I seem to have totally sat out the Venezuelan legislative elections. Venezuelanalysis is fantastic on it and Wilpert’s comment in particular was very good.
On other topics.
Fisk: War is the total failure of the human spirit
http://rabble.ca/news/fisk-war-total-failure-human-spirit
Robert Fisk is one of the world’s best known journalists. He has been based in the Middle East as the UK Independent’s Middle East correspondent for nearly 30 years, during which he has reported on two U.S. wars in Iraq, two Afghan wars, the Israel/Palestine conflict, Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, the civil war in the former Yugoslavia.
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Stephen Lewis’s ‘Race Against Time’
Stephen Lewis did the Massey Lectures this year. Previous Massey lecturers (that I’ve read and loved) include Noam Chomsky, Thomas King, and (that I’ve read and found interesting) Richard Lewontin and John Ralston Saul.
For those who don’t know who Stephen Lewis is, he’s the UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. He’s also been a politician in Canada, a very important activist for Canada’s social democratic New Democratic Party (NDP).
Christian Peacemaker Team abductions in Iraq
I have traveled to quite a few places where I’ve encountered volunteers with Christian Peacemaker Teams. I’ve never been to Iraq, so that’s not one of the places. But I can say this, which is what others have been saying since some of the CPTers (as they are known to anglophones) were abducted in Iraq last week. The CPTers might have the word ‘Christian’ in their name, but they are no missionaries. They might have ‘peacemaker’ in their name, but that isn’t a euphemism for imperialism the way ‘peacekeeping’ or ‘peacebuilding’ can be. They are people of conscience who are very much anti-imperialist in the most important way – in their actions.
They should be released unharmed. Sign a petition here.
‘Despicable murderers and scumbags’: Canada in Afghanistan
A Change of Tone
On July 11, 2005, Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff General Hillier discussed the forces arrayed against NATO forces in Afghanistan with great nuance and understanding: “These are detestable murderers and scumbags, I’ll tell you that right up front. They detest our freedoms, they detest our society, they detest our liberties.”
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Recasting India as a vassal state
by Badri Raina
first published in Mainstream Weekly, November 22, 2005
I t is now obvious that the neo-imperialists in America—and their apologists at home here—wish to hard sell the thesis that the Westphalian bedrock (sovereign nation-states, and the principle of non-interference), upon which international relations have been based for over two centuries, must be deemed to have slipped with finality from under the countries of the world.
For those in Toronto in December
An event announcement in which I am personally implicated, below.
I also was, courtesy of some great organizers in Halifax, on the Atlantic Coast of Canada over this past weekend. I gave a talk on Haiti at St. Mary’s University and another on Israel/Palestine at Dalhousie. I was very happy to speak to engaged audiences of awake and interested people, not to mention to spend time with the local activists who made the events happen.
Consolidating a Coup
http://www.flonnet.com/fl2223/stories/20051118001206300.htm
Klein on Rozental’s case
Naomi wrote a piece about Cauca and Manuel Rozental’s case.
The government has recently escalated the violence against the peasants occupying lands in Cauca. See En Camino for ongoing stuff, and also check back here.
I also have a few thoughts about this Canada and corruption Gomery business, which I’ll try to get to when I get the chance.
The Case of Manuel Rozental
He’s a friend and mentor of mine, so this is a matter of personal interest for me as well. Here is a communique from the indigenous movement in Northern Cauca about how Manuel was forced to flee. I did the translation.
The Price of Our Struggle: Individuals and Groups, using threats and dirty war, seek to silence us
Action Alert
Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca (ACIN)
October 29, 2005
The Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca (ACIN) –CXAB WALA KIWE, announces the following to national and international public opinion.