Archive for the 'asia' Category

05
Oct

Free Burma

By vegankid 2 Comments
Categories: asia and take action

Free Burma!

I didn’t find out about this blog campaign until today. Better a day late than never, right?

UPDATE: (from runnerfrog)

Schools across the U.S. are organizing, for today October the 5th, to send a petition to Chinese President Hu Jintao signed to tell China to stop paralyzing UN Security Council action. Your school and you can take action by clicking here.

Tomorrow October 6th is a day of action in major cities around the globe, watch if there are events around your area by clicking here, or sign up to organize one if you want.

If you are a US citizen, demand the UN secretary immediate action and freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi by clicking here.

If you are a non-US citizen, Urge the UN to support the monks and free Aung San Suu Kyi by clicking here.

23
Oct

international day of solidarity with filipino workers

By vegankid 0 Comments
Categories: asia, class and take action

(A CALL TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST TRADE UNION REPRESSION AND POLITICAL KILLINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES ON NOVEMBER 16, 2006)

Background
Trade union and human rights violations have exacerbated in the Philippines under the government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Since assuming power on Jan. 20, 2001 until June 30, 2006, 64 leaders, members, organizers and supporters of trade unions and informal workers organizations have been killed. They are but part of the more than 750 victims of political killings under the Arroyo regime as of September 30, 2006.

More than 982 cases of trade union and human rights violations victimizing 77,028 workers were recorded by the independent Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR). Violations include assault in the picketline, illegal arrest and detention, grave threat, intimidation, abduction, harassment and killings.

The manner of these extra-judicial killings is utterly despicable. Some were killed in broad daylight, in front of their families, were stabbed to death, assassinated or massacred. Majority of the killings were carried-out by motorcycle-riding gunmen in ski masks or helmets – an apparent deliberate design to make them practically impossible to identify. Independent investigations revealed that most of the cases were premeditated, i.e. victims were under surveillance by suspected elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or Philippine National Police (PNP) before their deaths.

Among those killed were union leaders in multinational corporations and local big business establishments whose interests the Arroyo government protects. Notable of them are Diosdado “Ka Fort” Fortuna, union president in Nestle Cabuyao Philippines and Ricardo “Ka Ric” Ramos, union president of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU). The Nestle workers under the United Filipro Employees-Drug Food and Allied Industries-Kilusang Mayo Uno (UFE-DFA-KMU) has been on strike since January 14, 2002 due to Nestle’s refusal to include the workers retirement benefits in the collective bargaining negotiation. Meanwhile, CATLU is one of the two unions in Hacienda Luisita Inc. that went on strike for more than a year from Nov 2004-Dec 2005. The Hacienda is owned by the family of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino.

Factory Terrorism
Alongside its neo-liberal policies of deregulation, liberalization and privatisation, the Arroyo government is trying to project an environment of industrial peace in order to entice more foreign investments and gain continued access to more foreign credit. This is aimed at trumpeting a “growing” and “stable” economy amidst a worsening economic and political situation in the country.

In a speech before newly-elected barangay officials in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, Southern Tagalog on September 22, 2002, Pres. Arroyo said: “Let us fight against criminals, gambling lords, drug lords… and those who terrorize factories that create jobs.” It is an obvious reference to trade unions and a vulgar attempt to delegitimize workers’ strikes and other forms of concerted actions.

The Arroyo government has thus included legitimate trade unions and informal workers associations in its war on terror campaign, branding them as communists, communist-supporters, terrorists or “enemies of the state.

Strikes and other concerted activities of workers, aimed at airing legitimate workers demands and grievances, are being regarded as factory terrorism and are met with violent attacks and repression. Those in opposition to the government’s neo-liberal policies are being arrested and/or detained. Most prominent is KMU Chairman Emeritus and Anakpawis Rep. Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran who was arrested on Feb. 25, 2006, a day after Pres. Arroyo declared a state of emergency. Ka Bel was arrested without warrant on the basis of trumped-up charges dating back two decades ago and already been quashed by the Philippine courts. Later, the government thru the Department of Justice implicated Ka Bel in failed attempts to overthrow the Arroyo government. He continues to be in hospital detention at the moment, owing to his failing health.

These widespread trade union violations are committed directly and indirectly by government agencies, instrumentalities, and officers in the current civilian government and/or in the military including their agents.

International Day of Action
The rampant trade union and human rights violation in the country has caught international attention. Thirty international delegates from 12 countries participated in the International Labor Solidarity Mission last May 2006 and spent four days listening to the testimonies of families, members of the communities and organizations of victims of political killings and harassment in four regions. The mission noted that the violation of labor rights and human rights in the Philippines is systematic and nationwide in scope, and concluded that the Arroyo regime is clearly culpable both by its pronouncements, actions and by creating a climate of impunity.

The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, Amnesty International, Asia Human Rights Centre, and a number of trade unions, church-based organizations and parliamentarians from Asia, Oceania, North America and Europe have likewise expressed grave concern and condemnation on the spate of extra-judicial killings victimizing workers, peasants and other sectors.

At the 22nd KMU International Solidarity Affairs held last Apr 30-May 11 of this year, delegates coming from 13 countries have called for an International Day of Protest against Trade Union Repression and Political Killings in the Philippines. This is to condemn the wanton violation of trade union and human rights and to show solidarity to the struggle of the Filipino workers and people for genuine freedom and democracy.

Nov. 16 was chosen for the Day of Action because of its highly significant nature. It was on Nov. 16, 2004 when the infamous Hacienda Luisita Massacre occurred, where seven (7) workers and supporters were killed following a violent dispersal of the Hacienda Luisita strike by police, military and paid goons under the direct orders of the Arroyo government thru the Department of Labor and Employment.

Thus, the International Day of Protest against Trade Union Repression and Political Killings in the Philippines this coming Nov. 16, 2006 would serve as a recognition and commemoration of the martyr-workers not only of Hacienda Luisita but of the martyr-workers in all the other workplaces and communities in the country. More so, this day would serve as a testament to the continuing pursuit of the Filipino workers and peoples for economic and political emancipation.

We call on you - “our comrades, friends, compatriots and advocates” - in the trade unions, informal workers organizations, migrant organizations, support groups and other associations in various sectors to participate in this International Day of Action on Nov 16, 2006.

Please join us on this historic day. Together, let us call on the Arroyo government to recognize and respect the most fundamental right of the Filipino workers to live and to live with dignity, to organize and fight for just wages, regular jobs and to exercise their trade union and democratic rights. Let us condemn the systematic and widespread human rights violations that destroy the life and livelihood of the Filipino workers and people. Let us call a stop to the extra-judicial killings in the Philippines victimizing workers, peasants and other social justice activists . Let us demand the Arroyo government to stop the culture of impunity, which drives authorities and its armed minions to kill people like chicken.

Together, let us reclaim our right to life.

What you can do on November 16, 2006:
a) Hold a protest action in front of the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your respective area or in any area which you deem possible. A dialogue with the Philippine Ambassador in your country would be a plus factor where you can directly bring your concern regarding the widespread trade union and human rights violation in the Philippines.

b) Send a solidarity message to the Kilusang Mayo Uno.

c) Send protest letter to the Arroyo government and concerned agencies. You can address your letter to:

Her Excellency Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Philippine President

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Commission on Human Rights

Sen. Manuel Villar

Senate President

Rep. Jose de Venecia

House Speaker

Please cc the KMU of your letters.

d) Ask your government to withdraw support and stop giving financial aid to the Arroyo government because these aids are being used to attack the Filipino workers and people under the guise of anti-terrorism.

16
Sep

around the world #3

By vegankid 0 Comments
Categories: africa, around the world, asia, class, globalization, latin america and war

Cross-posted at Taking Place

This is a long one cuz i thought that i published #3 about a month ago, but turns out it was sitting in my draft box. So here is a month-long trip around the world. Let’s get our hands dirty and take the reality tour that Global Exchange refuses to by starting at the Battle of Oaxaca, where rumors of a class uprising and an overthrowing of the government are abound.

Don’t throw away that police sheild you just stole quite yet. Cuz next we are going down to Chile where the locals teach those of us in the US how you really commemorate September 11th. Just to be safe, you may want to bring that shield along for some frequent flier miles as we hop on over to South Africa where the Cleaning Workers’ Strike started and is now being supported worldwide.

Heading north, the US has been accused of illegal mercenary operations in Somalia. The operations broke UN rulings and may also involve British “security firms”. Now over to Sudan, where the government has been indiscriminately bombing civilians. Ok, people, its time we start taking the genocide in Sudan seriously.

Pack your bags for a long bus ride over to the Ivory Coast, where the government of the country’s largest city, Abidjan, has resigned after massive protests. The protests were in response to 400 tons of toxic oil-refining waste that spilled from a ship, the Probo Koala. As of September 12th, six people had died because of the waste and more than 9,000 had gone in for medical attention.

Once again, we’re going to stop off in Lebanon. After landing in the recently re-opened airport, we see that weeks of bombing have not broken the spirit of the Lebanese people, as bloggers like Jamal Ghosn continue to share their experience with us.

Protestors in Palestine are being used as test subjects as Isreali forces have turned the weekly nonviolent protests against the construction of the Aparthied wall into a testing ground for experimental weapons. And as if the people of Palestine didn’t have enough to worry about with the persistant attacks from Isreal, civil workers are now on strike due to lost wages.

I tell ya, Palestinians just can’t get a break. Refugees in Iraq find themselves under attack with nowhere to go. But Palestians are far from the only ones without a break in Iraq. With a government of talking heads and your country’s money-maker being stolen, what can you expect? Many find themselves in the scope of some confused soldier”who are the real terrorists?”

Afghanistan isn’t doing any better as it descends into chaos. The Taliban forces are being funded by increased Opium sales. Maybe the Bush Administration should try the tactic it used back in early 2001 - pay the Taliban to fight in the War on Drugs. Not to worry. We know that the US military isn’t very good at the whole “stability” thing, so once again we send in the private contractors. At least I assume that’s why Coca-Cola moved into Kabul. Or maybe that’s just as far as they could run when they were chased out of India.

Speaking of India, lets go join the, um, celebrations? The government gave in to environmentalists demands after the start of a nationwide strike, but it wasn’t quite as simple as that. As 30,000 protestors tried to storm into the offices of London-based Asia Energy, paramilitary forces shot into the crowd killing six and injuring hundreds. The shootings sparked days of rioting ending in the government agreeing to a moratorium on open pit mining, build a monument at Phulbari in memory of the deceased and grant amnesty to all the demonstrators who broke the law during the protests.

On to more mining troubles, we find ourselves in the Phillipines, where Lafayette’s gold mine is set to poison the oceans (and the local people) with tons of natrium cyanide. Lafayette was already ordered to halt its operations last year after two mine spills, and now activists are working to preemptively stop the devastation.

We find another campaign to protect the water and the local people as we travel to Canada. Native groups are teaming up to protect the water supply against the booming oil and gas development. About 200 First Nations representatives from Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories gathered for a three-day strategic conference to talk about how to protect their local lands and water supplies from this encroaching threat.

Back down in the US, all kinds of crazy things are going on. The Bush Administration decided it would be a good idea to start up those old rusty factories that used to pump out landmines. Since all the PR funds were spent killing people, the best makeover idea that the Pentagon could come up with is to rename the landmines “networked munitions systems.” Everybody likes networks rights?

I’m hoping they’ll place those “networks” along the Indiana border to protect us from all those terrorists that are apparently trying to kill us sweet, innocent, corn-eating Hoosiers. I’m not so much afraid of the Taliban, tho, i’m more scared of the terrorists in Georgia (the state, not the country). I don’t even know how to tie the rest of this trip together, so let’s just fast-forward through our vacation slides, shall we?

The US is threatening Argentina, Venezuela, and Brazil with sanctions. The US doesn’t like losing and that’s just what we are doing with the WTO and the FTAA. So now the government is puffing up its chest and saying “stop it you big meanies.” I tell ya, don’t come knocking on the White House this Halloween. Cuz apparrently all they know to give out is ass-whoopins and sanctions.

While we’re on the topic of how much the US hates people, the immigration tinderbox may be the one thing that can end this East Coast-West Coast rivalry (cuz nothing will be left if this fire isn’t extinguished). And just then you thought the flame that Columbus lite has died down, some young buck gives it a little puff. Some White folks aren’t able to read a newspaper or walk outside to see how pervasie racism is. Instead, they need to adopt a child of color to see their own racism.

Walmart says fuck the working class, we’re goin’ yuppy. Since we can no longer put the working class in Walmart, we gotta put em somewhere. Some are building prisons to do the job, but some ain’t convinced its gonna work. Many of those arguing for more prisons are also pushing for this whole War on Drugs thing to get them there - .

Having just celebrated the anniversaries of Hurricane Katrina and September 11th, we get to see all the wonderful things we’ve learned from both experiences. For example, we learned that neither the government nor its private contractors care about actual people. We learned that governments lie and then when they are forced to face their lie, they run. And we learned that the GOP needs a new PR firm. Ok, i admit, we haven’t really learned much. But we did learn that energy companies can engauge in some sketchy pratices. Alright, also not news. What about how we learned that some companies bribe their way to political favors? Geez, don’t you forget anything. Fine, so you already knew that. Whoop-di-doo.

In animal-related news, scientists, once again, reaffirm that eating meat is a global warming issue. And speaking of meat, the horse industry lost the smackdown. Whoo!

Oh, one last thing. The fight for internet freedom has officially started.

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