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31
Oct

as political as his life

By vegankid 2 Comments
Categories: class, latin america and take action

i’ll try to write more about Brad Will and the struggle in Oaxaca tomorrow, but i wanted to get this out for now…

Brad Will

In the wake of US activist, journalist, and musician Brad Will, demonstrations in over a dozen cities around the US took place today. Twelve protesters in Raleigh are occupying the Mexican Consulate in NC in solidarity with the people of Oaxaca. Twelve demonstrators in NYC have been arrested while protesting outside the Mexican Consulate there. Anarchists here in Indiana took over the Mexican Consulate’s office until police reinforcements arrived. And all the while, the people of Oaxaca maintain control of the city (despite the official government line that the Mexican military has taken over the city). You can get updates on a lot of the actions at infoshop.org.

While Brad’s death is tragic, it should serve as a reminder that there is a very real war against the people of Mexico and those that stand in solidarity against the State.

Bombs and Shields, whose author was a roommate of Brad’s, has a heartfelt tribute to Brad. Here’s a piece of that letter:

I was preparing the entertainment Friday night for a Halloween Critical Mass after party, when a friend of mine in a dragon costume told me that people were looking for me, and that my longtime friend and roommate Brad Will may have been killed by gunmen in Oaxaca City, Mexico. Okay, I knew that at least nine people had already died since the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO) took control of the city in recent months, but Brad couldn’t really have been killed. They couldn’t have shot Brad. After all he was a journalist, and a “gringo” journalist at that. Most importantly I knew Brad and I was expecting to see him tomorrow when he was due to return home, so how could he actually be dead.

Democracy Now also has a great tribute to Brad including words from Brad and friends, words from the struggle in Oaxaca, footage from Brad, music by Brad, and more.

Right now, the police, military, and paramilitary are carrying out even more atrocities against those still fighting for a decent life in Oaxaca. If you are unable or unwilling to participate in direct action, you can still write a letter to your Mexican Consulate, to you local newspaper, to whoever you can to put pressure on the Mexican government to back off of Oaxaca and meet the demands of the teachers’ union.

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.

19
Sep

dominating narrative

By vegankid 3 Comments
Categories: ability, class, gender & sex and race

I remember the first words of the TA from my first Women’s Studies class in college. “There is no hierarchy in oppression,” she exclaimed. She then went on to explain what she meant by hierarchy. She also stated that she wasn’t going to allow discussion in her classroom that perpetuated the believe that oppression is hierarchical. Well i, like so many others, have grown tired of this hierarchical approach to oppression that keeps coming back in the blogosphere. Whether its the arguement that gender trumps race or race is trumping gender or race trumps sexuality, its unnecessary.

There was recently a discussion which stemmed from some White feminist bloggers arguing that racism is taken far more seriously than sexism. I won’t link to the discussion, cuz i just don’t feel the need to add more traffic to the site. Besides, that particular post or the blogger and commenters behind it are not the point. The issue is the ranking of oppression, which only serves to segregate and marginalize people and movements.

The day i read the offending post, irony decided to land in my lap. I was digging through my stacks of yet-filed papers looking for something completely unrelated. When all of a sudden, a copy of an essay from Barbara Smith literally lands in my lap. I posted the essay up at Ally Work.

Barbara Smith has long been one of my favorite social critics. When talking about the interconnectedness of identity and oppression, she states, “These identities are inseperable in part because they are omnipresent elements of individual biography. More subtly, they cannot be seperated because they interact in ways that are mutually transformative: so, for example, the meaning and experience of gender are different for a black middle-class woman and a white working-class woman.”

This is a major problem that i have with people claiming a hierarchy. Those that make such claims take the stance that their experience is The Experience - all that they have known in their life as oppression is the apex of oppression and therefore must be taken as the most atrocious form of oppression. Don’t get me wrong, this idea makes sense in a way. After all, as Smith go on to explain, all that we know and are in life is narrated by our past experiences. Essentially, we are a collection of our experiences. And to simply look at one’s own life without attempting to feel compassion or empathy beyond the confines of that narrative experience, would lead one to believe that what they know as the most horrible experience is the most horrible experience that anyone can feel. And for that persyn (and those who share similar life experiences), it is the most horrible thing. I’m not here to discredit that claim. I don’t wish to discredit or marginalize one’s life experiences. All i’m asking is that others do the same.

For oppression to end, we need to understand that our issues are important, but our experiences are not everyone’s experiences. We must actively engage in empathy and compassion and open our hearts, minds, and ears to the experiences of others. To do so will not only help us to build alliances, but it will also help us to understand the context of our experiences. And to understand the context of larger groupings of experiences is to gain insight into strategies for justice.

It should come as no surprise that claims that gender trumps race usually come from those whose experiences do not include racial oppression. Its yet another form of privilege to state that someone, in this case a womyn of color, must ignore her experiences of racism for the “greater good” of gender liberation. A womyn of color cannot extract her racialized life experiences from her gendered life experiences. She cannot be a womyn one moment and a persyn of color the next. She is experience manifest.

The same is true if you talk of two groupings of White wimmin. A White womyn who has been able-bodied her entire life experiences life differently than a womyn who has lived life with a disability. For example, the able-bodied womyn may come home from a Take Back the Night Rally greatly energized by the experience, while the disabled womyn may come home feeling hurt and angry because no one cared to mention that they’d be climbing up steps to the Capitol building for the final speeches - so she was unable to attend and ended up going home early. Are we to expect that she will ignore that last experience and focus on how great it felt to be in a large group of wimmin who were standing together in solidarity? Because one should be asking “solidarity with whom”?

I cannot expect everyone to understand everyone else’s experiences all the time, but what i can expect for us not to assume that we have the right to assert our experience as authoritative. If a womyn of color states that her gender does not shadow her race, White folks should listen instead of dig your feet in for the defense. If a Queer persyn of color states that their race does not shadow their sexuality or gender identity, the Hetero/cis-gendered folks should listen. This, of course, goes for ability, class, immigration status, age, and other pieces of our multitudinous identities and experiences.

I am sick of people using their privilege to put their oppression on a pedestal. Its counterproductive, self-centered, short-sighted, and I, for one, just won’t be having it. If you can’t, for one moment, believe that the world doesn’t revolve around you, then i’m not sure you’ll ever be able to learn anything. So from now on i’m adapting the policy of that Women’s Studies TA.

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