World Social Struggles Newswire Archive

The true divides in Latin America - between justice and injustice, democracy and dictatorship, human rights and corporate rights, people's power and imperial domination - have never been more visible than today.

People's movements throughout the region to revolutionize corrupt, unequal systems that have isolated and excluded the vast majority in Latin American nations, are successfully taking power democratically and building new models of economic and social justice.

All the sites below are used by NCADC to source 'Quality' information, which can be used for Anti-Deportation Campaigns, can also provide 'New' information, which might assist fresh asylum claims.

The Charter of rights of women seeking asylum officially launches its new campaign briefing and film today. This is timely as the government has just published its strategy to end violence against women and girls – disappointingly there is very little mention of women seeking asylum.

Detention of children at immigration 'prisons' attacked by MPs

"The National Front Against the Coup d'Etat has called on its participants to remain indoors in a "voluntary curfew" in noncooperation with the fraudulent vote. Should any incidents of violence occur today it won't be from the Resistance, but, rather, the result of the regime's own provocateurs. National presidential candidate Carlos H. Reyes withdrew from the ballot last month, as did many Congressional candidates and one major-party vice presidential candidate: Santos' own running mate on the Liberal Party line is among those who reject this fraudulent process as illegitimate."

On Saturday morning (28-11-2009), I saw something so stunningly simple, and yet so effective and epic in it's scale as a work of activism that it blew my mind.

Earth Liberation Front Communique: 11.23.09

Justin Solondz, an environmental activist who was wanted by the FBI for “eco-terrorism” charges tied to the Earth Liberation Front, has been sentenced to 3 years in a Chinese prison for manufacturing drugs. Back in June I reported on his arrest via Twitter, and now much more details have emerged about his life overseas and his sentencing.

Call for an international day of action for the release of animal rights activists imprisoned in the Netherlands - Wednesday, 02.12.2009

Climate change deniers and Fascist Nick Griffin, Baroness Ashton represents EU at Copenhagen

Up to 4-5000 people today marched in Geneva protesting ahead of the WTO meeting in an International Demonstration (see  http://www.anti-omc2009.org/?lang=en) as part of a week of action and debate around the WTO Ministerial which runs from 30th November to 2nd December(see  http://www.anti-omc2009.org/spip.php?article14).

The mobilisation is seen very much in relation to the COP15 UN climate conference taking place in Copenhagen 7th - 18th December (see  http://www.anti-omc2009.org/spip.php?article8).

This afternoon clashes broke out as parts of the crowd attacked property smashing windows of banks and shops and setting a number of cars on fire. Police used tear gas, concussion greandes and water cannon. Further protests are scheduled with the WTO meeting starting on Monday 30th November, ten years exactly since the famous Seattle WTO protests.

Here is a short account of the anti-racism march and rally held in Glasgow on Saturday 28th November 2009. 3 photos are included - please note that these photos are from the BBC Scotland website and the STUC website.

"In an explicit attempt to hide Washington’s military objectives in South America, a U.S. Air Force document submitted to Congress in May 2009 that provoked deep concerns in the region has been modified and re-published on November 16, 2009. The official U.S. Air Force document, revealed and denounced by this author on November 4th, explained the justification for a $46 million request to improve the military installations in one of the seven bases Washington will occupy under the military accord signed on October 30th between Colombia and the United States. The modified document has eliminated all mention of war and military operations in the region, as well as offensive language directed at Colombia’s neighbors, Venezuela and Ecuador."

The Certain Days calendar project is a joint fundraising and educational project between outside prisoner solidarity campaigners in Montreal and Toronto, and three political prisoners being held in maximum-security prisons in New York State and California: David Gilbert, Robert Seth Hayes and Herman Bell, who between them have spent 100 years in prison. More about them here  http://www.certaindays.org/?q=bios

19th-25th November

FREEDOM FOR 80 MINK (Germany)
MAXMARA PAINTED RED IN SANTIAGO (Chile)
SURPRISES AT THE UNIV. OF UTAH (USA)
FUR SHOP GLUED AND PAINTED (Sweden)
EXPLOSION BLACKENS DOORWAY AT ZOOLANDIA WAREHOUSE (Italy)
SLOGANS PAINTED ON FUR SHOPS, BUTCHERS (Russia)
COMMUNIQUE, PHOTOS RELEASED FROM FUR FARM RAID (Italy)

Ed Miliband will be at the Doncaster Climate Change Hearing today at the Bentley Pavillion, this is a chance to have your say!

We Love the Earth Centre campaigners will be there on mass to send a clear message to the Council and the press that the Earth Centre must be returned to the public!

A public meeting has been arranged to discuss the future of the site.

A group of about 45 people (latest news figure is now 57) were ambushed and abducted by about 100 armed men, according to reports. The military recovered the bodies of 13 women and eight men—some of them mutilated.

Public meeting regarding the future of the earth centre and the peoples campaign to reclaim the land and our rights to make decisions on community issues
Tuesday, 15th December 7pm at the Denaby Miners Welfare Club - see you there!

Believe it or not that's the latest message being conveyed by the Danish media this morning.

The Copenhagen Post reports that Mogens Lauridsen, deputy chief superintendent of Copenhagen Police, has made a statement on advice for protestors published on the Internet.

The advice for protestors includes an explanation of laws which the police may use against them as well as their legal rights under Danish law. Such legal guides are often published ahead of protests to inform demonstrators of the risks they may face and advice about how police may act towards them - during protests and if they are arrested. They are of particular relevance where protestors are coming from other countries where laws and police procedures differ.

The Danish police force, like all police forces, does not have an unblemished record when it comes to the treatment of protestors.

Recently a letter signed by members of several British NGOs including Friends of the Earth, Jubilee Debt Campaign and Christian Aid was sent to the Danish embassy (and published in the Guardian) highlighting concerns over the curtailing of legitimate protest around the Copenhagen climate summit after new repressive public order legislation was proposed. The legislation proposed includes an extension of pre-emptive detention from 6hours to 12 hours.

National differences in public order laws also led a mainstream NGO coalition to ask for clarification over whether its members wearing panda costumes would be arrested on the streets of Copenhagen, since in Denmark the wearing of masks (or even the assumed intention to wear a mask) can be an arrestable offence.

The people from around the world planning to protest at the Cop15 climate summit deserve to know how the police may treat them, and no civilised society should object to such information being published.

Regarding the ignition of an explosive device at the free social space “Buena Ventura” (Thessaloniki) this morning