When Bush visits Australia later this year thousands are expected to hit the streets in opposition to the man perhaps most well known for his numerous war crimes and suspect election “victories”.
For Bush, popular resentment has grown, with the president’s approval rating in the United States and around the globe dropping to record lows.
When Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spoke out at the United Nations General Assembly against the crimes of the United States administration he was representing a growing view that Bush’s decisions have proved disastrous to many not just in his own country but many around the globe.
In his own country, Chavez has aided a move towards a new system based on popular power and building what he calls “socialism for the 21st century”. The Bolivarian revolution, inspired by Simon Bolivar, a 19TH century South American liberation fighter, is about handing back to the people what is rightfully theirs.
A key piece of building the revolution has been the introduction of various missions, established to help the countries most needy, that had been left behind under previous regimes, with free healthcare and education as well as numerous other projects to help increase access to the basics as well as letting the masses take back greater collective democratic control not only through voting, but also taking real, meaningful control of their communities and companies.
Bush, on the other hand, has shown through his continued wars on Afghanistan and Iraq that he cares little. Many Americans are forced to go with out basics like decent education and health care. In a country held up as an ideal, few Americans see even basic dignity in the world’s largest economy.
The new vision for Venezuela has divided the country with a small minority actively aiming to oust the president despite him being democratically elected multiple times. The minority would like to see a return to the democracy they once saw as their own. A kind of democracy based on the minority rich, aristocratic classes exerting their domination over the country.
Private television stations owned by the richest section of Venezuelan society have actively supported the idea of ousting Chavez by any means necessary as was seen through their open support of the failed coup of 2002.
The United States denied any involvement in the coup. However, Ari Fletcher, a white house spokesperson, during the coup publicly announced his willingness to work with the newly imposed dictatorship.
When people who believe in social justice are asked “but what is the alternative?” it is important that they can not only show what is wrong with the world, but also know what these alternatives to the present system are. In Venezuela people should see hope.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Canadian Students Fight Tuition Fee Hikes
Thousands of Canadian students and their supporters are expected to protest Tuition fee hikes at a National Day of Action on February 7.
Tuition fees have been a growing concern for Canadian students with more and more students unable to complete post secondary education because of the spiraling costs. Students who are able to get loans are now paying back unprecedented amounts for their education.
The Canadian Federation of Students, as the peak body of students in Universities and Colleges in Canada, has lead a campaign to get the provincial governments to protect the right to education by freezing and reducing the fees. The fragmented nature of post secondary education being split between the provinces has made national campaigning hard for the CFS. The campaign has been most effective in Quebec where tuition fees have been frozen for the last decade and students are actively campaigning to remove all fees.
In Ontario, the largest province by population, the Liberal government has largely passed on these costs to students. Public money now makes up only 57% of tuition costs, down from 82% two decades ago. Significantly, seven of the ten most expensive programs are in Ontario Universities. University of Toronto Law students are paying $17,000 this year while a similar law program at Magill University in Montreal, Quebec cost under $4,000 this year. The “Reaching Higher” introduced by the Ontario Liberals has seen most undergraduate degrees raise their fees by 20% over four years with professional, graduate and post diploma fees up by nearly double that.
The fee rises have in some cases grown significantly since the mid nineties when federal post secondary transfer payments were cut leading to some provinces passing on these costs to students.
The costs have proved to have a toll on access with Statistics Canada for the first time in 1999 seeing a decline in the amount of students with a household income under $60,000 attended post secondary education, since they started recording it in 1965.
To fight the fees university and college campuses collectives have been set up to bring together the widest range of people in order to plan how they can fight back against the law and build the upcoming National day of Action as big as possible.
Groups on campus have been encouraged to organize their own unique events around the issue as well as work on campus wide campaigning to build up momentum towards February 7. Cross town meetings and communication, has been used to exchange ideas between campuses and organize joint actions.
With Tuition fees being an issue that affects all students indiscriminately the campaign has seen new layers of people becoming interested in their student union and its campaigns.
Tuition fees removal is an issue that is not likely to go away for students as long as they continue to exist. In a time when Student Unions strength has been waning in part due to attacks from governments willing to give up the right to an independent voice for students, it is important students are able to stand up and fight back. Through broad, inclusive and committed campaigns on issues like tuition fee removal, the active student movement can grow to once again become an independent, political force able to act as a real catalyst for change.
Tuition fees have been a growing concern for Canadian students with more and more students unable to complete post secondary education because of the spiraling costs. Students who are able to get loans are now paying back unprecedented amounts for their education.
The Canadian Federation of Students, as the peak body of students in Universities and Colleges in Canada, has lead a campaign to get the provincial governments to protect the right to education by freezing and reducing the fees. The fragmented nature of post secondary education being split between the provinces has made national campaigning hard for the CFS. The campaign has been most effective in Quebec where tuition fees have been frozen for the last decade and students are actively campaigning to remove all fees.
In Ontario, the largest province by population, the Liberal government has largely passed on these costs to students. Public money now makes up only 57% of tuition costs, down from 82% two decades ago. Significantly, seven of the ten most expensive programs are in Ontario Universities. University of Toronto Law students are paying $17,000 this year while a similar law program at Magill University in Montreal, Quebec cost under $4,000 this year. The “Reaching Higher” introduced by the Ontario Liberals has seen most undergraduate degrees raise their fees by 20% over four years with professional, graduate and post diploma fees up by nearly double that.
The fee rises have in some cases grown significantly since the mid nineties when federal post secondary transfer payments were cut leading to some provinces passing on these costs to students.
The costs have proved to have a toll on access with Statistics Canada for the first time in 1999 seeing a decline in the amount of students with a household income under $60,000 attended post secondary education, since they started recording it in 1965.
To fight the fees university and college campuses collectives have been set up to bring together the widest range of people in order to plan how they can fight back against the law and build the upcoming National day of Action as big as possible.
Groups on campus have been encouraged to organize their own unique events around the issue as well as work on campus wide campaigning to build up momentum towards February 7. Cross town meetings and communication, has been used to exchange ideas between campuses and organize joint actions.
With Tuition fees being an issue that affects all students indiscriminately the campaign has seen new layers of people becoming interested in their student union and its campaigns.
Tuition fees removal is an issue that is not likely to go away for students as long as they continue to exist. In a time when Student Unions strength has been waning in part due to attacks from governments willing to give up the right to an independent voice for students, it is important students are able to stand up and fight back. Through broad, inclusive and committed campaigns on issues like tuition fee removal, the active student movement can grow to once again become an independent, political force able to act as a real catalyst for change.
FOX NEWS PRODUCERS QUIT OVER COVERAGE
Two freelance Producers have resigned from Fox News in a protest against the networks coverage.
Serene Sabbagh and Jomana Karadshesh, based in Amman, Jordan have, in a resignation letter dated July 31, slammed the Fox News Network’s biased coverage of the conflict in Lebanon.
In the joint resignation letter which was posted to news organisations all over the world, Sabbagh and Karadshesh explain “that they no longer work with a news organization that claims to be fair and balanced when you (sic) are so far from that”.
The letter also goes onto describe the network as “an instrument of the Bush White House and Israeli propaganda” as well as describing the FOX News as “war mongers with no sense of decency or professionalism”
Sabbagh told Democracy Now on the 16 August that “after three years and watching their coverage I thought I could change things here”. They said they hoped that the network “would develop a degree of respect to people in this part of the world."
Sabbagh described the coverage of Lebanon as featuring bias, slant, racist remarks, as well as including the word “we” when talking about Israel.
But admits the breaking point came with network anchors saying Hezbollah were using civilian children as human shields.
“One of the anchors went as far as saying they were planted there by Hezbollah to win support in this war. And it was unbelievable. For me, that was the breaking point, and this is when I decided, me and my colleague Jomana, to hand in our resignation,” Sabbagh said.
Serene Sabbagh is a freelance producer who has worked with CNN, ABC News, Al Jazeera as well as Fox News. Jomana Karadshesh is also a freelance producer who has worked as the Jordanian based producer as well as being the producer for Saddam Hussein’s trial coverage on FOX. Karadshesh has also worked for CNN inside Iraq.
Serene Sabbagh and Jomana Karadshesh, based in Amman, Jordan have, in a resignation letter dated July 31, slammed the Fox News Network’s biased coverage of the conflict in Lebanon.
In the joint resignation letter which was posted to news organisations all over the world, Sabbagh and Karadshesh explain “that they no longer work with a news organization that claims to be fair and balanced when you (sic) are so far from that”.
The letter also goes onto describe the network as “an instrument of the Bush White House and Israeli propaganda” as well as describing the FOX News as “war mongers with no sense of decency or professionalism”
Sabbagh told Democracy Now on the 16 August that “after three years and watching their coverage I thought I could change things here”. They said they hoped that the network “would develop a degree of respect to people in this part of the world."
Sabbagh described the coverage of Lebanon as featuring bias, slant, racist remarks, as well as including the word “we” when talking about Israel.
But admits the breaking point came with network anchors saying Hezbollah were using civilian children as human shields.
“One of the anchors went as far as saying they were planted there by Hezbollah to win support in this war. And it was unbelievable. For me, that was the breaking point, and this is when I decided, me and my colleague Jomana, to hand in our resignation,” Sabbagh said.
Serene Sabbagh is a freelance producer who has worked with CNN, ABC News, Al Jazeera as well as Fox News. Jomana Karadshesh is also a freelance producer who has worked as the Jordanian based producer as well as being the producer for Saddam Hussein’s trial coverage on FOX. Karadshesh has also worked for CNN inside Iraq.
U.S. Plots Cuba Invasion Plan
An $80 million fund has been approved by George W. Bush to help the United States ease into Cuba once Fidel Castro Dies.
In the second report from the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba (CAFC), released on July 5, the U.S. has planned stepped up attacks on the island states sovereignty. The reports compact with the Cuban people openly states that the United States will help, if asked, to create a transitional government that supports “genuine” democracy, human rights and an open market system as a way of integrating the country into the inter-American system.
The report also describes the first 180 days (after Castro dies) as vital saying they could mean the "difference between a successful transition period and the stumbles and missteps that have slowed other states in their transitions toward democracy".
George Bush has said the report shows “the U.S. is working for change in Cuba, not simply waiting for change”.
The CAFC describes the report not as an imposition but a promise to the Cuban people that the United States will be there to grow support around the world and help out when the time arises.
The $80 million dollar fund is to be used as a part of a two year program to break what the U.S. describes as the “information blockade” as well as preparations for the post- Castro transfer of power.
In a television interview Cuban National Assembly Ricardo Alarcon called the report a true threat of aggression believing Cubans have the right to be worried about the contents of the classified parts of the report.
Bruno Rodriguez, another Cuban government minister, also told the BBC on 6 July, that the plans put in place could not be achieved without an invasion.
Even a Cuban based government dissident has criticised the report with Ex-Government Economist/Journalist Oscar Espinosa Chepe, who broadcasts his anti government analysis on the U.S. backed Radio Marti, saying in a 11 July BBC report, that the reports approved recommendations are counterproductive.
In the second report from the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba (CAFC), released on July 5, the U.S. has planned stepped up attacks on the island states sovereignty. The reports compact with the Cuban people openly states that the United States will help, if asked, to create a transitional government that supports “genuine” democracy, human rights and an open market system as a way of integrating the country into the inter-American system.
The report also describes the first 180 days (after Castro dies) as vital saying they could mean the "difference between a successful transition period and the stumbles and missteps that have slowed other states in their transitions toward democracy".
George Bush has said the report shows “the U.S. is working for change in Cuba, not simply waiting for change”.
The CAFC describes the report not as an imposition but a promise to the Cuban people that the United States will be there to grow support around the world and help out when the time arises.
The $80 million dollar fund is to be used as a part of a two year program to break what the U.S. describes as the “information blockade” as well as preparations for the post- Castro transfer of power.
In a television interview Cuban National Assembly Ricardo Alarcon called the report a true threat of aggression believing Cubans have the right to be worried about the contents of the classified parts of the report.
Bruno Rodriguez, another Cuban government minister, also told the BBC on 6 July, that the plans put in place could not be achieved without an invasion.
Even a Cuban based government dissident has criticised the report with Ex-Government Economist/Journalist Oscar Espinosa Chepe, who broadcasts his anti government analysis on the U.S. backed Radio Marti, saying in a 11 July BBC report, that the reports approved recommendations are counterproductive.
GM Cotton Proves a Disaster for Farmers
GM Cotton crops have proved a costly, labour intensive and environmentally destructive alternative, a U.S. Study has found.
The pesticide savings, claimed by GM advocates as the advantage of the crop, have eroded over time, the Ithaca, New York based Cornell University researchers have reported.
Bt Cotton contains the Bacillus thuringiensis gene, inserted into the seeds to produce toxins to protect the plant. These toxins, however, have only proved lethal to leaf eating bollworms.
Seven years into the study, involving 481 Chinese farmers from five of the countries cotton growing provinces, populations of other insects, particularly mirids, have taken hold. Farmers have had to spray up to 20 times in growing season to control them, a similar amount of pesticide to that used on conventional crops.
The study found that by year three of the study pesticide use was cut by 70 percent. But by 2004 the spraying schedule equaled that of conventional crop farmers and proved uneconomic with the GM crop costing three times the cost of the conventional crop.
Bt Cotton was first introduced in 1996 by the Monsanto corporation, infamous for their role in producing Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War and the controversial Bovine growth hormone. Bt cotton today counts for 35 percent of worldwide cotton production with five million farmers of the crop in China alone. It also is widely produced in Mexico and South Africa as well as the United States, Argentina and India.
The pesticide savings, claimed by GM advocates as the advantage of the crop, have eroded over time, the Ithaca, New York based Cornell University researchers have reported.
Bt Cotton contains the Bacillus thuringiensis gene, inserted into the seeds to produce toxins to protect the plant. These toxins, however, have only proved lethal to leaf eating bollworms.
Seven years into the study, involving 481 Chinese farmers from five of the countries cotton growing provinces, populations of other insects, particularly mirids, have taken hold. Farmers have had to spray up to 20 times in growing season to control them, a similar amount of pesticide to that used on conventional crops.
The study found that by year three of the study pesticide use was cut by 70 percent. But by 2004 the spraying schedule equaled that of conventional crop farmers and proved uneconomic with the GM crop costing three times the cost of the conventional crop.
Bt Cotton was first introduced in 1996 by the Monsanto corporation, infamous for their role in producing Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War and the controversial Bovine growth hormone. Bt cotton today counts for 35 percent of worldwide cotton production with five million farmers of the crop in China alone. It also is widely produced in Mexico and South Africa as well as the United States, Argentina and India.
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