning, they've had to get entertainment, they've had to talk to every 
business, they've had to do contracts," Charney said. "So it involves 
everything that a good performing arts major should know."
The city doesn't necessarily want to buy the building, but the mayor 
said they'd be happy to work on enticements for future owners so it can 
stay an entertainment center.






http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24725415-1242,00.html?from=public_rss

Rural doctors in beach rally protest
AAP
November 29, 2008 05:12pm
ABOUT 100 rural doctors and their families have lined Sydney's Bondi 
Beach to protest against inadequate NSW health services.
Rural Doctors' Association (RDA) NSW president Dr Les Woollard said up 
to 1450 premature deaths in rural NSW could be avoided if the state and 
federal governments improved access to local hospitals and health 
professionals in rural communities.
"Instead those living in rural NSW witness with monotonous regularity 
the downgrading and closure of more and more of their hospitals and 
health services,'' he said in a statement.
Dr Woollard pointed to the closure of maternity units across rural NSW 
to emphasise his point - the latest one being Pambula, on the Far South 
Coast.
"This Pambula closure has forced two-thirds of the GP obstetricians in 
the Bega Valley to reluctantly resign from obstetric work in the area,'' 
Dr Woollard said.
RDA NSW wants the State Government to develop a rural health plan for 
NSW, with an emphasis on maintaining and expanding hospital services in 
towns of less than 35,000.
A rally was also held in Merimbula, on the state's south coast.
The rally protested the downgrading of maternity, paediatric and other 
services at the Pambula Hospital.