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  • Essential Background to 911 – Operation Gladio B and Sibel Edmonds

     

     

    Democracy and Class Struggle says an understanding of Gladio B is essential to understand the background to the 911 events.

    Operation Gladio B was an FBI codename adopted in 1997 for relations between US intelligence, the Pentagon, and Al Qaeda.

    The name refers to the original Operation Gladio, in which US intelligence had relations with anti-communist groups in Europe.

  • Grand Rapids stands against U.S. war on Syria

    Grand Rapids, MI – 40 people protested against a U.S. war on Syria at the War Memorial in downtown Grand Rapids on Sept. 7. Some brought flowers for the victims of U.S. wars to the noon time protest, while others brought anti-war signs and messages. After folk singer Carol Johnson opened the rally with her rousing voice, organizer Joe Fletcher welcomed the protesters.

    One speaker explained why the White House wants to go to war in Syria despite the lack of evidence and facts, “because the U.S. wants to dominate the Middle East and control the oil in the region after being forced out of Iraq.” Another speaker led the singing of John Lennon’s song “Imagine”, while a third read a letter from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro opposing the U.S. war on Syria. There were announcements about the Midwest Action Against Drones in Chicago on Sept. 28 and 29 and Peace Days in Grand Rapids leading up to Sept. 21. The final speakers led chants and pumped people to march around the downtown area and a street festival. Grand Rapidians either applauded and gave the fist pump in the air, or stood amazed as the protesters ranging in age from 18 to 81 passed by chanting, “Hands off Syria, no new wars!” and “We demand peace, U.S. out of the Middle East!”

    Local radio personality Jeremiah Bannister emceed and spoke about the widespread opposition to President Obama’s plans for war saying, “Some of my progressive friends have amnesia, but I am trying hard to help them remember when they opposed a major war in the Middle East just a few years ago, and the reasons why. With many being the same today.” Bannister also spoke about the anti-war sentiment that spans society in the wake of the U.S. destruction in Iraq and the ongoing U.S. occupation of Afghanistan, saying “Take care with speaking to your conservative friends, family and acquaintances about their sudden embrace of anti-war values. Be very gracious and constructive with them.”

    Chaka Holley, a Black community activist, spoke about the strong and consistent opposition to U.S. war in the African-American community. She explained, “When I come to anti-war rallies, rallies against big business, banks, animal abuse and the like, I rarely see more than a handful of Blacks or Latinos. I do not believe that this is due to a lack of concern but more so due to a lack of opportunity.” Holley then detailed many of the recent police and vigilante murders of African-American people, including Trayvon Martin. After an emotional moment, Holley asked of anti-war activists, “Not only do we need you to oppose war but we need you to fight for good public education, access to fair housing, good immigration laws, ending the mass incarceration of African Americans, fight for laws that protect our children when they are driving while Black in America, laws that protect our children from being shot down on their way from the candy store, school or bombed while sitting in church or on their living room floors.” After Holley finished with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr., the applause was loud and prolonged.

    The anti-war movement in Grand Rapids is grappling with the political contradictions faced on a national level. U.S. Representative Justin Amash, a Republican and Arab-American, is a strong and outspoken ‘no’ vote against U.S. war in Syria, while liberal Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both Democrats, support another U.S. war in the Middle East. The Left Forum of Grand Rapids launched a campaign this week “Michiganders against U.S. war on Syria” targeting the supposedly ‘progressive’ Senators Stabenow and Levin with phone calls and emails demanding they vote no on any new wars.

    Mike Kowalski of the Left Forum of Grand Rapids summed it up, “Our rally was pulled together quickly, but still the biggest anti-war protest in Grand Rapids for a few years now. We are targeting these treacherous Senators from Michigan with a phone call blitz to ‘Vote no’ and students are starting anti-war outreach on the campuses in town. Like people in the rest of Michigan, and the world, we want to stop this war before it starts!”

  • "Cherry picked intelligence" Some in US Intel. Community Reject Obama Admin Case for Syria Attack

    Gareth Porter: US Intelligence on Syria “cherry-picked” by proponents of proposed strike

    /CORRECTED REPEAT/Obama’s Case for Syria Didn’t Reflect Intel Consensus


                                                                                                                                 
    WASHINGTON, Sep 9 2013 (IPS) – Contrary to the general impression in

  • Tampa student organizers win fight to keep library open

    Tampa, FL – Students at the University of South Florida (USF) won a campaign to keep their library open 24 hours per day. Returning USF students were surprised in August to find the library would be closed at midnight and re-opening at 7:00 a.m. everyday. This comes after years of open hours on the campus. The students defeated the cutbacks imposed by the University administration by organizing and taking action. The victory was announced Sept. 5.

    At midnight on Friday, Aug. 30, as the library began to close for the night, about 90 USF students, including Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), began setting up camp for a sit-out protest. Some students studied for their classes, while others struck up conversations about how the students could take further actions to make positive changes on campus and in society. Melissa Garzon, a lead organizer of the sit-out, said, “I did not expect the large turnout. The restoration of library hours is a testament to the power that students can have.”

    Jared Hoey of Tampa Bay SDS said, “The administration’s attempt at shortening the library’s hours is an attack on students and learning. Many students have to work at jobs, in addition to taking classes, due to surging tuition costs. Late nights and early mornings are the only time some students are free to go to the library, and this attempt at shortening hours is a direct affront. It shows the administration’s lack of concern for students. The administration claims budget shortfalls.”

    On Sept. 5, William Warmke, student government president, announced the administration’s reversal of the cutbacks. Students won a solid victory with the library once again open 24 hours a day during the week.

  • Charlie Rose Interviews Syria’s Bashar Al-Assad In Damascus 9/9/2013

    Concerning the satellite evidence mentioned in video visit:

    http://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/syrian-activist-satellite-imagery.html

    See Also : http://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/syria-us-intel-no-smoking-gun-no-direct.html

    http://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/mounting-evidence-raises-questions.html

    http://

  • London: Steve Hedley RMT Union EDL Not Welcome in Tower Hamlets 07 09 13

    Red Salute for Steve Hedley for attacking the Labour Party for its policies that contribute to austerity and a climate for racists, it has to be said.

    Democracy and Class Struggle said in June at time of People’s Assembly:

    Democracy and Class
    Struggle says : Yes there is a need for the mass line on
    austerity, but it also must combat
    reformism and revisionism.

    The
    re-elect Labour on a 

  • London: Max Levitas Battle of Cable Street Veteran EDL Not Welcome in Tower Hamlets 07 09 13: Red Salute from Democracy and Class Struggle

    Democracy and Class Struggle offers a red salute for Max Levitas a veteran of anti racist and and anti fascist struggle in the East End of London – we remember Phil Piratin, we remember Jack Dash we remember the east End of London has a base area for the old Communist Movement – build a new Communist Movement in the East End of London based on the vibrant New Communist ideas of Marxism

  • India should ratify a domestic workers’ treaty

    MUMBAI: A global treaty for the protection of domestic workers came into effect on September 5, offering solace to a category of workers who have till now remained invisible under labour laws in most countries. The Domestic Workers Convention 2011 adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) sets minimum standards for domestic workers who undertake a slew of activities including cooking, cleaning, ironing clothes, caring for children, elderly or sick members in private households.
    It effectively entitles domestic workers to certain basic rights such as a weekly-off for at least 24 hours, a minimum wage on par with a country’s laws as well as a minimum age bar before entry into the profession.
    India has in recent times taken baby steps in acknowledging domestic help as ‘workers’, but is yet to ratify the treaty or adopt holistic protection to this workforce. In 2012, India extended the benefits of a government health insurance scheme to domestic workers, even as a bill pending in the Rajya Sabha seeks to protect them against sexual harassment.
    “Domestic workers are among the most abused and exploited workers in the world,” said Gauri van Gulik, women’s rights advocate at Human Rights Watch in a press note, adding that the coming into effect of the Domestic Workers Convention offers millions of women and girls a chance for safer working conditions and better lives.
    The ILO estimates that there are currently there are at least 53 million domestic workers worldwide, not including child domestic workers, but only eight countries have ratified the convention till date. As the world’s largest democracy, India should lead the way in paving the way for change.
    Source: Times of India

  • Parliament passes bill to prohibit employment of manual scavengers

    A bill seeking to prohibit employment of individuals as manual scavengers by prescribing stringent punishment, including imprisonment up to five years, to those employing such labour was passed by Parliament on Saturday.

    The bill has provisions for providing for rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their family members as well.


    It has a wider scope for higher penalties than the 1993 Act. Offences under the Bill shall be cognisable and non-bailable and may be tried summarily. The penalty could be up to five years imprisonment.


    The bill, which had got a strong push from Congress President Sonia Gandhi and seeks to wipe out this “social stigma” by arranging for alternative jobs and providing other provisions to those in such work and their families got the unanimous approval of Rajya Sabha today.


    Lok Sabha had passed the bill on Friday.


    Moving the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill, 2013 in the Rajya Sabha, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Kumari Selja said the new bill had to be brought in as the earlier Act did not prove very effective.


    Under the new law, each occupier of insanitary latrines shall be responsible for converting or demolishing the latrine at his own cost. If he fails to do so, the local authority shall convert the latrine and recover the cost from him.


    Each local authority, cantonment board and railway authority is responsible for surveying insanitary latrines within its jurisdiction. They shall also construct a number of sanitary community latrines.


    “Such latrines, where manual scavenging happens, will have to be demolished, otherwise somebody will be engaged to do it,” Selja said, adding government will chip in with financial help.


    Members from Left parties including D Raja (CPI) moved a number of amendments to the bill, which were negated and the bill was passed unanimously.


    The minister said the Bill aims to provide for prohibition of employment as manual scavengers, rehabilitation of those involved in this work and their families.


    “The bill has penal provisions for those, who engage the manual scavengers,” she said, adding elimination of dry latrines and insanitary latrines are on high priority for the government.


    Despite prohibition of manual scavenging, the practice is still prevalent. These evils are inconsistent with the right to live with dignity, she said.


    “This dehumanising practice is inconsistent with the right to live with dignity,” Selja said, adding a need was felt for a stringent law.


    “We want to remove the stigma and blot on the society,” she said, calling for a “change of mindset” to end the menace.


    Selja also expressed the hope that a strong law would also help erase the practice from the society.


    Referring to the continuance of this practice, she said all states were in “denial mode” and had earlier stated that this practice did not exist in their areas.


    “When we are not ready even to accept that this practice exists, how can we remove this,” Selja posed.


    When Selja credited the Congress President for the passage of the bill, a BJP member remarked that they fail to understand that when Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister of the country, how everything is being done by Sonia Gandhi.


    D Raja (CPI) moved a large number of amendments prompting Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to comment, “Raja is not at all kind even to me. Raja is moving every amendment.”


    Kurien’s comments came as the amendments moved by Raja took a lot of time when House was preparing to wind up.


    Participating in the discussion, Thaawar Chand Gehlot (BJP) asked the government to provide health insurance to manual scavengers and ensure alternative jobs.


    T N Seema (CPI-M) said 53 per cent of the country’s population does not have toilets and this bill does not give financial support to states to implement the provisions of the bill.


    Vasanthi Stanley (DMK) recalled the incidents like Delhi rape case to highlight the “untold miseries” of women and said that by engaging women in manual scavenging, we are “violating their self respect”.


    Expressing disgust over the practice, Raja said “we should render a national apology” for allowing this practice to continue. He demanded that the government should earmark a financial provision of Rs.1 lakh for each scavenger andRs.5 lakh for his family’s rehabilitation.


    “Prime Minister should announce a special package to end the practice,” he said.


    Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP) demanded proper training for manual scavengers for alternative work and said the sanitation staff working in Parliament, who are part-time workers, should be made permanent.


    Janaradan Waghmare (NCP) described manual scavenging as a “blot on society”.


    Ravishankar Prasad (BJP) said government should consider pension for old manual scavengers and demanded steps to end the practice of open defecation in states like Bihar and UP.


    D Bandopadhyaye (TMC), D P Singh Baghel (BSP), Shashi Bhushan Behera (BJD) also spoke.
    Source: India Today

  • Communist and workers’ parties oppose imperialists’ war on Syria

    Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from communist and workers parties opposing the planned war on Syria. Freedom Road Socialist Organization in among the signers.

    Statement of 76 Communist and Workers’ Parties against the Imperialist Military Attack against Syria

    We, the communist and workers’ parties, express our solidarity with the Syrian people and denounce the military attack against Syria which is being prepared by the imperialists of the USA, NATO and the EU together with their allies in order to promote their interests in the region.

    We reject the pretexts of the imperialists which, as was demonstrated, were also used in the war against Iraq and in the other imperialist wars against Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Libya.

    We call on the working class, the peoples all over the world to oppose and condemn the new imperialist war, to demand that the governments of their countries have no involvement in and do not support the criminal military offensive.

    Communist Party of Albania
    Algerian Party For Democracy And Socialism
    Communist Party of Australia
    Communist Party of Azerbaidjan
    Democratic, Progressive Tribune, Bahrain
    Communist Party of Bangladesh
    Communist Party Of Belarus
    Communist Party of Workers of Belarus
    Workers’ Party of Belgium
    Communist Party of Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels)
    Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
    Communist Party of Brazil
    Brazilian Communist Party
    Communist Party of Britain
    New Communist Party of Britain
    Communist Party of Canada
    Communist Party of Chile
    Communist Party of Cuba
    The Progressive Party of the Working People – AKEL, Cyprus
    Communist Party of Denmark
    Communist Party in Denmark
    Danish Communist Party
    Communist Party of Finland
    Communist Workers’ Party of Finland
    Pole of Communist Revival, France
    URCF (France)
    Galician People’s Union, Spain
    Unified Communist Party of Georgia
    German Communist Party (DKP)
    Communist Party of Greece
    Hungarian Workers’ Party
    Tudeh Party of Iran
    Communist Party of Ireland
    The Workers Party of Ireland
    Communist Party of Israel
    Party of the Italian Communists
    Communists People’s Left-Communist Party, Italy
    Activist Group Shiso-Undo, Japan
    Jordanian Communist Party
    Socialist Party of Latvia
    Socialist People’s Front of Lithuania
    Communist Party of Luxembourg
    Communist Party of Malta
    Communist Party of Mexico
    Partido Socialista APN, Mexico
    People’s Resistance, Moldova
    New Communist Party of the Netherlands
    Communist Party of Norway
    Communist Party of Pakistan
    Palestinian Communist Party
    Palestinian People’s Party
    Philippine Communist Party [PKP-1930]
    Communist Party of Poland
    Portuguese Communist Party
    Communist Party of the Russian Federation
    Communist Workers’ Party of Russia
    Communist Party of Soviet Union
    New Communist Party of Yugoslavia
    Communist Party of Slovakia
    Communist Party of Spain
    Communist Party of the People of Spain
    Sudanese Communist Party
    Communist Party, Sweden
    Communist Party of Sweden
    Communist Party of Southern Switzerland (federate to Swiss Labour Party)
    Syrian Communist Party
    Syrian Communist Party [Unified]
    Communist Party of Tadjikistan
    Communist Party of Turkey
    Labour Party of Turkey (EMEP)
    Communist Party of Ukraine
    Union of Communists of Ukraine
    Communist Party of Venezuela
    Party for Socialism and Liberation (USA)
    Communist Party USA (CPUSA)
    Freedom Road Socialist Organization (USA)