April 2009
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Swine Flu? A Panic Stoked in Order to Posture and Spend By Simon Jenkins
We have gone demented. Two Britons are or were (not very) ill from flu. ‘This could really explode,’ intones a reporter for BBC News. ‘London warned: it’s here,’ cries the Evening Standard. Fear is said to be spreading ‘like a Mexican wave’. Continue reading
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Haneen Maikey and Jason Ritchie, “Israel, Palestine, and Queers”
If we are to believe Kirchick, there are no queer Palestinians: they’ve all been murdered by Palestinian ‘Islamofascists,’ and the ‘lucky few’ who survived have fled to gay-friendly Israel. In fact, there is a vibrant, organized community of queer Palestinians who are working hard to create a just, democratic Palestinian society that respects the dignity… Continue reading
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Dana Cloud, “The McCarthyism That Horowitz Built: The Cases of Margo Ramlal Nankoe, William Robinson, Nagesh Rao, and Loretta Capeheart”
Fewer people will know the names of four other targets of the Right’s attack: Margo Ramlal-Nankoe, William Robinson, Nagesh Rao, and Loretta Capeheart. All four face harassment, threats, or potential removal from their jobs at their universities because they have criticized Israel, defended multiculturalism, and stood up as organized employees in defense of their rights… Continue reading
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Pakistan’s Troubled “Paradise on Earth” by Kamran Asdar Ali
The challenges faced by Pakistan’s democratic and civilian groups are now manifold. As the 2008 election results show, when given a chance, the Pakistani people may choose to vote against both the Islamist groups and the party of the generals. Yet, in Pakistan, the mere restoration of democratic forms of governance is not enough. The… Continue reading
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Yassine Temlali, "Images of Women in the Maghreb: Persistent Clichés and Changing Realities"
‘The evolution of the conditions of women still appears crucial for understanding the changes underway in Maghreb societies today,’ Khadija Mohsen-Finan writes in her introduction. These changes can be grasped through the evolution of the way society as a whole looks at women and their role.’ Continue reading
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Stephen Roblin, "Lessons from History: The Case against AFRICOM"
In contrast to proponents, I argue that, given the history of U.S. involvement in Africa, past and present, there is ‘sufficient reason’ to think that AFRICOM will be potentially disastrous for citizens of African countries. Continue reading
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Bolivia: Rich countries must pay their `ecological debt'
The countries most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change are developing countries. Climate-induced disasters, water stress, adverse impacts on agriculture, threats to coastlines, ecosystems and infrastructure, and altered disease vectors are already imposing substantial and rising costs, damages and setbacks in development -– undermining developing countries’ rights and aspirations to development. Continue reading
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Waterboarding Approved Specifically To Justify Iraq War By Craig Murray
Only torture could yield ‘intelligence’ of such links to provide a justification of the invasion of Iraq. There could be no clearer indication that these evil people wished to launch an illegal war of aggression for their other reasons. Continue reading
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The Pentagon’s Cyber Command: Formidable Infrastructure arrayed against the American People By Tom Burghardt
From its inception, Cyber Command has been theorized as a nodal point for launching crippling attacks against the civilian and military infrastructure of imperialism’s enemies. Continue reading
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Correa Triumphs in Ecuador, and Thereby Becomes One of Latin America’s Most Successful Political Figures
It could be argued that Correa is one of the most successful contemporary Latin American political leaders of the era. Since taking office, he has come forth with a very specific socio-political program which has significantly alleviated the country’s political instability and hobbling strategic and economic conditions, while at the same time advancing his overt… Continue reading
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The Chavez administration is infested with political "chameleons" who have colored themselves precisely to match the revolutionary government and its intentions!
It’s important to track down the juicy contracts awarded by some Venezuelan Ministries and State organizations … for therein lies the key to a conspiracy that is being naively and indirectly fostered by the State itself Continue reading
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Olga CHETVERIKOVA: Crisis as a way to build a global totalitarian state
Events are following the same path as the Great Depression in 1929-1933: a financial crisis, an economic recession, social conflicts, establishing totalitarian dictatorships, inciting a war to concentrate power, and capital in the hands of a narrow circle. This time, however, the case in point is the final stage in the ‘global control’ strategy, where… Continue reading
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Bolivia: Evo Morales speaks on International Mother Earth Day
The primary cause of the twenty-first century should be the recognition of the rights of Mother Earth, Bolivian President Evo Morales Ayma declared hours after the General Assembly passed a resolution designating 22 April as ‘International Mother Earth Day’. Continue reading
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Video: Past is present in Latin America Part Two
Last weekend, the leaders of the Americas met with US President Barack Obama for the first time as a group. While no major agreements were signed, long-time Latin America observer Larry Birns believes that the atmospherics were of a nature never before seen in the hemisphere. Continue reading
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Video: Past is present in Latin America Part One
In their first ever meeting, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gave US President Barack Obama a copy of Eduardo Galeano’s classic historical essay, Open Veins of Latin America. A best-seller in Latin America, the book is arguably the most complete history of imperialism in the region. Continue reading
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Cuba50 – Celebrating Cuban Culture
The Cuba50 weekend at the Barbican 27-28 June, promises a feast of the very best live Cuban music and dance direct from Cuba.The two special concerts feature Cuba’s greatest dance band Los Van Van, nueva trova star Pablo Milanés, top rumba group Yoruba Andabo, the soulful Son Tropical and fabulous jazz pianist Harold Lopez Nussa. Continue reading
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Media Lens 24 April, 2009: Protesting War – An Exchange With The BBC’s Diplomatic Editor, Mark Urban
You would have us believe that this original, grubby motivation can be separated from the effort “to bring about a successful outcome in southern Iraq”. It cannot. ‘Success’ in Iraq has always meant securing control of the country and its oil resources – the welfare of the Iraqi people was, of necessity, always subordinated to… Continue reading
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Video: Is Zionism Racism? UK Ambassador gets grilled on the walkout
It is an incredibly important excerpt of a document on the nature of what the journalist clearly recognises as a “stunt” and the Ambassador insists upon calling a “protest”, falling all over his own rhetoric in the process. Continue reading
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Video: South Africa: Forgotten Freedom Fighters – Part 4
As South Africans prepare to go to the polls in their fourth general election since the end of Apartheid, Al Jazeera follows a group of former combatants who have stopped waiting for the compensation promised to them by the ANC and have decided to start their own business. Continue reading
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Video: South Africa: Forgotten Freedom Fighters – Part 3
As South Africans prepare to go to the polls in their fourth general election since the end of Apartheid, Al Jazeera follows a group of former combatants who have stopped waiting for the compensation promised to them by the ANC and have decided to start their own business. Continue reading
The New Dark Age 