STATS OF THE WEEK
Only 5.2 percent of the world’s 2,170 billionaires have so far signed the “giving pledge,” the commitment to give away at least half their wealth that Bill Gates and Warren Buffett three years ago started asking their fellow ultra rich to make. The pledge carries no legal or contractual obligation.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Nelson Mandela Quotes You Probably Won’t See In The U.S. Media: The former South African president, who died Thursday, was a revolutionary and a deep skeptic of American power.
7. On the U.S. war with Iraq:
“If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America. They don’t care for human beings.” Via cbsnews.com
6. On Israel:
“Israel should withdraw from all the areas which it won from the Arabs in 1967, and in particular Israel should withdraw completely from the Golan Heights, from south Lebanon and from the West Bank.” Via jweekly.com
5. On the U.S. war with Iraq:
“All that (Mr. Bush) wants is Iraqi oil.” Via cbsnews.com
4. Mandela on Castro and the Cuban revolution:
“From its earliest days, the Cuban Revolution has also been a source of inspiration to all freedom-loving people. We admire the sacrifices of the Cuban people in maintaining their independence and sovereignty in the face of the vicious imperialist-orquestrated campaign to destroy the impressive gain made in the Cuban Revolution. … Long live the Cuban Revolution. Long live comrade Fidel Castro.” Via lanic.utexas.edu
3. Mandela on Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, his longtime supporter:
“It is our duty to give support to the brother leader … especially in regards to the sanctions which are not hitting just him, they are hitting the ordinary masses of the people … our African brothers and sisters.” Via finalcall.com
2. On the U.S. preparing to invade Iraq in a 2002 interview with Newsweek:
“If you look at those matters, you will come to the conclusion that the attitude of the United States of America is a threat to world peace.” Via newsweek.com
1. On a Palestinian state:
“The UN took a strong stand against apartheid; and over the years, an international consensus was built, which helped to bring an end to this iniquitous system. But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.” Via cbsnews.com
FEATURES
Glenn Greenwald: What I’ve Learned http://www.esquire.com/blogs/news/glenn-greenwald-interview-0114
Snowden Document Shows Canada Set Up Spy Posts For NSA By Greg Weston, Glenn Greenwald, Ryan Gallagher – CSEC conducted espionage activities for U.S. in 20 countries, according to top-secret briefing note. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37072.htm
Robert Fisk: How the West lost respect for international law – One Norwegian officer left Lebanon with a typed report on torture taped to his chest http://tinyurl.com/mdeygvj
George Monbiot: Materialism: a system that eats us from the inside out – Buying more stuff is associated with depression, anxiety and broken relationships. It is socially destructive and self-destructive http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/09/materialism-system-eats-us-from-inside-out
One Rolex Short of Contentment http://www.monbiot.com/2013/12/09/one-rolex-short-of-contentment/
The Pathology of the Rich – Chris Hedges – Video: Chris Hedges discusses the psychology of the super rich; their sense of entitlement, the dehumanization of workers, and mistaken belief that their wealth will insulate them from the coming storms. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37047.htm
Chomsky: It Is All Working Quite Well for the Rich, Powerful http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37085.htm
WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS
A Marxist take on economic meltdown http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/5a71e7f2-5b7d-11e3-a2ba-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2nDtMEm71
The UK’s great Autumn recovery http://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/the-uks-great-autumn-recovery/
LAND, LABOUR AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Climate Change: ‘The Greatest Challenge of Our Time’ by Carlo Fanelli http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/906.php
Interview | Asad Rehman: “Only a challenge to corporate power can save the planet” http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/asad-rehman-only-challenge-corporate-power-save-planet/
CULTURAL DISSENT
David Simon: ‘There are now two Americas. My country is a horror show’ – The creator of The Wire, David Simon, delivered an impromptu speech about the divide between rich and poor in America at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney, and how capitalism has lost sight of its social compact. This is an edited extract http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/08/david-simon-capitalism-marx-two-americas-wire
Arts & Culture | Wake On The Wild Side: Lou Reed memorial held in London http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/wake-wild-side-lou-reed-memorial-held-london/
World’s leading authors: state surveillance of personal data is theft – 500 signatories include five Nobel prize winners – Writers demand ‘digital bill of rights’ to curb abuses
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/10/surveillance-theft-worlds-leading-authors
Beverly Gologorsky, My Neighbor, War http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175782/tomgram%3A_beverly_gologorsky%2C_my_neighbor%2C_war/#more
Books | A Fight Far From Over: Patrice Lumumba’s Legacy http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/fight-over-patrice-lumumbas-legacy/
Books | Review | ‘Class and Contemporary British Culture’ by Anita Biressi and Heather Nunn http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/review-class-contemporary-british-culture-anita-biressi-heather-nunn/
Shag another – Undercover: The True Story of Britain’s Secret Police by Katrina Forrester – London Review of Books http://www.lrb.co.uk/v35/n21/katrina-forrester/shag-another
AFGHANISTAN
The Phony Pullout From Afghanistan http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37064.htm
CANADA
Last week was a big week in fossil fuel politics in British Columbia http://www.rogerannis.com/last-week-was-a-big-week-in-fossil-fuel-politics-in-british-columbia/
Canada’s international spying agency, CSEC, under growing scrutiny http://www.rogerannis.com/canadas-international-spying-agency-csec-under-growing-scrutiny/
CHILE
Interview | Alberto Mayol on Chile’s 2013 Presidential elections: “It is more useful to vote, despite everything.” http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/alberto-mayo-chiles-2013-presidential-elections-it-vote-everything/
CUBA
Cuba’s Raúl Castro Praises Nelson Mandela’s “Unwavering Dedication to the Revolutionary Struggle” http://www.democracynow.org/2013/12/10/cubas_raul_castro_praises_nelson_mandelas
The Secret History of How Cuba Helped End Apartheid in South Africa http://www.democracynow.org/2013/12/11/the_secret_history_of_how_cuba
EGYPT
Repression Deepens in Egypt: At first it was the Muslim Brotherhood. Now dozens of journalists, non-Islamist activists and students have been detained and beaten. http://www.thenation.com/article/177536/repression-deepens-egypt
FRANCE
UN, EU Subsidize French Crimes in Africa http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37045.htm
HONDURAS
North American Observer Delegation Issues Critical Report of Honduran Elections http://afgj.org/honduras-election-monitoring-report
IRAN
Can war with Iran be prevented? http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/192104-can-war-with-iran-be-prevented
KOREA
The Ghosts of Jeju – Video: A shocking documentary about the struggle of the people of Jeju Island, S. Korea. The film reveals horrible atrocities at the hands of the U.S. Military Government of Korea. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37056.htm
PALESTINE
WHO concerned over humanitarian health crisis in Gaza http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=655583
IDF seized West Bank house despite court ruling for Palestinian owners: The house, which was separated from its village by a bypass road built near the settlement of Ofra, is currently used as a yeshiva by settlers. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.562532
SAUDI ARABIA
Mass murder in the Middle East is funded by our friends the Saudis: Everyone knows where al-Qa’ida gets its money, but while the violence is sectarian, the West does nothing By Patrick Cockburn http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/mass-murder-in-the-middle-east-is-funded-by-our-friends-the-saudis-8990736.html
SOUTH AFRICA
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, 1918-2013 http://unitenews.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/nelson-rolihlahla-mandela-1918-2013/
The Right Wing’s Campaign To Discredit And Undermine Mandela, In One Timeline http://thinkprogress.org/home/2013/12/06/3029871/wing-timeline-mandela/
John Pilger: Apartheid Did Not Die http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37035.htm
Victims of the Marikana massacre speak out http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2013/11/24/voices-from-the-front-line-victims-of-the-marikana-massacre-speak-out/
Nelson Mandela page on Democracy Now http://www.democracynow.org/topics/nelson_mandela
SYRIA
Seymour Hersh: Obama “Cherry-Picked” Intelligence on Syrian Chemical Attack to Justify U.S. Strike http://www.democracynow.org/2013/12/9/seymour_hersh_obama_cherry_picked_intelligence
Nearly a century after the Armenian genocide, these people are still being slaughtered in Syria http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/nearly-a-century-after-the-armenian-genocide-these-people-are-still-being-slaughtered-in-syria-8975976.html
To Syria’s Revolutionaries, Assad Isn’t Looking So Bad After All http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-revolutionaries-choose-assad-over-islamist-rebels-080000396.html
Syria’s Many Battlefields: Islamist Rebels Wage War Against the Kurds http://world.time.com/2013/09/26/syrias-many-battlefields-islamist-rebels-wage-war-against-the-kurds/
THAILAND
Round one to Yingluck government http://links.org.au/node/3617
UK
University of strife: John Harris on the latest wave of student protests – A new wave of college occupations has brought suspensions, arrests and allegations of police violence. Three years on from the tuition fee protests, why are students still angry? http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/06/university-of-strife-john-harris
William Hague letter brings hope to Shaker Aamer in Guantánamo: Fears over health of last British resident in US camp have been raised as he takes part in a new hunger strike http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/08/hague-letter-hope-for-shaker-aamer
London’s biggest university bans student protests http://www.channel4.com/news/university-of-london-student-protest-ban-senate-house-occupy
Panic on the streets of London http://www.leninology.com/2013/12/panic-on-streets-of-london.html?m=1
URUGUAY
Will Uruguay Trigger a Global Marijuana Revolution? Uruguay is poised to legalize recreational marijuana on Tuesday, an experiment that will force the United States to reevaluate its own international drug policies. http://fusion.net/justice/story/legalizing-marijuana-uruguay-trigger-global-revolution-295940
USA
US prison population jumps 27% in a decade over harsh drug sentencing: The number of Americans incarcerated in federal prisons throughout the country has increased by nearly 30 percent over the past ten years, according to a new report by an investigative arm of Congress. http://rt.com/usa/prison-population-grows-thirty-963/
A Record Number of Americans Can’t Afford Their Rent: Paying more than 30 percent of your income on rent is what experts call unaffordable. Yet the number of people who fall into that group has reached record numbers, according to a new report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. http://www.alternet.org/record-number-americans-cant-afford-their-rent
30 Percent Of Americans Skip Out On Medical Care Because It’s Too Expensive: About three in ten of all Americans forgo getting medical treatment due to the high costs of U.S. health care, according to a new survey by Gallup http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/12/10/3041821/americans-skip-health-care-2013/
How Inequality Became as American as Apple Pie http://www.thenation.com/blog/177514/how-inequality-became-american-apple-pie
Apartheid Amnesia – How the GOP conveniently forgot about its role in propping up a white supremacist regime. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37063.htm
US government considered Nelson Mandela a terrorist until 2008: Until five years ago, the U.S. officially considered Mandela a terrorist. During the Cold War, both the State and Defense departments dubbed Mandela’s political party, the African National Congress, a terrorist group, and Mandela’s name remained on the U.S. terrorism watch list till 2008. http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/07/21794290-us-government-considered-nelson-mandela-a-terrorist-until-2008?lite
USA – WORKERS REVOLT
US fast-food workers strike over low wages in nationwide protests – Thousands due to strike across 100 cities through the day in a signal of the growing clamour for action on income equality http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/05/fast-food-workers-strike-minimum-wage
‘From Bean to Cup,’ Starbucks Labor Action Heats Up http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/15948/starbucks_action/
Increase The Minimum Wage http://blogs.lclark.edu/hart-landsberg/2013/12/08/increase-the-minimum-wage/
Sen. Bernie Sanders discusses the minimum wage and extending long-term unemployment benefits with MSNBC’s Ed Schultz.
McDonald’s And Starbucks’ CEOs Make More Than $9,200 An Hour http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/news/mcdonalds-starbucks-ceos-more-9-110100507.html
USA – SPYING SCANDAL
Jon Stewart: NSA Totally Doing all those Things Obama Admin denied they were Doing http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-december-9-2013/that-thing-they-said-they-re-not-doing–they-re-totally-doing
VENEZUELA
Chavistas Celebrate Victory in the Venezuelan Municipal Elections http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/10229
Venezuelanalysis: 10 years reporting on the Bolivarian Revolution http://links.org.au/node/3619
Venezuela Leads Region in Poverty Reduction in 2012, ECLAC Says http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/the-americas-blog/venezuela-leads-region-in-poverty-reduction-in-2012-eclac-says
YEMEN
The US Killed my Brother with a Drone. I Want to Know Why http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37058.htm
GPJA 