56 Cities in Vermont U.S. Vote to Challenge Corporate Personhood

By Aquene Freechild, Common Dreams. At least 56 cities in Vermont voted nearly unanimously, Tuesday March 6, 2012, for resolutions that call on the state legislature and congressional delegation to support a constitutional amendment that specifies money is not speech and corporations are not people.

Continue reading →

Common Caribbean Strategies Needed Against Climate Change | Besoin de stratégies communes des Caraïbes contre le changement climatique

Interview of Cuban climate expert Ramón Pichs by Patricia Grogg. Pichs warns that the environmental vulnerability of Caribbean countries is aggravated by the fragility of their economies. ALBA initiatives are underway to improve the response to climate change phenomena and take measures to protect areas such as agriculture and coastlines. These and national efforts will be complemented by inputs from organizations like Caricom and CELAC. (English | French)

Continue reading →

Valentine’s Day Occupy Oakland Celebration of Community Love

By Staff, Occupy Oakland | Commentary by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. Occupy Oakland will march through downtown Oakland on Tuesday Feb 14, 2012, Valentine’s Day, with flowers, flower petals, bubbles, glitter, confetti, to share with each other and the community. In the event of oppressive police presence, participants will hug and kiss.

Continue reading →

U.N. Tightens Belt: No More Cruise Ship Hotels | La ONU se ajusta el cinturón : No mas barcos de crucero

By Thalif Deen, IPS. Compared to the $5.4 B U.N. budget for 2010-11, the 2012-13 budget will be cut by $260 M. This is a cut of less than 5%, but the news are still significant because, since its inception over 50 years ago, the U.N. has expanded every year, except for one instance 14 years ago. (English | Spanish)

Continue reading →

Occupy Oakland Urgently Needs Bail Funds, Says Festival Still On | OWS Calls Solidarity Protests

By Staff, Occupy Oakland and Occupy Wall Street | Haiti Chery. Occupy Oakland moved to convert a vacant building into a community center to provide education, medical, and housing services for the 99%; police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, beanbag rounds, and mass arrests.

Continue reading →

Longshore Union ILWU and Grain Terminal EGT Reach Settlement

By Staff, Longshore & Shipping News. International Longshore and Warehouse Union ILWU and Export Grain Terminal EGT reached a tentative settlement, according to a press release today from Gov. Christine Gregoire of Washington state. “This is a win for the ILWU, EGT, and the Longview community.” – ILWU President Robert McEllrath. URGENT UPDATE Thu Jan 26: “Scab’s contract has officially been terminated. Pickets have been taken down. There is still no contract! No real answers! No backing down!” – Longview Caravan. UPDATE Jan 27: Settlement reached and approved unanimously by ILWU membership! Congratulations ILWU, Occupy Oakland, and Longview community! UPDATE Feb 11: Longshore workers name Occupy Movement as crucial in settlement with EGT.

Continue reading →

The Butchers of Nigeria

By Wole Soyinka, Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye. “Rather than act in defense of Nigeria’s Constitution, past rulers have cosseted the aggressors for short-term political gains. However, those who have tweaked the religious chord are discovering that they have conjured up a Frankenstein. Arrogance has given way to fear.” – Wole Soyinka

Continue reading →

Occupy Oakland Plans Monday Jan 23rd Support of Dock Workers Against Union-Busting Coast Guard

By Editors, Occupy Everything. On Monday Jan 23, 2012, the Occupy Oakland Labor Solidarity Committee and the Committee to Defend the ILWU will protest the use of armed Coast Guard cutters and helicopters to escort a grain ship to a terminal being picketed by the ILWU.

Continue reading →

A New Reserve Currency to Challenge the Dollar – What’s Really Going on in the Straits of Hormuz

By David Malone, Golem XIV | Staff, IRIB News. Once it becomes more profitable for countries to use a basket of currencies tied to the yuan, then the yuan will effectively become the world’s reserve currency.

Continue reading →

Nigeria Paid for 24 Million Liters of Unconsumed Fuel Daily in 2011

By Ben Agande and Emman Ovuakporie, Sweet Crude. “How could the nation be made to pay for 59 million liters daily when we consume only 35 million liters daily?” – Farouk Lawan, Chair of Nigeria House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating management of fuel subsidy.

Continue reading →

Nigeria: Billions Siphoned by Corruption Could Have Been Used to Maintain Fuel Subsidy | Nigeria: La corrupción encendió la mecha

By Mustapha Muhammad, IPS. Nigeria is paralyzed by protests and a nationwide strike against the lifting of a fuel subsidy that could have been maintained if billions of dollars had not been lost to corruption. (English | Spanish)

Continue reading →