World Social Struggles Newswire Archive

17th Dec 2009

Today, at around 4pm in the city centre of Nottingham, England, a bookies windows were targeted by an anarchist, with the tactical solidarity of the ALF and the ELF around the world.

This strike in the heart of a busy shopping centre, famous for the rebellious figure that was robin hood, was during shopping hours with hundreds of shoppers passing by.

On Tuesday 15th December, a BMI plane left the UK with a number of Afghans who had been refused asylum in the UK. It stopped at Charles de Gaulle (Roissy/CDG) in France, where Afghans refused asylum in France, were boarded, the flight then departed, destination for the Afghans on board, Kabul.

On December 13, despite a ban by the authorities, leftist forces held an "anti-capitalism-2009 march in the centre of Moscow.

Lydia Besong, a Cameroon national and resident of Manchester, is currently detained in Yarl's Wood IRC and is due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Kenya Airways flight KQ 101 Heathrow TN4 on Monday 21st December 2009 at 19:00. Although he is not in detention, the Home Office also wishes to deport her husband Bernard Batey at the same time.

Australian child Panagiotis Laskos was abducted to Poland in 2007. After a two year battle to have his child returned under the Provisions of the Hague Convention, the Polish High Court has ordered that Panagiotis is to stay in Poland.

9th-14th November

"FUR = MURDER," OTHER SLOGANS PAINTED AT FUR SHOPS (Russia)
LOCKS GLUED AT BUTCHERS, BOOKMAKERS (Ireland)
FREEDOM FOR QUAIL, PHEASANTS, HENS AND BOAR (Italy)

"The time is at hand for the progressive movement to fight the “Obama sham.” It is clearer everyday from just about every move this administration makes that Obama is on the wrong side of history. He stands with Zionism against the legitimate and just rights of the Palestinian people. U.S. preparations for war with Iran are obvious to any but the most gullible. Similarly, the U.S. war machine is preparing to recapture it’s “backyard.” in America. Even the environment gets no respite as mountains and their ecosystems, which grew over millions of years, are still being blown away for the pittance of dirty coal desired by corporate mining giants. The rich nations, lead by the U.S.. will not even press for meaningful emissions reductions in Copenhagen.

Progressive forces need to wake up before it is too late. Obama was chosen because he could accomplish (for the ruling class) what we would never have allowed the Bush Fascists to succeed at. Namely to keep capitalism alive as the world around us revolts. Despite his obvious charisma, intelligence, and amazing personal power and inspirational gifts, Obama currently stands against the people of the world and with the reactionary "hangers on" of the “old order.” We must clear our political eyes now and get on to building the “better world” we know is possible."

Calais Migrant Solidarity

Press Release. 15/12/2009

 calaisolidarity@gmail.com

Twitter: calaisolidarity

- "The forced return to Kosovo of people who have found shelter in European states should be halted", said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights publishing today a letter to the Chancellor of Germany, Dr. Angela Merkel. He notes that Kosovo lacks infrastructures allowing refugees' sustainable reintegration.

the proposals under consideration Thursday of the CDM
Casini disputes that: "No to illiberal measures, laws are already there"

Maroni: "New rules on marches and sites" The proposals under consideration Thursday of the CDM
ROME - On Thursday, the Council of Ministers will consider new, stricter rules on demonstrations and on the Internet. This was announced by Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, speaking of "the most appropriate and urgent measures" to which it is conceivable that the government act by decree. The holder of the Interior Ministry has also informed that the Executive is considering the possibility of extending the rules to public demonstrations against the violence in stadiums.

Shocking reports coming from copenhagen of YET MORE police brutality against those that seek justice for the planet and its inhabitants, human and non-human, as people are sprayed with pepper spray in their holding cells for apparently making noise!!

below is the actual text on indymedia denmark:

solidarity to those suffering police abuse.

"To date, the OTI still remains in Venezuela, with DAI as its principal contractor. But now, four other entities share USAID’s multimillion dollar pie in Caracas: International Republican Institute (IRI), National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), Freedom House, and the PanAmerican Development Foundation (PADF). Of the 64 groups funded from 2002-2004 with approximately $5 million annually, today the OTI funds more than 533 organizations, political parties, programs and projects, mainly in opposition sectors, with an annual budget surpassing $7 million. Its presence has not only remained, but has grown. Obviously this is due to one very simple reason: the original objetive has still not been obtained; the overthrow or removal of President Hugo Chávez.

DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES INC. IS A CIA FRONT ORGANIZATION

This organization dedicated to destabilizing governments unfavorable to US interests has now made its appearance in Cuba, with millions of dollars destined to destroy the Cuban revolution. Ex CIA officer Phillip Agee affirmed that DAI, USAID and NED “are instruments of the US Embassy and behind these three organizations is the CIA.“ The contract between USAID and DAI in Venezuela confirms this fact, “The field representative will maintain close collaboration with other embassy offices in identifying opportunities, selecting partners and ensuring the program remains consistent with US foreign policy.” There is no doubt that “selecting partners” is another term for “recluting agents” and “consistent with US foreign policy” means “promoting Washington’s interests”, despite issues of sovereignty. Clearly, all DAI activities are directly coordinated by the US Embassy, a fact which negates the “private” nature of the organization.
The detention of a DAI employee is a very important step to impede destabilization and subversion inside Cuba. This episode also confirms that there has been no change of policy with the Obama Administration towards Cuba – the same tactics of espionage, infiltration and subversion are still being actively employed against one of Washington’s oldest adversaries."

A pub in Camden was the subject of a demo when it was revealed that far right group the Jobbik Party are holding meetings there. The meetings are held by the Jobbik Party international affairs leader Zoltan Fuzessy. Jobbik has 3 MEPs and is part of an international far right alliance that includes the BNP. The landlord of the pub is a Mr Coyne who "won't be told what to do as it's his pub".

There are alternatives to the policy of detaining migrant families

Last week the medical establishment called for the Government to overhaul its policy of detaining children in immigration removal centres. This week they are joined by a number of paragons from the world of children's literature including Michael Bond, Philip Pullman and Jacqueline Wilson. Both groups make a compelling case.
Leading article: The Independent, Monday, 14 December 2009
 http://tinyurl.com/ycr4ecc

The Oil Palm Industry is well known for destroying forests, and also stealing people's land. This is a description of how in North Sumatra, these land conflicts have been continuing for decades, as the state continues to take advantage of the abuses of the Suharto years.

"Let me add in the context of UN perception number three - that the Programmes, Agencies, bodies of the UN do good work everyday all over the world - WHEN not instructed by the Masters of the Universe to do otherwise - such as:

the unwillingness of the World Health Organisation to deal honestly with the appalling dangers of military usage of Depleted Uranium. I am sure you have seen the latest data from Fallujah? Where child mortality has sky rocketed and birth deformities – two heads, no limbs – are increasingly common. Women are now afraid to get pregnant. Believe me, the horrors of Fallujah today will be faced by the rest of us tomorrow - if we do not ban the use of Depleted Uranium. There is world movement afoot; the website is www.bandepleteduranium.org
OR the weak mandate and capacity provided for the UN Environmental Programme to anticipate, manage environmental/climate calamities world wide. We know about the disappointments of Kyoto, and now Copenhagen looks very tough going. Although we now see movement from China and the US, the UN – needs independent oversight authority re climate change policies and implementation if Copenhagen is to be different from Kyoto.

Or the IAEA – the Atomic Energy Agency - whose objective expert advice is too often set aside by the Security Council when military aggression is more politically attractive, or simply ideal for empire building. Or in respect of some nuclear states – such as Pakistan, Israel and India – IAEA is allowed no role at all!"

Danish police have indiscriminately arrested hundreds of climate justice activists during a climate change protest made up of 100,000 people that took place today in Copenhagen. Questions have been raised about the fact that the arrests occurred in a different time and place to where some trouble had momentarily flared earlier in the day. Journalists have been restricted from reporting at the site of the arrests since 1800hrs.

The neo-Nazi EDL have announced on their website they are to hold a violent racist gathering in Stoke on Saturday the 23rd of January 2010.

Ntarh Pascal Ntarh a national of Cameroon and resident of Glasgow, is currently in detention and due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Sunday 13th December @ 19:00 on Kenya Airways flight KQ101.

Copyleft artwork by Brazilian cartoonist Latuff.