WOMEN HELD IN ZIMBABWE DENIED BAIL

A demonstration by Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) members in Harare on Wednesday May 28 resulted in the arrest of 13 women and 1 man, all of whom remain in custody and whom were today again denied bail sent back to prison.

The demonstration was held to commemorate Africa Day, mourning the lack of anything to celebrate, and to protest against the political violence being perpetrated in the weeks leading up to the Presidential run-off election of June 27.

Approximately 200 members were stopped by the police as they marched in the street in central Harare carrying placards and distributing flyers. Specific members were targeted for arrest, including Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu.

WOZA says all 14 have been charged under s 37 1c (ii) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act (formerly part of the Public Order and Security Act) -“Participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breach of the peace or bigotry”. This offence involves “acting with one or more others,…. intending or realizing that there is a risk of forcibly disturbing the peace, security or order of the public”. Some of those arrested were not participating in the demonstration, but were arrested at gun point while inside a vehicle. They included the driver of the vehicle. The vehicle was seized.

Jenni also has two other charges under the same Act: s 30 - “Causing disaffection among the Police Force or Defence Forces”.

Amnesty International today called for the immediate release of the detainees.

Simeon Mawanza from Amnesty told Southwest Radio Africa the WOZA activists were arrested for simply exercising their right to peaceful assembly and to freedom of speech. In that regard they are considered prisoners of conscience, and the Zimbabwe government has no justification to hold them.

Mawanza also said amnesty was concerned for their safety because the government had denied them bail for the first time. He explained, "This is a new strategy that the government has used since the arrest of the ZCTU leaders, to unreasonably detain human rights defenders in order to harass and frustrate their work."

Mawanza said human rights defenders have historically been tortured in Zimbabwe, and Amnesty believes the denial of bail on Friday is a sign that the women, particularly the 2 leaders, may be in grave danger of torture or other ill-treatment.

The following is from AFP.

Women activists denied bail after Zimbabwe protest

HARARE (AFP) — Thirteen members of a prominent women's rights group detained on a march against violence ahead of Zimbabwe's run-off poll have been denied bail and ordered held in prison, the organisation said Tuesday.

The 12 women and one man from the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), including their outspoken leader Jenni Williams, are due to appear in court again on Friday, said Tafadzwa Mugabe of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

They were arrested May 28 during the demonstration in Harare, said London-based rights group Amnesty International which called for their immediate release.

They were marching to the Zambian embassy to deliver a petition over poll-related violence when they were arrested.

Zambia is the current chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which has tasked South African President Thabo Mbeki with mediating between President Robert Mugabe's ruling party and the opposition.

Violence has mounted in Zimbabwe since March first round elections that saw opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai defeat Mugabe, but without enough votes to avoid a run-off.

According to the MDC, more than 50 of its supporters have been killed in attacks by pro-Mugabe militias in recent weeks while tens of thousands have been displaced in order to prevent them from voting.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker Ian Kay, arrested last month on public violence charges, was granted bail on Tuesday.

"The high court has granted him 60 billion dollars bail (90 US dollars) after it was upped from 20 billion," Tafadzwa Mugabe said.

Kay, one of the only two white lawmakers, was arrested in Marondera, east of the capital Harare, on May 22 on charges of fanning violence in Mashonaland province.

THE LAWSON FILE: DADGUMMIT ALL, LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE FOR ONCE

Protesters are out in Minnesota today at a meeting of the Minnesota's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in an effort to stop the construction of power lines and a huge coal burning power plant in just across the state line in South Dakota.

The PUC will hear oral arguments today on the findings of two Minnesota judges who ruled that power lines from the new plant should not be built across west-central Minnesota.

The PUC is then expected to decide Thursday whether or not to issue a certificate of need to build transmission lines in Minnesota for the project.

Public News Service says Attorney Beth Goodpaster with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy wants the commission to accept the judges' ruling, which was based on a recommendation by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. She says the power companies have failed to show that another coal plant makes more sense than renewable energy or increased efficiency when it comes to meeting the demand for electricity.

"This type of coal that has been proposed at Big Stone is what is called conventional coal. It's not capable of capturing its carbon dioxide emissions. From that perspective this case is about the end of that technology. And, so, by building a power plant like this right now, you're taking extreme risks about the costs to run the power plant. We think that this is the worst time to make a new investment in coal."

Earlier this year the Minnesota Department of Commerce concluded that the Big Stone II power plant’s utilities had not proven the need for a new, large coal-fired power plant, a conclusion. The department also stated the shareholders, not ratepayers, should pay if the utilities underestimated the cost.

Oppenents of the whole idea also have the support of South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds who argues that the coal plant (Big Stone II and its power lines) will hinder the development of wind power in his state. Governor Rounds says those same power lines could carry 1,000 megawatts of wind power from South Dakota.

Winona LaDuke, executive director of Honor the Earth and the White Earth Land Recovery Project, agrees with the Gov. She says there's no such thing as clean coal, and she says the Big Stone corporate partners instead should build a 1,000-megawatt wind farm.

These are not the only recognizable voices who are siding with the good folks of the area.

The head of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies sent a letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty urging him to oppose the Big Stone II power plant as well. Dr. James Hansen questions the decision to build new coal-fired power plants that add more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Pawlenty says the plants like Big Stone will only continue to add to the problem of global warming. He says alternative energy sources must be developed right not, not later.

"It is going to require a lot of investment in renewable energies and energy efficiency, and we need to get going on that now. One way you do that is by not building more coal-fired power plants, because that reduces the pressure to do energy efficiency and renewables."

According to Hansen, South Dakota has considerable renewable energy potential. He says it would be smart for the state to get even more aggressive developing its bio-fuel and wind energy resources.

"What we really need to do is have a low-loss electrical grid across the country because we have various renewable energies, some of which are intermittent. You know, eventually we are going to have to go beyond fossil fuels, and that means no carbon emissions. The point is, South Dakota has potential to be a big contributor to that."

The Sisseton-Wahpeton tribe also has something to say about the matter.

On May 9, two Minnesota administrative law judges recommended against building transmission lines to carry power to their state from the proposed coal-burning electric power plant, Big Stone II which Otter Tail Power Company wishes to build in South Dakota, just southeast of Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate's Lake Traverse Reservation. The new plant, by the way, would be right next to an existing coal-fired one, Big Stone I, which began operating in 1975.

''I commend the judges,'' said Office of Environmental Protection Administrator Myrna Thompson, a Sisseton-Wahpeton tribal member upon hearing the ruling. ''Rather than focusing on immediate financial gain, they demonstrated a vision for future generations and the environment.''

Indian Country today reports though Thompson was pleased about the decision and hoped the PUC would be influenced by it, she noted that Native people had been left out of the planning all along. The absence of mandated government-to-government, federal-tribal consultations on the project meant that the tribes' concerns were ignored, she said.

''They're forgetting the impacts on us. Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate is a treaty tribe. Where is the Interior Department when it comes to protecting our health and resources?''

Cancer, asthma and respiratory diseases are widespread on the reservation and in the counties surrounding the plant, according to Indian Health Services (IHS) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) data. Children under 10 are especially prone to asthma, Thompson said, while many older people also have illnesses such as bronchitis and lung cancer.

Local cancer rates are not just high; they are also rising, according to NCI figures. Mary Jo Stueve, program coordinator of the national environmental group Clean Water Action, called the area around BSI ''a cancer hot spot, thanks to one of the dirtiest coal-burning plants in the nation.''

Tribal members fear an additional plant will increase the health risks, said Big Coulee District Council Representative Norma Perko, Sisseton-Wahpeton: ''Prevailing southeasterly winds bring the pollution right here.''

Surely, you say, in the face of the wishes of the citizens of of the area, an Indian tribe, a governor, a NASA expert, several will know environmental activists, a state Environmental Protection Administrator, several administrative law judges, a state department of commerce, and god only knows who else, the ruling will go against the power plant.

But then this is the United States of Corporate America, so who knows.

The following little story is from WKBT in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Big Stone protesters rally at Minn. commission meeting

Dozens of protesters are hoping to sway Minnesota commissioners as they consider whether to clear a path for a coal-burning power plant in South Dakota.

Minnesota's Public Utilities Commission has the power to approve or block transmission lines from the plant called Big Stone II. Two administrative law judges have recommended rejection.

A spokesman for the utilities backing the plant, Todd Guerrero, says people need the power the plant would provide.

Opposition groups argued that the utilities haven't proven their case, and haven't taken into account new federal costs they might someday face on carbon emissions.

After Tuesday's testimony, the commission is supposed to announce its decision Thursday.

CZECH HUNGER STRIKERS REFUSE TO SURRENDER IN BATTLE OVER RADAR STATION

Several people are staging a hunger strike in Prague and have been joined by some in other countries as well to protest an expected agreement between the Czech Republic and the US to host part of a missile defense shield.

Jan Tamas and Jan Bednar (both pictured here/ Bednar is on the left) in Prague have been on the hunger strike since May 13, Dino Mancarella in Trieste since May 14, Federica Fratini and Eduardo Calizza in Rome since May 19, José Alvarez in Spain since May 22. Bruce Gagnon and Sung-Hee Choi in the USA, Gareth Smith in Australia, Joaquin Valenzuela in Bologna since May 24. Ivan Marchetti and Andrea Casa in Turin since May 26 and Dr. Hassan Nayeb Hashem in Austria since May 29.

One of the Czechs, Jan Bednar was rushed to a hospital yesterday with some type of liver failure. Bendar says despite his condition he will not stop his protest.

The United States plans to build a radar base on Czech soil along with a base for ten interceptor missiles in Poland as elements of the U.S. missile defense shield that Bush administration says is to protect the United States and a large part of Europe against missiles that "rogue" states like Iran might launch.

The Prague Daily Monitor reported today almost two-thirds of Czechs are against the stationing of the U.S. radar base in the Czech Republic, while fewer than one-quarter are for the project, according to a poll conducted by the polling agency CVVM in early April and released today. The poll also shows 70 percent of Czechs believe a referendum should decide on the plan, the opposite view is held by 20 percent. Some 72 percent of Czechs are afraid of an attack in the event of a military conflict, while 64 percent are afraid of a terrorist attack on the radar base.

In a letter to the hunger strikers Rep. Cynthia McKinney wrote," It is impossible for me to say strongly enough how important your efforts are in the Czech Republic to oppose deployment of U.S. so-called missile defense bases. Your leadership is being watched and is appreciated all over the world."

The Prague Post says as all eyes are fixed on the anticipated June signing of the Czech-U.S. treaty to build the radar base at the Brdy Military Base 90 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of Prague, controversy over a lesser-known radar base is playing out on the other side of the country.

That controversy centers on a new base built by the Defense Ministry and to be under NATO control which is now being completed in Slavkov, south Moravia, and is scheduled to begin trial operations June 1.

More than 20 surrounding towns and villages as well as conservation and historic groups have battled that radar station since construction began, but, at this point, locals have mostly given in to the inevitable. “We have been excluded from judicial proceedings against the radar. Any further efforts on our part would be wasted,” said Jiří Životský, mayor of Sokolnice, about 2 kilometers from the base, adding that a 2004 court case against the installation had been dismissed."

The Campaign for Peace and Democracy argues although the proposed US radar in the Czech Republic and the companion interceptor missiles planned for Poland are presented as a defense system against possible attacks from Iranian missiles, the "Missile Defense" system is, in fact, a first strike weapon and a tool for global dominance.

The following is from Russia Today.

Hunger strikers stand firm against U.S. missile shield

Two campaigners in Prague are taking anti-radar base protests to another level. They’ve been on hunger strike for 18 days as the Czech Republic nears agreement with the U.S. to host part of its missile defence shield.

Jan Bednar from the ‘No to the Base’ campaign group has lost 10 kilograms in weight in just over two weeks. His liver is failing and jaundice is setting in, so doctors are urging him to end his hunger strike. But he’s refusing. He may look weak, but his will is strong.

“I will continue as long as I can, because I want people to realise that our government is putting us in a seriously dangerous situation through its negotiations on the U.S. radar base,” he says.

At the ‘No to the Base’ headquarters in Prague, second hunger striker Jan Tamas is documenting their plight on the web. He too has eaten nothing for 18 days, drinking only water. He says he'll only stop the strike if the government meets one of three demands.

“This means receiving a clear sign that negotiations about this base will be stopped, or getting a clear sign that there'll be a national referendum on the issue or that an open democratic debate about this issue will begin to take place,” he explains.

Since last year, Prague has been negotiating the terms of installing a radar base on Czech soil with Washington. Such a base would be part of a planned U.S. missile shield in Europe. Russia and China have heavily condemned the plans, saying it would set back international disarmament efforts.

Across the Czech Republic the radar plans have been met by a wave of protests, and the latest hunger strike is, perhaps, a last resort.

The hunger strikers say the Czech government is acting undemocratically in refusing to the consult the public on the issue, even though the latest opinion polls show that 65 per cent of Czechs are against the radar base.

The majority of people want a referendum, but the government disagrees. With only a fragile majority in Parliament, the government wouldn't have it easy, especially as the Greens and the Social Democrats largely oppose the plans.

But across town, there's a sound of optimism in the air: Prague's American Embassy is educating the public on the positive aspects of a radar base. The photo exhibition called 'Life with the Radar' shows people living happily on the Marshall Islands, which hosts the U.S. radar that could one day end up near Prague.

Whether these photos will have any bearing on public opinion remains to be seen.

NICE TRY: ATTEMPTED BUST OF JOHN BOLTON FAILS IN BRITAIN

An attempt at a citizen's arrest of John Bolton (pictured here), the former American ambassador to the UN, at the Hay Festival in Wales failed Wednesday night.

George Monbiot, the columnist and activist, had tried to perform a citizen’s arrest on Bolton as he ended a talk to more than 600 people on Wednesday evening.

In chaotic scenes, Monbiot was stopped from doing so by security guards.

During the attempt Monbiot shouted out, “John Robert Bolton, I am arresting you for the charge of aggression, the crime of aggression, as defined by the Nuremberg Principles.”
Afterwards Monbiot, a regular freelance contributor for The Guardian, told the London Telegraph he was “disappointed” his attempt had failed.

He said: “This was a serious attempt to bring one of the perpetrators of the Iraq war to justice, for what is described under the Nuremberg Principles as an international crime.”

Monbiot stated he had given a dossier of evidence on Mr Bolton to Dyfed-Powys Police ahead of his attempt to present his charge sheet.

He added: “I’m aware that I’ve made what I believe is the first attempt ever to arrest one of the perpetrators of the Iraq War, and I believe that is a precedent and I would like to see that precedent followed up.”

A group of anti-war activists waved placards and shouted “war criminal” as security personnel escorted Bolton out.

Bolton was due to speak in Bristol yesterday on to speak there as part of the Bristol Festival Of Ideas.

He didn't show up after protests were planned. He said he was too busy.

The following is from the Tehran Times.

Protesters call Bolton war criminal

John Bolton, who was under-secretary of state under Colin Powell at the time of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, was jeered by protesters shouting “war criminal” as he left the Hay literary festival.

The jeers came after Bolton, who was a leading hawk in President George W. Bush’s administration, told the audience that five years of “failed” negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program had left just two options for dealing with the issue -- regime change or use of force.

THE LAWSON FILE: SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED/STAND UP AGAINST THE HEALTH INSURANCE BIG SHOTS ON JUNE 19

Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane."
-------------Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.

Tired of the talk about healthcare reform? Ever have a problem with health insurance (or lack thereof)? Want to do something? June 19th you can. There will be demonstrations in front of insurance companies all over the country on that day challenging their control of our healthcare system and demanding instead, a guaranteed national single payer healthcare system. You can join with thousands of others around the country for the National Day of Action Against Health Insurance Companies in taking action to win a guaranteed national single-payer healthcare system with no financial barriers to care in 2009.

Below are the cities and contact emails where demonstrations are already being planned for June 19th.

San Francisco, Mosconi Center, dbechler@value.net; bill gallagher bgallagher@calnurses.org

Philadelphia and Camden, Cigna, Tom Knoche knocheberg@aol.com

Pittsburgh Highmark/Blue Cross/ Blue Shield-- Sandy Fox sm2fox@yahoo.com

Minnetonka, MN, United Health Care-- Ann Patterson, ann_p11@yahoo.com and Joel Clemmer, joel@joelclemmer.org

Oklahoma City, Blue Cross/Blue Shield -- Reggie Cervantes clipedwingangel@yahoo.com

Louisville, KY, Humana-- Kay Tillow, nursenpo@aol.com

Gainesville, Florida-- Mark Piotrowski, markp@floridalaborparty.org

Hartford, CT Aetna/Hartford, Lucille Rosenblatt, IIrosenblatt@comcast.net.

Chicago, IL Blue Cross/Blue Shield -- Jill nolachicago@gmail.com and Donna Smith, dsmith1119@hotmail.com

Indianapolis, IN, Wellpoint-- Cindy Calley, home@calleys.org

San Antonio, TX, Humana Insurance Co, 6:00 p.m.-- Jane Lee Cantu, janelee@satx.rr.com

Newark, NJ, Blue Cross -- Ray Stever rayiuc@aol.com

Atlanta, Blue Cross/Blue Shield-- Margie Rece msrece@yahoo.com

New York City: Billy Wharton,Email: noprivatization@yahoo.com
Phone: (718) 869-2279 Rally at the GHI office (34th & 9th) and march to United Healthcare (33rd and 8th Ave)

St. Louis, MO. Julia Lamborne, Julia0409@aol.com

Albany, NY, Leo O'Brien Federal Building at 5 p.m. The sponsor: the Capital District Coalition-- contact : Mike Keenan;mikekeenan@pefencon.info

Boston, Contact Rand Wilson-- rand@mindspring.com

For more information email info@healthcare-now.org.

I got to tell you the opportunity to take on the health insurance moguls head on sound not only like a good thing, but damn fun to boot. How many have suffered and died for no real reason except to line these bastards pockets?

You and I both know that we can't count on the pols to do the job for us (hell they've been talking about universal health care since Truman). It never works that way. It takes mass action to get anything done in this country of ours.

We don't need some scheme developed out of conversations with health insurance executives. We need a single payer system right now. That won't come from sitting down at the table and chatting. That will come when the people in their millions finally stand up and scream, "We're sick and tired of being sick and tired."

June 19ths action sounds like one place to start.

The following call to action comes from the California Nurses Association.

Healthcare Activists Plan June 19th as National Day of Action Against Health Insurance Companies
Thousands to Gather in San Francisco and Around Country as 38,000 Insurance Industry Executives Meet for Annual AHIP Convention

Nurses, Doctors, Patients, Consumer Activists Call for Guaranteed, Single-Payer Healthcare—“Patients Not Profits”

Seeking an end to the healthcare crisis that is destroying American lives and families, thousands of healthcare activists will descend on San Francisco and on cities around the country this June 19th as part of an unprecedented national day of protests against health insurance corporations—and in support of guaranteed, single-payer healthcare, the “Medicare for All” system succeeding in nearly every other industrialized democracy. The protests will demand a healthcare system focused on patients, not profits, and are being coordinated by the Leadership Conference on Guaranteed Healthcare, a coalition group representing hundreds of thousands of members. Learn more at www.GuaranteedHealthcare.org.

The national day of action is timed in conjunction with the annual convention of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the insurance industry lobbying group dedicated to blocking healthcare reform. Cities that headquarter major health insurance companies will host local actions as part of the national day of protest. Activists are planning events in Chicago, the base of Blue Cross/Blue Shield; Philadelphia, base of CIGNA; Hartford, base of AETNA; Louisville, KY, base of Humana; Minnetonka, MN, base of United Health Group, and elsewhere.

WHAT: Thousands Protest Insurance Companies in San Francisco, nationwide
WHEN: Thursday, June 19th, 12 Noon
WHERE: San Francisco, CA—4th St. @ Howard St.

The Leadership Conference on Guaranteed Healthcare is composed of California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), Physicians for a National Health Program, Healthcare Now!, and Progressive Democrats of America, working in coalition with the California School Employees Association, the American Medical Students Association, the California Universal Healthcare Organizing Project, the Courage Campaign, United Educators San Francisco, AFT 2121-4, and Senior Action Network.

Malinda Markowitz, RN, a member of the Council of Presidents of CNA/NNOC said, “We are calling a national protest against these insurance companies because they profit by denying care to our patients—not by providing it. The American people are ready for guaranteed healthcare, through great bills like Rep. John Conyer’s HR 676, and we will no longer let insurers and politicians block progress and maintain an unworkable status quo.”

ANNOUNCEMT FOR BRITISH ANTI-RACISTS

Yes, the Oread Daily is read in Great Britain and as such I'm printing the announcement below from Love Music, Hate Racism for those of you who live there or might be visiting.

Love Music Hate Racism uses the positive energy of the music scene to fight back against the racism being pushed by Nazi organisations like the BNP.

CONVOY OF COACHES HEADS FOR LMHR/UAF NATIONAL DEMO/PARADE

Coaches are being booked from around the country for the national LMHR/Unite Against Fascism demonstration and carnival parade in London on Saturday 21st June. Campaigners from areas with sitting fascist BNP councillors are among them - including Stoke-on-Trent, Burnley and Rotherham. The event will be a national show of unity against the Nazis which will boost anti-fascists and launch year-long local anti-BNP campaigns in the run up to next year’s European Parliament elections. If you’re coming from outside London see below for your nearest coach - and let us know of any other coaches planned.

Barrow & South Cumbria: Paul on 07817688835
Birmingham: westmids@lovemusichateracism.com
Black Country & Sandwell: contact LMHR for details
Burnley : Andy on 01282 832319
Cardiff: contact LMHR for details
Chesterfield: contact LMHR for details
Coventry: westmids@lovemusichateracism.com
Derby: contact LMHR for details
Kent: lmhr.eastkent@hotmail.co.uk
Glasgow: Margaret on 07870286632
Lancaster : Paul on 07817688835
Leeds: leeds@lovemusichateracism.com
Leicester/Nuneaton: leics@lovemusichateracism.com
Liverpool: merseyside@lovemusichateracism.com
Manchester : Mike on 07903586191 or manchester@lovemusichateracism.com
Oxford: contact Ian on 07790532513. LMHROxford@bethere.co.uk
Preston: contact LMHR for details
Rotherham & Sheffield: contact LMHR for details
Southend: Clare on 07944779412.
Stoke-on-Trent: contact LMHR for details
Swansea : Martin on 07840598988 mchapman@ntlworld.com
Telford & Shrewsbury: contact LMHR for details

COLD WAR II FLASHPOINT THE UKRAINE

The United States would very much like to push NATO further east and bring in the Ukraine.

Russia and Georgia are not thrilled with the idea.

Ukraine's pro-Western leaders hope to join NATO but the people of the Ukraine are mixed on the idea. Recent polls show that more than half of the population is opposed to NATO membership.

Today pro and anti-NATO forces clashed during a protest in the Ukraine.

Primary opposition to NATO comes from the citizens of Sevastopol (where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is based) as well as large swathes of Ukraine's Russian-speaking east and south.

The Crimean peninsula where Sevastopol is located was a part of the Russian republic of the Soviet Union until 1954, when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev signed it over to the Ukrainian republic as a "token of brotherly love".

That mattered little when both republics were part of the Soviet Union, but when Ukraine gained independence in 1991 it became a ticking time bomb.

Through the 1990s, as the new Ukrainian state established its credentials, Crimea was gripped by periodic outbursts of pro-Russian sentiment but has since been generally calm.

If Ukraine and Georgia are accepted into NATO, Russia will revise is relations with the alliance, Russia's envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said recently. "The NATO eastward expansion at the expense of Ukraine and Georgia is a red line in our relations with NATO, which NATO should not cross. If NATO crosses this red line, relations will not only be spoilt, but they will change drastically."

During the NATO summit in April then President Vladimir Putin hinted that Russia would work to break up Ukraine, should the former Soviet republic join the military alliance.

The follow blurb is from Russia Today.

NATO opponents and supporters clash in Ukraine

Opponents and supporters of Ukraine's entry into NATO have clashed in Crimea's largest city of Simferopol.

Police tried to separate the two parties, which were holding simultaneous meetings in the central square of the city. However, verbal abuse triggered a fight involving about 150 people.

The NATO opponents, mostly communists, threw tomatoes, eggs and cartons of juice at their rivals. They were carrying posters, which read 'NATO Is War Against Slavs' and 'Neo-Fascism Won't Succeed.'

PLUTONIUM GOES FROM BRITAIN TO FRANCE TO BRITAIN

Anti-nuclear activists in the UK are worried about nuclear wasted being transferred from around the UK to the town of Sellafield (see black spot on accompanying map).

In France, they are worried about waste that is already coming to them from the same Sellafield nuclear facility (pictured here).

Both places have legitimate concerns.

A study by veteran British environmental journalist Paul Brown published today by Friends of the Earth "Voodoo Economics and the Doomed Nuclear Renaissance" says Sellafield has the world's biggest stockpile of plutonium and uranium and storage tanks contain highly volatile radioactive waste "more dangerous" than the Chernobyl reactor.

The study points out that Britain's "nuclear recycling centre" has suffered "many near disastrous episodes in its history; but accidents and technical and management failures in the past 10 years have brought this production line of linked nuclear factories to a crisis".

"There is an ever-increasing quantity of nuclear waste which, despite billions of pounds of investment in hardware, the industry is struggling to deal with," the report adds.

Last month the French News revealed nuclear waste was being ferried from Sellafield , via the bustling port of Cherbourg to Cap de la Hague, site of a sprawling, high-security reprocessing plant.

Greenpeace confirms that deliveries to Cherbourg of plutonium were underway. The plutonium was being shipped according to several news sources and environmental organizations aboard the Atlantic Osprey. The ship, reports the Independent (UK), is “an old roll-on rolloff ferry with few security and safety features”.

While the company doing the shipping refused to admit anything (least of all plutonium was being transferred), Thomas Houdré, chief of the Normandy nuclear division of France’s nuclear safety authority (Autorité de sûreté nucléaire – ASN), expressly referred to the content of the shipments as “plutonium.” He said the plutonium would be converted to mixed oxide fuel (MOX) for nuclear reactors before being returned to Sellafield.

Greenpeace expressed its astonishment that plutonium was being transported aboard “an old, third-hand ferry with a single hull and single engine”.

Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment (CORE) said the Atlantic Osprey left during a “secretive night shipment” in late May during which time the dock was sealed off by security staff.

The campaigners believe that the original departure date had been delayed for two months because details were leaked.

CORE’s Martin Forwood told the News and Star (UK): “In its powder form this plutonium is prime terrorist material.

“Its shipment to France is highly irresponsible at this time of heightened terrorist activity around the world and its transport endangers all communities along the sea route.”

CORE says that high amounts of plutonium are being shipped from Sellafield in west Cumbria to France because of problems with reprocessing atomic materials at the British site.

The following is from the Northwest Evening Mail (UK).

Fears over nuclear waste transport plan

A MAJOR development to import and export radioactive waste in and out of Sellafield could create 105 new jobs

The building would be used for surface storage of intermediate level waste before it is exported to a final permanent repository, when one is built.

But anti-nuclear campaigners are worried that more radioactive waste could be transported in from elsewhere.

Currently, waste for storage or reprocessing is transported in and out of Sellafield by road and rail and also by ship through Barrow and Workington.

Margaret Sanders, coordinator for South Lakeland Friends of the Earth, said: “It is very dangerous to keep carting this stuff about.

“We don’t look after our own waste very well and if we can’t handle our own, it seems absolutely ridiculous to bring in more. We would be wholeheartedly against this.”

Martin Forwood, coordinator of Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment, said: “If they need to box up waste from Sellafield itself and hold it for the unlikely event of finding an underground dump, that’s fine, but I would be worried if this was going to be a facility that’s going to take in waste from other areas. The government wants an underground dump and I would not like to see anything done at Sellafield that makes it more likely that the Sellafield area becomes where the final underground dump will be.”

An outline planning application for the building and associated groundworks will go before Copeland councillors today – and the application is being recommended for approval. If permission is granted, major construction work is not expected to start for at least three years.

A Sellafield spokesman said: “There will be some work in the interim period and once the building is up and running the rough estimate for staffing is 105. “There is historic waste on site and it will be boxed up on site and this will be a storage facility for that until a permanent storage facility is found.”

OBAMA ON CUBA AND LATIN AMERICA: TIME FOR A CHANGE (NOT)

Last week Barack Obama appeared before a group of Cuban Americans in Florida to deliver what he called a "substantive" speech about his policy for Latin America.

The media presented the speech as if it heralded a huge change of policy. They also made sure to pundicize that a tough yet reasonable Obama was calling for a free Cuba through this "changed policy."

I don't know about all that.

The speech should be a big disappointment to his progressive supporters, if you ask me.

While Obama said he would meet with Raul Castro he added a precondition (what happened to "no preconditions") which pretty much means no such meeting would take place. He said members of the exile community would have to have "a seat at the table."

He also promised to keep the embargo in place (something he opposed last year).

Obama failed to mention acts of terrorism perpetrated with absolute impunity against the people of Cuba financed by those who sponsored the speech (carried out by convicted terrorist Posada Carriles).

As Greg Kafoury wrote in CounterPunch, "Senator Obama essentially gave the same kind of speech on Cuba that we have heard from American Presidents for the last fifty years."

Some will say we should remember who he was talking to (wink wink). But that is part of the problem with Obama and part of what makes him just another politician. Like everybody else the guy is out looking for votes from, as the blog Open Anthropology puts it, "...almost every sector imaginable, including the upper crust of Miami’s Cuban elites in this case." It's part of his call me the great "UNIFIER" mantra. Someone needs to tell him you can't make real change and at the same time look for love from everyone.

Moving on, although it was widely reported that Fidel Castro looked favorably upon the Obama speech, Granma presented a statement today from the ex-leader which seemed anything but that. Castro wrote:

"It would be dishonest of me to remain silent after hearing the speech Obama delivered on the afternoon of May 23 at the Cuban American National Foundation created by Ronald Reagan. I listened to his speech, as I did McCain’s and Bush’s. I feel no resentment towards him, for he is not responsible for the crimes perpetrated against Cuba and humanity. Were I to defend him, I would do his adversaries an enormous favor. I have therefore no reservations about criticizing him and about expressing my points of view on his words frankly."

What were Obama’s statements?"

"Throughout my entire life, there has been injustice and repression in Cuba. Never, in my lifetime, have the people of Cuba known freedom. Never, in the lives of two generations of Cubans, have the people of Cuba known democracy. (…) This is the terrible and tragic status quo that we have known for half a century – of elections that are anything but free or fair (…) I won't stand for this injustice, you won't stand for this injustice, and together we will stand up for freedom in Cuba," he told annexationists, adding: "It's time to let Cuban American money make their families less dependent upon the Castro regime. (…) I will maintain the embargo."'

The content of these declarations by this strong candidate to the U.S. presidency spares me the work of having to explain the reason for this reflection."

José Hernandez, one of the Cuban American National Foundation directors whom Obama praises in his speech, was none other than the owner of the Caliber-50 automatic rifle, equipped with telescopic and infrared sights, which was confiscated, by chance, along with other deadly weapons while being transported by sea to Venezuela, where the Foundation had planned to assassinate the writer of these lines at an international meeting on Margarita, in the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta."

Pepe Hernández’ group wanted to return to the pact with Clinton, betrayed by Mas Canosa’s clan, who secured Bush’s electoral victory in 2000 through fraud, because the latter had promised to assassinate Castro, something they all happily embraced. These are the kinds of political tricks inherent to the United States’ decadent and contradictory system."

Presidential candidate Obama’s speech may be formulated as follows: hunger for the nation, remittances as charitable hand-outs and visits to Cuba as propaganda for consumerism and the unsustainable way of life behind it."

How does he plan to address the extremely serious problem of the food crisis? The world’s grains must be distributed among human beings, pets and fish, the latter of which are getting smaller every year and more scarce in the seas that have been over-exploited by large trawlers which no international organization has been able to halt. Producing meat from gas and oil is no easy feat. Even Obama overestimates technology’s potential in the fight against climate change, though he is more conscious of the risks and the limited margin of time than Bush. He could seek the advice of Gore, who is also a democrat and is no longer a candidate, as he is aware of the accelerated pace at which global warming is advancing. His close political rival Bill Clinton, who is not running for the presidency, an expert on extra-territorial laws like the Helms-Burton and Torricelli Acts, can advise him on an issue like the blockade, which he promised to lift and never did."

What did he say in his speech in Miami, this man who is doubtless, from the social and human points of view, the most progressive candidate to the U.S. presidency? "For two hundred years," he said, "the United States has made it clear that we won't stand for foreign intervention in our hemisphere. But every day, all across the Americas, there is a different kind of struggle --not against foreign armies, but against the deadly threat of hunger and thirst, disease and despair. That is not a future that we have to accept --not for the child in Port au Prince or the family in the highlands of Peru. We can do better. We must do better. (…) We cannot ignore suffering to our south, nor stand for the globalization of the empty stomach." A magnificent description of imperialist globalization: the globalization of empty stomachs! We ought to thank him for it. But, 200 years ago, Bolivar fought for Latin American unity and, more than 100 years ago, Martí gave his life in the struggle against the annexation of Cuba by the United States. What is the difference between what Monroe proclaimed and what Obama proclaims and resuscitates in his speech two centuries later?"

"I will reinstate a Special Envoy for the Americas in my White House who will work with my full support. But we'll also expand the Foreign Service, and open more consulates in the neglected regions of the Americas. We'll expand the Peace Corps, and ask more young Americans to go abroad to deepen the trust and the ties among our people," he said near the end, adding: "Together, we can choose the future over the past." A beautiful phrase, for it attests to the idea, or at least the fear, that history makes figures what they are and not all the way around."

Today, the United States has nothing of the spirit behind the Philadelphia declaration of principles formulated by the 13 colonies that rebelled against English colonialism. Today, they are a gigantic empire undreamed of by the country’s founders at the time. Nothing, however, was to change for the natives and the slaves. The former were exterminated as the nation expanded; the latter continued to be auctioned at the marketplace —men, women and children—for nearly a century, despite the fact that "all men are born free and equal", as the Declaration of Independence affirms. The world’s objective conditions favored the development of that system."

In his speech, Obama portrays the Cuban Revolution as anti-democratic and lacking in respect for freedom and human rights. It is the exact same argument which, almost without exception, U.S. administrations have used again and again to justify their crimes against our country. The blockade, in and of itself, is an act of genocide. I don’t want to see U.S. children inculcated with those shameful values."

An armed revolution in our country might not have been needed without the military interventions, Platt Amendment and economic colonialism visited upon Cuba."

The Revolution was the result of imperial domination. We cannot be accused of having imposed it upon the country. The true changes could have and ought to have been brought about in the United States. Its own workers, more than a century ago, voiced the demand for an eight-hour work shift, which stemmed from the development of productive forces."

The first thing the leaders of the Cuban Revolution learned from Martí was to believe in and act on behalf of an organization founded for the purposes of bringing about a revolution. We were always bound by previous forms of power and, following the institutionalization of this organization, we were elected by more than 90% of voters, as has become customary in Cuba, a process which does not in the least resemble the ridiculous levels of electoral participation which, many a time, as in the case of the United States, stay short of 50% of voters. No small and blockaded country like ours would have been able to hold its ground for so long on the basis of ambition, vanity, deceit or the abuse of power, the kind of power its neighbor has. To state otherwise is an insult to the intelligence of our heroic people."

I am not questioning Obama’s great intelligence, his debating skills or his work ethic. He is a talented orator and is ahead of his rivals in the electoral race. I feel sympathy for his wife and little girls, who accompany him and give him encouragement every Tuesday. It is indeed a touching human spectacle. Nevertheless, I am obliged to raise a number of delicate questions. I do not expect answers; I wish only to raise them for the record."

Is it right for the president of the United States to order the assassination of any one person in the world, whatever the pretext may be?"

Is it ethical for the president of the United States to order the torture of other human beings?"

Should state terrorism be used by a country as powerful as the United States as an instrument to bring about peace on the planet?"

Is an Adjustment Act, applied as punishment to only one country, Cuba, in order to destabilize it, good and honorable, even when it costs innocent children and mothers their lives? If it is good, why is this right not automatically granted to Haitians, Dominicans, and other peoples of the Caribbean, and why isn’t the same Act applied to Mexicans and people from Central and South America, who die like flies against the Mexican border wall or in the waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific?"

Can the United States do without immigrants, who grow vegetables, fruits, almonds and other delicacies for U.S. citizens? Who would sweep their streets, work as servants in their homes or do the worst and lowest-paid jobs?"

Are crackdowns on illegal residents fair, even as they affect children born in the United States?"

Are the brain-drain and the continuous theft of the best scientific and intellectual minds in poor countries moral and justifiable?"

You state, as I pointed out at the beginning of this reflection, that your country had long ago warned European powers that it would not tolerate any intervention in the hemisphere, reiterating that this right be respected while demanding the right to intervene anywhere in the world with the aid of hundreds of military bases and naval, aerial and spatial forces distributed across the planet. I ask: is that the way in which the United States expresses its respect for freedom, democracy and human rights?"

Is it fair to stage pre-emptive attacks on sixty or more dark corners of the world, as Bush calls them, whatever the pretext may be?"

Is it honorable and sane to invest millions and millions of dollars in the military industrial complex, to produce weapons that can destroy life on earth several times over?"

Before judging our country, you should know that Cuba, with its education, health, sports, culture and sciences programs, implemented not only in its own territory but also in other poor countries around the world, and the blood that has been shed in acts of solidarity towards other peoples, in spite of the economic and financial blockade and the aggression of your powerful country, is proof that much can be done with very little. Not even our closest ally, the Soviet Union, was able to achieve what we have."

The only form of cooperation the United States can offer other nations consist in the sending of military professionals to those countries. It cannot offer anything else, for it lacks a sufficient number of people willing to sacrifice themselves for others and offer substantial aid to a country in need (though Cuba has known and relied on the cooperation of excellent U.S. doctors). They are not to blame for this, for society does not inculcate such values in them on a massive scale."

We have never subordinated cooperation with other countries to ideological requirements. We offered the United States our help when Hurricane Katrina lashed the city of New Orleans. Our internationalist medical brigade bears the glorious name of Henry Reeve, a young man, born in the United States, who fought and died for Cuba’s sovereignty in our first war of independence."

Our Revolution can mobilize tens of thousands of doctors and health technicians. It can mobilize an equally vast number of teachers and citizens, who are willing to travel to any corner of the world to fulfill any noble purpose, not to usurp people’s rights or take possession of raw materials."

The good will and determination of people constitute limitless resources that cannot be kept and would not fit in the vault of a bank. They cannot spring from the hypocritical politics of an empire."

In his speech, Obama also expressed support for continuing the US policy in Colombia and the little secret wars going on throughout the hemisphere.

By the way both McCain and Hillary Clinton were out in Florida giving speeches that weren't a hell of a lot different.

Happy days aren't here again.

The following is from Black Agenda Report.

Obama on Latin America: "Small Change", If Any
by Black Agenda Report Special Correspondent Roberto Lovato

Many of us had great "hope" for the much-vaunted "change" in U.S. policy towards Latin America. But listening to Barack Obama's "substantive" speech on U.S. Latin America policy last week and reading his "New Partnership with the Americas" policy proposal, it's pretty clear that Obama will do nothing to alter the basic structure of George W. Bush's Latin America policy: trade backed by militarism.

Given the painful failure and generalized destruction wrought by the last century of U.S. policy in the hemisphere, the basic outline of "substantive" policy towards America Latina should look something like this"

Immediate de-escalation of tensions between Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and US ally/surrogate Colombia. One would hope that, in the face of the atrocities in Colombia, Ubama would add a condemnation as loud as those Democrats wield at Cuba, whose violation of sovereignty (condemned by OAS) and human rights record-death squad killings, disappearances, torture of thousands-pales before that of Colombia;

Holding up Colombia's multi-billion dollar military aid package would also indicate some substance;

Dismantling NAFTA, CAFTA and other trade and economic policies (ie some IMF and World Bank programs) that destroy livelihoods and communities (nay regions), bust government budgets and further enrich the elites in these countries;

Ending the embargo on Cuba. Will Obama stop beating the tattered political pinata of Cuba or simply spin it a little differently, hit it more gently?

Ending the low intensity destabilization programs in Venezuela and Bolivia;

Re-negotiating Bush's crop-killing ethanol program;

Aborting Plan Mexico, which is already Colombianzing (ie; drug wars, anti-insurgent war, repression against opposition under cover of national security, etc.) a country that, for more than 80 years, has lived without the imposition of military rule U.S. Presidents from Roosevelt, Kennedy, Reagan and Carter have paid for the arming of death squads who kidnap and torture jurists, journalists, union members and ordinary citizens as our "Latin American policy";

Placing migration policy within the hemispheric context in which it originates;

Closing the School of the Americas and the ILEA training facility in El Salvador, both of which are factories for barbarism under the guise of national security.

With some important exceptions - engaging Venezuela, reconfiguring the World Bank and IMF, environmental agreements- his current approach to Latin America veers only slightly to the left of Bushismo. There is little in his speeches and proposals that is "liberal", "progressive" or very enlightened in terms of easing the crush of poverty and repression in the region. In fact, Obama's proposals for continuing and expanding the drug war in the hemisphere will only complete the efforts of the Bush Administration to re-militarize the region under cover of fighting drug wars.

In the search for post-Cold War enemies, the Bush Administration found its new excuse to militarize the region in the drug cartels, who, must be dealt with, but not in the Bush way.
Obama should know better.

Roberto Lovato's work has appeared in The Nation, New America Media, and dozens of other places. His frequently updated blog is ofamerica.wordpress.com, and he can be reached at robvato(at)gmail.com.

THE LAWSON FILE: RAILROADS STILL RUNNING THE SHOW IN YOUR TOWN

Some moms and dads in northern Virginia are not happy about sending their kids off to school these days. Why? Well, it seems coming to the neighborhood is a brand new operation where railroad cars will be transferring highly flammable ethanol to tanker trucks not far from their kiddies schools.

And, of course, residents feel like no one really talked to them about. So they were upset with the city.

Problem is, as city officials told them, nothing much they could do but pass resolutions since the railroad industry is pretty much exempt from zoning laws and the like.

And they are correct.

Responding to a situation in Georgia where railroad construction operations where "upsetting" nearby locals, Nancy Beiter, an attorney for the Surface Transportation Board, the federal agency that oversees the railroad industry said, "They cannot require any kind of procedure that would prevent the railroad from building something. There isn't any place where they've beaten the railroad."

She failed to mention her agency might be able to do something to help these old fashioned Americans, but won't.

Anyway Beiter is right on one score. When fighting with the railroads it does seem when the locals around the country have gone to court they virtually always lose.

You see there is this thing called the Termination Act. The Termination Act granted the Surface Transportation Board (STB) exclusive jurisdiction over railroads and rail transportation, and entities within that jurisdiction are exempt from state and local land use and environmental laws.

Another example of this outrage involved the District of Columbia no less. It seemed the District enacted a law governing routing of rail shipments of hazardous materials. The Surface Transportation Board stepped in and ruled that, "...based on the statute and well-established precedent, Congress foreclosed state or local power to determine how a railroad's traffic should be routed." The Sierra Club later petitioned the Board to reconsider and reopen its decision. The Board said, "Forget about it."

In fact, there has been an organized effort by some within the railroad industry to de-regulate solid waste activities along railroad lines. Unregulated solid waste transfer stations are popping up across the nation.

The railroads, of course, base their case upon the strictures of the Surface Transportation Board or STB (by the way the STB is a three-member board appointed by the U.S. President), which always rules they alone have jurisdiction over the siting of these facilities under the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act of 1995 (ICCTA). President Bush supports this ruling, of course.

It worth noting folks that once the STB rules these facilities are exempt from local and state jurisdiction the STB's job is done, as they have no funds or legal or legislative authority to regulate solid waste activities. In the case of New Jersey, for example, this has resulted in open dumps piled as high as a two story building.

But wait just when it seems all hope is loss the Clean Railroads Act of 2007 was passed late last year by the House of Representatives. The legislation will allow states to regulate solid waste processing facilities along rail lines. It was included as an amendment to larger rail safety legislation. The legislation may close the loophole in federal law that prohibits states from enforcing environmental, health and safety regulations at these rail sites.

Congressional action followed a ruling by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals which ensured New Jersey, and all states, have clear authority over solid waste transfer stations.

However, don't get too excited just yet.

The latest on the bill's progress in the Senate has it as added to calendar on Mar 03, 2008: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 590. That's the last I can find about it (if you know anything more, please comment or let me know).

The legislation, if finalized, will require the states to do something. The question then will become - will your state take action?

The following is from NBC4 News (Washington, D.C.).

Alexandria Residents Concerned About Ethanol Transfer Station
Residents Say They Weren't Notified About Facility For Transport Of Flammable Substance

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The opening of an ethanol transfer station near homes and a school in Alexandria is causing residents of one neighborhood to worry.

Some Cameron Station residents said they imagine the worst when they look out their town home windows at the operation under way in the nearby Norfolk Southern yard.

Last month, the company opened a station where up to 20 rail cars per day bring in ethanol, which is transferred into truck tankers for shipment to local storage facilities.

Residents said they wonder what would happen if the highly flammable ethanol ignited.

Mindy Lyle, who is on the board of the Cameron Station Civic Association, said she and residents of another nearby town home complex are angry that they were not notified in advance about Norfolk Southern's plans.

"We really want to know that were there an incident, someone could be out here and we wouldn't have to evacuate for days, weeks, whatever," Lyle said.

She said the station poses a danger to an elementary school, a Metro stop and even the nearby Beltway.

When residents started pressing city officials for information, the city manager sent out a memo saying that while city leaders "are opposed to and have concerns about this type of facility," they are powerless to block it because federal rules exempt the railroad industry from local zoning laws.

A Norfolk Southern spokesman declined an on-camera interview. He said the company initially told the city about its plans in August 2006.

He said in response to concerns that the rail company is storing special foam on the site required to put out a fire if ethanol ignites.

Norfolk Southern is also purchasing foam and a special truck for the Alexandria Fire Department.

Chief Adam Thiel said the facility is in compliance with fire prevention requirements.

"I think safe is really a matter of degrees," Thiel said. "I mean, certainly, there have been incidents involving all manner of hazardous materials shipped on road and rail corridors. We've had multiple incidents here in the national capital region. So there's always risk."

"I think the challenge for us, and, of course, the challenge for the folks that run this facility is to make it as safe an operation as possible," Thiel said.

The facility will be discussed at Alexandria's City Council meeting on Tuesday. Three council members said the council is unanimous in its concern and will ask whether the company is really exempt from seeking a special-use permit from the city.

Council members said if the company can sidestep city rules, they will press the congressional delegation for help.

KILLER CHEVRON CONFRONTED IN CALIFORNIA

For years, Chevron has been accused of myriad human rights and environmental abuses, from having nonviolent protesters gunned down in Nigeria to the dumping of toxic waste into Amazon waterways in Ecuador.

This year they are being confronted directly by their accusers as representatives from Ecuador, Burma, and Nigeria are in California to protest at the annual Chevron shareholders meeting.

Amazon Watch Director of Communications Simeon Tegel told The San Francisco Bay Guardian the event was designed to "potentially help shareholders become more active" in pressuring Chevron executives to finally address and rectify Chevron's abuses.

"One hopes they are human beings too, although sometimes it's hard to tell. But perhaps they will be motivated to do something, either from pressure from their shareholders or from the kindness of human nature," said Tegel.

The representatives from abroad - joined by human rights groups in the U.S. - said a rising tide of abuses associated with Chevron requires decisive action from Chevron CEO David O'Reilly and his senior management team.

Amazon Watch reports the California confrontation comes just after Chevron was hit with a damages assessment in an environmental litigation in Ecuador of up to $16 billion - which could lead to the largest judgment in civil court history - and after a U.S. federal judge in San Francisco ordered the company to stand trial in September over the killing of Nigerian villagers who were protesting on a Chevron oil platform.

"Chevron is at a watershed moment in its history over these growing human rights abuses, yet Chevron management is again burying its head in the sand and refusing to deal with them," said Atossa Soltani, Executive Director of Amazon Watch, an environmental organization working with the human rights advocates. We're here to take the fight directly to shareholders because management has completely failed to live up to its legal and ethical obligations."

Amazon Watch says the main issues include:

Nigeria: Security forces flown in and closely supervised by Chevron Nigeria shot nonviolent environmental protesters in an infamous case that will be the focus of two trials in San Francisco later this year. Two people died, several others were injured and some survivors of the attack were then tortured in a Nigerian jail. One decade after the incident, and after years of legal wrangling in American courts, Chevron management has yet to compensate the families of those killed and injured or resolve the original issues raised by the community.

Burma: Chevron’s Yadana pipeline has provided revenues that have propped up the country’s repressive military dictatorship, while security forces guarding the pipeline have been accused of rape, murder and forced labor. The pipeline has also had significant direct and indirect environmental impacts on the Tenassirm region, one of the largest surviving tracts of tropical rainforest in Southeast Asia, including illegal logging, fishing and poaching. Meanwhile, the pipeline has exacerbated the human rights abuses perpetrated by Burmese security forces against the region’s Mon, Karen and Tavoyans indigenous peoples. Naw Musi, a Karen woman who lives in exile, will attend the shareholder’s meeting.

Ecuador: Chevron faces an environmental damages claim of between $7 billion and $16 billion for causing what experts believe is the most extensive oil-related contamination on the planet. Chevron had admitted to deliberately dumping 18 billion gallons of toxic waste into Amazon waterways and abandoning almost 1,000 open-air toxic waste pits, leading to the decimation of indigenous groups. A court-appointed special master recently found 428 deaths from cancer in the region related to Chevron’s oil operations. In addition, community leaders heading the lawsuit have been subject to death threats, office break-ins, and assaults that have resulted in protective measures being ordered by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Community leader Luis Yanza, recently awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, will lead a delegation of Ecuadorians that includes Emergildo Criollo, a Cofan indigenous leader.

United States: In Richmond, in the East Bay, 35,000 families live in the shadow of a Chevron refinery that spewed out three million pounds of contaminants during the last three years. Existing pollution from Chevron already causes premature death, cancer, and other health ailments. Richmond asthma rates are 5x the state level. Now Chevron wants to expand the refinery, allowing it to process both more and dirtier crude oil, despite overwhelming opposition from local residents. Most of the people who live in the area are minorities, leading to charges of environmental racism.

The following is from KGO-TV (California)

Chevron shareholders met by protests

SAN RAMON, CA - Chevron officials are being met by protesters as they arrive in San Ramon for their annual shareholders meeting.

Many of Chevron's critics joined forces outside the company's front gate to highlight claims of environmental and human rights abuses in the Amazon, Nigeria, and Myanmar.
The oil company has rejected those claims. Chevron is also being criticized by U.S. consumers for high fuel prices. The oil giant continues to make post profits, their stock jumped 22 percent in the last year.

PHILADELPHIA: CONCERNED BLACK LAWYERS TO HOLD FORUM ON POLICE BRUTALITY TONIGHT!

If you reside in the Philadelphia area you will want to try and make it TONIGHT to an important forum to be held just a few hours from now and sponsored by the CONCERNED BLACK LAWYERS.

CONCERNED BLACK LAWYERS to Hold Panel Addressing Police Brutality-Tonight

In the wake of recent events several local African American lawyers have formed an organization called CONCERNED BLACK LAWYERS to address police brutality and other alarming issues in Philadelphia's African American Community. The group will be holding a panel tonight on the issue:

Date and Time: May 22, 2008 – 7p.m. – 9p.m.
Location: First African Baptist Church – 16th & Christian Streets, Phila., Pa.
Contact: Damon K. Roberts, Esq. – 267-972-2451

Recently, after the firing of four Philadelphia police officers accused of brutality, Philadelphia Mayor, Michael Nutter proclaimed: "I think this represents a new day in the Philadelphia Police Department and how we deal with these kinds of situations." - Philadelphia Daily News May 20, 2008.

CONCERNED BLACK LAWYERS will host a panel discussion to address:

Is it a new day in Philadelphia police brutality or is it more of the same ol' same ol'?"

INVITED PANELISTS INCLUDE:

Philadelphia Police Chief CHARLES RAMSEY
Civil Rights Attorney ISAAC H. GREEN
Civil Rights Attorney ADRIAN MOODY
Criminal Attorney KEVIN MINCEY – Mincey, Battle & McGahee, LLP
Former Chief Deputy City Sol., Civil Rights Division CARLTON JOHNSON
JERRY MONDESIRE – President, Philadelphia Chapter of NAACP
KENYATTA JOHNSON – Democratic Nominee for State Representative for the
186th District
REVERAND TERRENCE GRIFFITH – First African Baptist Church
MICHAEL COARD, ESQUIRE – The Law Offices of Michael Coard
WILLIAM JOHNSON- Ex. Dir. Police Advisory Commission
Former candidate for Philadelphia District Attorney, SETH WILLIAMS,

ADMISSION IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC

Contact for more information
Demetrius J. Parrish, Jr., Esq.
www.djpesq.com
1616 Walnut Street, Ste. 700
Philadelphia, Pa. 19103
(215) 735-3377
(215) 827-5420 (fax)

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT PUSHES AHEAD WITH RACIST POLICY AS ABORIGINAL PEOPLE SUFFER

Passed in 2007, what is called in Australia the "intervention" was imposed on 72 largely indigenous communities in the NW Territory, regardless of their different needs and requirements. Its elements include removal of land permit systems, alcohol bans,increased policing, and welfare quarantining (the withholding of half the benefits of every resident and forcing them to obtain an identity card to purchase food and other essential items from nominated retail outlets).

The intervention is causing a new wave of dispossession and, as argued by Mutitjulu elder Vince Forrester, “a return to Apartheid”.

The Aboriginal Rights Coalition puts it like this:

"Welfare quarantines, the destruction of Community Employment Development Projects (CDEP) and the compulsory acquisition of Aboriginal lands, businesses and services has forced thousands of people from their communities into urban centres. There they are met with racism and police repression - 190 people were taken into custody in Alice Springs on 4-5 April in an operation targeting 'anti-social behaviour'."

The ideas of paternalism, assimilation and the free-market driving the intervention, and pushed so hard by the Howard government, are impacting on Aboriginal policy across the country. From the Queensland government’s decision to continue holding stolen wages “in trust”, the “mainstreaming” of Indigenous services which continues, through to the burgeoning national roll out of punitive welfare policies, a policy consensus has emerged in government and media against self-determination."

But the federal government seems blind to what is happening and continues on with this disastrous policy.

Speaking at a demonstration (see picture) against the policy in February Walter Shaw from Tangentyere Council was cheered when he said:

“This intervention is racially vilifying and demonising our communities—that women neglect their children; that men abuse their children and that Aboriginal men and women are chronic alcoholics.

We want to move forward but this intervention feels like the last nail in the coffin for our people. We want to maintain our cultural existence and existences as Aboriginal people but we want to move forward so we can live side by side with all Australians... This intervention was supposed to be an idealistic vision from [former Howard minister] Mal Brough. He is no longer in his seat in parliament. This intervention should have been thrown out, along with him.”

Supposedly created to aid children, the policy is going in quite the opposite direction. Children are not aided when money that could be used for their health care is spent on buying new Toyotas for administrators from "down south", who do not have the appropriate experience or cultural knowledge to successfully implement programs. Children are not aided when their parents lose their jobs, as they have through the disbanding of the Community Development Employment Projects Scheme. The Age newspaper wrote, "While income may be the same, a move from CDEP to the dole takes away the dignity that comes with being employed, and causes frustration and unhappiness within the family."

Similarly, children are damaged by the income "quarantining" provisions through which a significant proportion of the family income is held back so that it can be used only to buy food in specific places, such as community stores (where the prices are up to two or three times those in town), or at Woolworths, ...if you happen to have a car and fuel to drive several hundred kilometres."

The group Women for Wik (an independent aboriginal group monitoring the interventions) says the policy is and will undermine key aspects of Aboriginal societies - country, kin and culture. Moreover, by using a top-down approach, it works against self-government and, in some instances, contravenes human rights. "This will not improve the lives of Aboriginal children," says the group.

Web Diary reports that Professor Mick Dodson, a member of the Yawuru peoples, and Director of the Australian National University's National Centre for Indigenous Studies speaking in Canberra last night said that just about every page of the 500 pages of legislation authorising the intervention breaks Australia's obligations under international human rights treaties it has signed, particularly the Convention outlawing racial discrimination.

Dodson said he was concerned about the recklessness with which politicians are now prepared to break the scared principle that one does not by law discriminate against people on the basis of their race, and the media's casual acceptance of this trend.

"This is not an intervention, it's an invasion of people's rights and liberties. The only positive is that it is a recognition of government failure."

Dodson says because of media laziness, most Australians didn't know what 'the intervention" was really all about. They didn't know that:

* There is no mention of the word 'child' or 'children' in the legislation, which violates the UN Convention of the rights of the child.

* The intervention would not create one new women's refuge or safe house in the 73 Northern Territory (NT) communities subject to it, despite the fact that only 5% of the communities already had either.

* The intervention would not fund one new child protection worker, or any extra child protection services.

* Instead it would create 725 new jobs in the public service, 300 of which are in the government agency Centrelink which administers the withholding of ALL Aboriginal people's welfare income, regardless of whether they were good parents or bad, on the sole basis of where they lived. There is no right of appeal, for anyone.

* The intervention would not fund any services for the victims of abuse, or for the perpetrators.

* Assets can be seized from Aboriginal bodies if even $1 worth of Commonwealth funding was in their mix - without any compensation.

* The intervention threw 8,000 Aboriginal people who worked through CDEP (The Community Development Employment Scheme) out of their jobs in exchange for only 1500-2000 replacement jobs.

Dodson added, "This is racist action not for the purpose of helping children, but to wedge political opponents. What troubles me most is the racial discrimination and the incapacity of the media to be outraged by this. Why are we ready to allow this to happen?"

"Australians think it's about protecting kids. The lazy media let that happen. And if you put your head up you get called a child abuser yourself. You get abused for saying, 'Hang on a minute, can we talk about this?'"

The following is from Green Left Weekly (Australia).

The new apartheid for Indigenous Australians
Tony Iltis

Since beginning its first parliamentary term with the symbolic apology to the Stolen Generations, the Rudd Labor government has promised a shift away from the hostility towards Indigenous Australians shown by the previous Howard government.

In particular it has pledged to prioritise closing the gap in living standards between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia, exemplified by the 17-year difference in life expectancy. Rudd and Indigenous affairs minister Jenny Macklin have touted the announcement in the May 13 budget of $1.2 billion to be spent over five years on Aboriginal affairs as a move to fulfill this promise.

However, not only have Indigenous organisations and service providers pointed out that this figure is insufficient, but almost a third is budgeted to continuing the federal intervention in the Northern Territory, initiated under Howard, whose draconian measures have actually increased Indigenous disadvantage. Furthermore, the government is expanding the scope of one of the more destructive aspects of the intervention: “income management” — a euphemism for replacing a proportion of people’s welfare payments with ration cards.

Pat Eatock, an Indigenous elder and activist in the Aboriginal Rights Coalition (ARC) in Sydney, told Green Left Weekly that the system was being extended both beyond the NT and to non-Indigenous parents on welfare, with welfare organisations having the power to recommend people be subject to it without any right of appeal. The East Kimberley and the Perth suburb of Cannington will be the trial location for the expansion.

Eatock recently visited the NT, meeting with Indigenous communities and organisations, health and legal service providers and the NT branch of ARC to investigate the effects of the intervention. She explained what “income management” means in practice.

“The ‘income management’ is the provision of three cards which allow one to shop in Woolworths, K-Mart or Coles. Initially people would travel up to 300km to collect their cards then return straight home to their communities and take the cards to the community store only to be told that they couldn’t use them — they could only be used at the three designated [shops].”

These cards will be replaced by electronic debit cards, also only usable at selected shops, under the foreshadowed expansion of the system.

The negative impact is not only on individuals but on the economic and social fabric of remote Aboriginal communities.

“The community stores, which, while in the past were often not very well developed in terms of providing a diversity of food products, nonetheless did serve a key service in the community. While they could have been improved, [there are] better methods than taking their customers away. Now they are going bankrupt.

“Before the intervention, the community stores, as a community service owned by the community, were non-profit organisations whose profits were the main way funerals were funded. So now, all over the NT, you’ve got bodies stacking up … There’s an average of about a death a week in any of the larger communities. And the bodies are stacking up because nobody can afford the cash donations. The extended families can’t,” she said.

“The other main effect of the card system is that people are going into town. Now if you’re getting more than 50% of peoples’ Centrelink entitlements being redirected through Centrelink, then the remaining 50% is needed for rent (which is automatically deducted), power and buying other essentials such as medicine. Everyone knows that a pension is not very much and by the time you’ve paid for all of that you’re lucky if you’ve got $10 to your name. When people go into town, travelling long distances, when all their money is used … how are they going to get back?

“There’s a whole demographic shift happening … The communities are diminishing in size, which in turn will allow the government to diminish funding as they become smaller and smaller. At the same time people are paying rent on homes in communities that they are unable to get back to live in. So the end result is that the town camps are growing exponentially.”

This is placing considerable stress on town camps. “The five camps in Alice Springs, the camps in Tennant Creek and Katherine and in Darwin are all having a huge influx of people”, Eatock said. “Bagot, in the centre of Darwin, went from 500 to 1200 people. You have 40 people staying in one three-bedroom house. There’s only nine refrigerators in the whole place.”

This is also increasing social tensions: “The people already living in these town camps are getting very irritated by other people in their space. The other aspect of people coming into town is that not everyone can get into the town camps. Many people are staying on the fringes of town, without any accommodation at all. Nowadays there are long-grass people, who are in fact homeless, despite paying rent on homes back in the communities. Many are self-medicating with alcohol because of trauma. A doctor I spoke to up there spoke of post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Furthermore, while the intervention has been justified by both the Howard and Rudd governments in terms of combating child abuse, money allocated to programs to assist abused children has not been spent. Money earmarked for general health has likewise not been spent.

At the end of the financial year this money “will most likely return to general revenue”, Eatock explained, adding that medical service providers she had spoken to, such as the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT, “had been begging for funds for years”.

She pointed out that no such reticence has been shown in allocating police resources as part of the intervention. “While many communities were seeking additional assistance where there were problems with drinking or domestic violence, they did not ask for the type of intervention that they got, where the police have star chamber powers.”

These “star chamber” powers have encouraged police brutality. “I heard of one story where the police entered a house — they just barged in — and searched the house and found a dozen cans of beer. They emptied them down the sink and then they left. But when they left, the occupant of the house indicated his displeasure and slammed the door behind them. They turned round and kicked the door down”, Eatock explained.

She said that while after the initial period the police appear to have given up on trying to get rid of alcohol from communities, harassment continues. “I did see the police arresting a woman in Darwin. The other people she was with were calling out ‘That’s a pregnant women you’ve got there!’ As they were putting her into the back of the van, a male policeman ran his hands all around the underside of her stomach checking out she had nothing concealed. I saw this and I couldn’t believe my eyes.”

Legal service workers told Eatock that by depriving people of cash, the “income management” had caused some people to engage in crime who had not previously done so. This meant that the Territory’s already high incarceration rate was increasing.

Eatock saw land acquisition as the Howard government’s motivation behind the intervention, with the legislation giving the power to governments to force Aboriginal communities to lease their land to the government for as long as 99 years. She cited the example of the Darwin town camp at One Mile Dam. “It’s only one mile from the centre of Darwin. This is valuable real estate, with skyscrapers going up all around. There is great pressure on the people to move out. In general, Aboriginal land in town camps has increased in value as the towns increase in size and suburbia surrounds camps that were once on the edges of towns.”

Eatock speculated that behind the attacks on remote Aboriginal communities are mining interests. “Eighty per cent of unmined uranium is under Aboriginal land … I suspect that the drift of Aboriginal populations to the towns because of the intervention may have been foreseen but not discussed.”

She said that she was not optimistic about the Rudd government. “Frankly the ALP government will continue to serve the people governments have always served: big money and big business. While there’s still minerals under the ground I’m pessimistic: we still have a right-wing government but a Labor right-wing government.”

She added that while Rudd never used the word “assimilation”, in all his speeches on Indigenous issues he talked about Aboriginal people “performing in mainstream society”, which she saw as code for the same thing: “adopting Western, Anglo-Australian thinking”.

While in Darwin, Eatock and members of the NT ARC met with WA Greens senator Rachel Siewert, to discuss strategies for making submissions to the three inquiries into the intervention that are currently taking place. One is a Senate inquiry, which Siewert is sitting on, the others being an Ombudsman’s inquiry into international human rights law obligations and a government internal inquiry. The NT ARC has been setting up complaints desks outside Centrelink offices in the Territory to get information for the submissions.

Eatock pointed out that by funding the continuation and extension of the intervention, the government was preempting the reviews.

AUSTRIAN SPECIAL POLICE CONDUCT NATIOWIDE RAIDS ON ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

Special masked Austrian police conducted a series of raids across that country early yesterday morning targeting animal rights activists. Raids took place on more than twenty apartments, houses and offices in Vienna, Graz, and Tyrol.

One of the targets was the office of Austria's most successful animal rights group Verein gegen Tierfabriken (VGT).

As many as fourteen persons remained locked up.

The police justified the raids by saying the activists were members of a criminal organization. Specific charges are still unclear.

The blog My Own Private Emocide says it’s rumored that there are 30+ charges being prepared, which are most likely connected to the yearlong protests against the big clothing chain “Kleiderbauer.” There was a single illegal attack on one of their stores It is unknown who is responsible for this attack. Other than that, there have only been legal demonstrations on a weekly basis in front of multiple stores all over Austria. These protests have repeatedly been attacked verbally and physically by Kleiderbauer staff.

Harald Balluch of VGT-Austria speaking out against the raids warned, "Animal welfare will be criminalized...(the) allegations are absolutely plucked from the air. The VGT rejects criminal acts and violence and (has) distanced itself from all (such) offences. "

An ad hoc protest march of several hundred took place yesterday evening which ended at a police station where some of those arrested were held.

A press release printed on Austrian IndyMedia says,

"Solidarity with the wave of arrests ... is needed. No matter whether you are vegan, feminist, antifascist, against monitoring, nuclear power or police brutality -we are all meant (to be intimidated), even though currently only a few have been taken!"

People in prison need our support and solidarity."

The following is taken from Infoshop News.

Dawn raids against anti-fur activists in Austria
Thursday, May 22 2008

Starting at 6:00 a.m. today, houses, flats and storerooms belonging to animal rights activists were raided and the inhabitants arrested all across Austria. In several cases activists were woken by armed police and brutally handcuffed. They could only look on helplessly as their homes and possessions were ransacked by police.

Doors were kicked in by balaclava-wearing armed special units of police (WEG), who treated the activists as if they were dangerous terrorists. 14 people were arrested and are on remand. They've been charged with 31 different offences related to the campaign against the the fur-promoting fashion company Kleider Bauer, but most significantly of forming a criminal organisation under §278a of Austrian law.

Kleider Bauer is renowned for trying to silence its opponents through court order and restricting their rights to demonstrate. For almost 2 years now regular demonstrations have taken place outside various branches of the firm in the main cities in Austria. Of course, those arrested are among some of the most active in the campaign.

Solidarity with those arrested in Austria!

Abolish the fur trade!

TARGET CLUSTER BOMBS

A Greenpeace protest targeting an armament firm took on cluster bombs today. Protesters broke into the company's office in Madrid this morning to bring the message directly to the bosses. The company involved, Expal, is a manufacturer of the hideous bombs. This despite the fact that Spain has signed a treating prohibiting their use.

Expal is said to be the most important private company in Spain and one of the European leaders in the explosive and ammunition industry.

At almost the same time more than 100 campaigners against cluster bombs staged a lie-down protest in the middle of O'Connell Street in Dublin this morning (see picture).

Representatives of more than 100 states are attending a conference in Ireland this week which aims to ban the manufacture and use of cluster munitions. The United States, Russia and Britain - some of the most prolific users of the small munitions – are not attending.

Big surprise.

The United States will not agree to a ban on the use of cluster bombs because the weapons remain tactically useful for fending off advancing armies and for self-defence, a US official said Wednesday. "We think this kind of blanket ban is a mistake," said Stephen Mull, the US State Department's top official for political and military affairs.

Foreign Policy in Focus says according to the most comprehensive research to date, the vast majority of confirmed casualties from this type of weapon have been civilians. In the past 10 years, the United States has used cluster bombs in civilian-populated areas of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo. These weapons also have an established track record of killing and injuring U.S. soldiers. During Operation Desert Storm, U.S. cluster submunitions were responsible for more U.S. troop casualties (80) than any Iraqi weapons system.

“Cluster munitions do not know when the war has ended,” said Mark Engman, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “Children stumble over them long after the conflict has ended or pick them up thinking that they are toys.”

Yet the US thinks, "...this kind of blanket ban is a mistake."

The following is from Think Spain.

Greenpeace activists target cluster bomb factory

Around thirty Greenpeace activists broke into the head offices of the Expal armament company in Madrid this morning to "point the finger" at manufacturers of cluster bombs and demand that their prohibition.

The protesters broke into the reception area of the office building where they displayed cardboard cut-outs of mutilated victims and scattered a large number of artificial limbs around to symbolise all the innocent people around the world who have been either injured, mutilated or killed by this kind of weapon.

Furthermore, the protesters hung a large banner on the outside of the building with a photo of a mutilated child and the message 'Expal make cluster bombs that mutilate'.

They had hoped for a meeting with company directors to express their views and hand over an artificial limb and a video filmed in Cambodia of an 18 year old boy who lost both of his arms to a cluster bomb, asking: "please stop making these bombs."

Greenpeace also plan to deliver protheses and copies of the video to the Defence and Foreign Affairs ministries.