Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Israel said to block Palestinian-American activist from traveling abroad

2022-05-02

[IsraelTimes] Ubai Aboudi is head of Bisan, one of six Paleostinian groups that Israel last year designated terrorist organizations; groups deny terror ties and continue to operate

Israel has prevented the director of a Paleostinian civil-society group from traveling abroad to attend a professional conference in Mexico, the activist said.

Ubai Aboudi is the head of Bisan, one of six Paleostinian groups that Israel last year designated a terrorist organization. Israeli officials declined to comment on the travel ban.

In an interview, Aboudi said he tried to exit the occupied West Bank last week in order to travel to the World Social Forum, an annual gathering of civil society groups that this year is taking place in Mexico. But he said he was stopped by Israeli officials at the crossing into Jordan.

"I was informed that I am banned from traveling. I asked why I am banned from traveling. They said they did not want to inform me," he said. Aboudi, who is a US citizen, said that just a month earlier, he traveled to Jordan without any problems.

The Bisan Center for Research and Development is a nonprofit that says it is committed to promoting a Paleostinian society based on "freedom, justice, equality and dignity." Aboudi has been arrested in the past by both Israel and the Paleostinian Authority, which administers autonomous areas of the West Bank, for his political activities.

Bisan is among six Paleostinian human rights
One man's rights are another man's existential threat.
groups that Israel last year effectively outlawed after designating them terrorist organizations.

Israel says the groups have ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Paleostine — a small Paleostinian faction with an armed wing that has carried out deadly attacks on Israelis. The PFLP is considered a terrorist group by Israel and its Western allies.

But Israel has provided little evidence backing up its claims against the six groups. The groups all continue to operate, though the Israeli crackdown has concerned international donors and caused some to cut ties.

Aboudi says he has no ties to the PFLP. The activists have said the Israeli move is an attempt to silence groups that have documented alleged harsh treatment against Paleostinians over the years.

"There is no explanation for what happened to me except that this was an attempt to silence the Paleostinian voice," Aboudi said.

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Home Front: Culture Wars

Social forum activists denounce corporate greed

2010-01-27

Leftists in Brazil for a week of protests against capitalism denounced corporate greed on the second day of the World Social Forum, saying Tuesday that big companies humbled by the global meltdown must be prevented from controlling natural resources and harming the environment.
They then asked the waiter to see the wine list...
In Peru, for example, foreign and domestic miners are vying for concessions to explore for gold, silver and zinc on traditional Indian lands where tribe members eke out a living from small farms threatened by contamination, said Carlos Candiotti, leader of an anti-mining group.

"These companies come into our territory without our approval, but the state must recognize our rights because we're the owners, with ancestral rights to the land where we live," Candiotti said.

Now in its 10th year, the social forum is a counterpoint to the World Economic Forum starting Wednesday in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, and leftist leaders are gleefully criticizing the bankers and business titans hit hard by the financial crisis.

But they said nations that have exerted greater state control over economies as a result of the meltdown must go further, warning that large corporations will try to reassert their grip on the world and push policies that critics say emphasize reliance on free markets at the expense of social welfare.

"We need to make sure the neoliberals never take over again," said Arthur da Silva Santos, president of Brazil's largest confederation of labor unions. "There are just a few hundred companies today that hold all the cards for the global economy."

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International-UN-NGOs

World Social Forum gets a taste of wealth redistribution

2007-04-14

Has "social reformer" become an oxymoron?
At a fancy, catered-food affair for the World Social Forum meeting at the five-star Windsor Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, in January (where participants munched between discussion sessions on, among other topics, world hunger), street kids who normally beg for food money downtown raided the facility and picked the tables clean.
From a blog commenter:
Mental Acrobatics writes about drama at the World Social Forum, The poster says, Reduce food prices in the WSF. A demonstration organised by a youth group from Korogocho started a loud vocal protest outside the Windsor catering tent. Korogocho is the third largest slum area in Nairobi after Kibera and Mathare. The demonstarters called for a reduction in food prices and informed everyone buying from Windsor to remember what they had gathered in Nairobi for.
How is it that underneath the skin, so many of these do-gooders are instead, members of the vulture elite? It is little wonder that so much of Europe's political aristocracy continues to try and expiate its knowing sins by inviting Islamic colonists to accelerate their collective suicide.

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-Lurid Crime Tales-

Street kids raid poverty summit

2007-01-25

Dozens of street children have invaded a five-star hotel food tent and feasted on meals meant for sale at the World Social Forum in Kenya's capital. The hungry urchins were joined by other participants who complained that the food was too expensive at the annual anti-capitalist get together.
Savor the irony, the cosmic justice

Link

India-Pakistan

Yasin wants referendum on both sides of Kashmir

2006-03-27

A permanent solution to the longstanding Kashmir conflict can only be achieved if the people of the disputed valley are equally engaged in the peace process as the leadership of Pakistan and India, senior Kashmiri leaders said on Sunday.

Yasin Malik, chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), gave his idea of how to determine the true leadership of Kashmir. I suggest holding a referendum of both parts of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan and India and the party or group which gets a mandate from the people should be given representation in the tripartite dialogue to resolve this dispute once and for all, Malik said at a high-profile conference held on the third day of the World Social Forum in Karachi. A full scale and fair referendum would finally bring the true leadership of the Kashmiris who will be accepted by the rest to represent our people in the dialogue, he said. If the Indians are engaged in talks with a single party of Nagaland then why it this not the case for Kashmir? He declared that 85 percent of the people of the valley wanted total freedom while only 15 percent of them wanted to be part of Pakistan.

Link

India-Pakistan

Muslims responsible for lack of democracy, says Yasin Malik

2006-03-26

Yasin Malik, chief of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) said on Saturday that Muslims were equally responsible for cruelty meted out against them because a majority of them do not believe in democracy.

Be careful starting your car for the next few years, Yasin. And watch for bearded men riding motorcycles...

When democracy heralds upon a Muslim country, the opposition tends to launch a movement to dislodge it, Malik said while speaking at a gathering during the World Social Forum proceedings on Saturday.

Democracies bring the promise though not always the realization of freedom. Freedom includes freedom of thought, which encompasses freedom of religion. Islam is doctrinally against freedom of religion; you can be killed for leaving its bloodstained embrace. Without freedom of thought there is no other freedom.

He pointed out that talks were going on between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir dispute and they also believed in the process. He said that if the talks failed, it wouldnt affect the ongoing struggle for the freedom of Kashmir. He declared that the people of India and Pakistan would force the governments of both countries to resolve the conflict through negotiations. Better relations between the two countries are possible only through the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, he said.

It's been 60 years, and the people of India and Pakland haven't gotten around to forcing the governments of both countries to resolve the problem. In Pakistan it's an end all and be all, the first difficult step in a grandiose plan that's supposed to result in the dismemberment of India and Pakistan's aggrandizement.

Malik claimed that Kashmiriat was purely a spiritual thing. He said 15,000 pundits were living in Indian-held Kashmir and he urged them to return to the valley.

They don't want to. They're not happy with the idea of gunfire.

Malik claimed that as many as 85 percent of Kashmiris wanted freedom while only 15 percent wanted to live with Pakistan. Our history is full of struggle and it will continue till we achieve full freedom, he said.

Yeah, yeah. Whoopdy doo. Without Armed Struggle you got nuttin'. There's no purpose to your life. You'll dry up and blow away, and it'll be like you've never been. You and your like are such tiresome little men.

Link

Caribbean-Latin America

Chavez Backs Sheehan Plan for Bush Protest

2006-01-30

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Cindy Sheehan, who gained international fame when she camped outside President Bush's ranch in an anti-war protest, plans to pitch her tent again, Venezuela's president said Sunday as he urged activists worldwide to help bring down "the U.S. empire." Hugo Chavez, an arm around Sheehan's shoulders, told a group of activists that she had told him "she is going to put up her tent again in front of Mr. Danger's ranch" in April.

Just in time for tornado season, I'll put in a call to Haliburton and get one on the schedule

If we can just get them to put up a few trailers you won't need to ...

In some of his strongest recent comments aimed at Washington, Chavez condemned the Bush administration and said his audience should work toward ending U.S. dominance. "Enough already with the imperialist aggression!" Chavez said, listing countries from Panama to Iraq where the U.S. military has intervened. "Down with the U.S. empire! It must be said, in the entire world: Down with the empire!"

Chavez said Sheehan had invited him to join her April protest at Bush's Crawford, Texas, ranch. Sheehan, whose 24-year-old soldier son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004, held a vigil outside Bush's ranch during the president's vacation in August, attracting some 12,000 peace activists and reinvigorating the national anti-war movement. "Maybe I'll put up my tent also," Chavez said, to applause from an audience invited to his weekly broadcast on the final day of the World Social Forum, an annual gathering of anti-war and anti-globalization activists. Chavez said his government would help protest the war in Iraq by supporting a drive to gather petitions and delivering them to the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.

Chavez, who before the war in Iraq had friendly relations with Saddam Hussein, has been a frequent and strident critic of the war. Sheehan thanked Chavez for "supporting life and peace." She said earlier that she was impressed by his sincerity when they met privately on Saturday. "He said, 'Why don't I run for president?'" she said. "I just laughed."

Sheehan also noted that singer and activist Harry Belafonte recently called Bush "the greatest terrorist in the world," and said, "I agree with him. George Bush is responsible for killing tens of thousands of innocent people."

Also joining Chavez on Sunday was Elma Beatriz Rosado, the widow of slain Puerto Rican nationalist Filiberto Ojeda Rios. Holding back tears as she stood at Chavez's side, Rosado accused the United States of killing her husband, a 72-year-old militant ~~terrorist~~ independence activist. Rios was slain in a September FBI raid on a Puerto Rican farmhouse where he was living in hiding while being wanted for the 1983 robbery of $7.2 million from a Wells Fargo armored truck depot in Connecticut - funds intended for the ~~terrorist~~ independence cause. "They murdered him," Chavez said. "Viva Filiberto!... Let's follow his example."

Link

Home Front: Politix

Cindy Sheehan May Challenge Calif. Senator Feinstein

2006-01-30

CARACAS, Venezuela Jan 29, 2006 Cindy Sheehan, the peace activist who set up camp near President Bush's Texas ranch last summer, said Saturday she is considering running against Sen. Dianne Feinstein to protest what she called the California lawmaker's support for the war in Iraq.

"She voted for the war. She continues to vote for the funding. She won't call for an immediate withdrawal of the troops," Sheehan told The Associated Press in an interview while attending the World Social Forum in Venezuela along with thousands of other anti-war and anti-globalization activists. "I think our senator needs to be held accountable for her support of George Bush and his war policies," said Sheehan, whose 24-year-old soldier son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004.

God, is Karl Rove a genius, or what?

Feinstein's campaign manager, Kam Kuwata, said the senator "doesn't support George Bush and his war policies." "She has stated publicly on numerous occasions that she felt she was misled by the administration at the time of the vote," Kuwata said by phone from California. But with troops committed, Feinstein believes immediate withdrawal is not a responsible option, Kuwata said. "Senator Feinstein's position is, let's work toward quickly turning over the defense of Iraq to Iraqis so that we can bring the troops home as soon as possible," he said.

Sheehan accused Feinstein of being out of touch with Californians on the issue.
She said she would decide whether to run after talking with her three other adult children. The Democratic primary will be held in June, and candidates must submit their statements for the voter guide by Feb. 14.

Kuwata said Feinstein and Sheehan appear to have a fundamental disagreement over whether troops should be pulled out right now. "That's why they have elections, and if she decides to file (paperwork to run), so be it," he said.

Sheehan said running in the Democratic primary would help make a broader point.
"If I decided to run, I would have no illusions of winning, but it would bring attention to all the peace candidates in the country," she said.

Yes, and boost popcorn sales beyond all expectation

Sheehan, 48, who lives in Berkeley, Calif., said she would head to Washington on Sunday for protests against Bush's State of the Union address on Tuesday, and then return to California to discuss her idea of running against Feinstein with her son and two daughters. "I can't see if they think it's going to help peace that they would be opposed to me doing it," she said.

Link

Fifth Column

Senator Cindy in lieu of Senator PianoLegs?

2006-01-28

From LGF:
For immediate release: Friday, January 27, 2006

Contacts:
Jodie Evans, (310) 621-5635 (in Venezula and US)
Medea Benjamin, (58 416) 208-0134; (415) 235-6517

Cindy Sheehan to Dianne Feinstein: Fillibuster Alito or Ill Challenge Your Senate Seat

Caracas, Venezuela - Gold star mother Cindy Sheehan has decided to run against California Senator Diane Feinstein if Feinstein does not filibuster the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Samuel Alito. While in Venezuela attending the World Social Forum, Sheehan learned that several Democratic Senators had announced their plans for a filibuster but that Senator Feinstein, whos up for re-election in November, had stated she would vote against the nomination but not filibuster it. Im appalled that Diane Feinstein wouldnt recognize how dangerous Alitos nomination is to upholding the values of our constitution and restricting the usurpation of presidential powers, for which Ive already paid the ultimate price, Sheehan said.

Note the presse contact: Medea Benjamin is the founder of Code Pink and a radical, thuggist Communist from way back.

Link

Caribbean-Latin America

Moonbats Descend On Caracas

2006-01-28

When it comes to buying souvenirs, anti-globalization activists have found a shopping paradise at the World Social Forum. From "Che" Gueverra T-shirts to books on "21-Century Socialism" and "Low-impact backpacking," Venezuela's street vendors are offering just about anything a leftist activist might want, eager to capitalize on the gathering of more than 60,000 people.

Any of the Che pics with mouse ears on them?

Activists are digging in their pockets for posters of Cuban President Fidel Castro or pins bearing photos of Vladimir Lenin and Colombian rebel leader Manuel Marulanda. Others are themselves selling handmade jewelry and political pamphlets to bankroll their trip to the Venezuelan capital.

A lucky few are snapping up talking dolls of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez -- the hero of this year's World Social Forum, an annual event timed to coincide with the market-friendly World Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In one street market, French activist Rene Villepin ~~(who may or may not be a man)~~ haggled with a vendor before paying $30 for the talking "Chavecito," or "Little Chavez." The doll sports the Venezuelan leader's signature red-beret and at the push of a button says: "It's your dream, it's your hope and it's your job to be free and equal."

"I usually buy only reading material at these types of events, but I had to have one," Villepin said, smiling.

Chavez's image and the slogans of his leftist government seem to be everywhere at the six-day forum, which has drawn anti-globalization activists, peace advocates, labor leaders and intellectuals from around the world. Many hunted for interesting trinkets, but others urged fellow attendees to avoid certain "imperialist" products, like Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

In keeping with the event's distaste for corporate giants, forum organizers set up public computers running on the open-source operating system Linux, which unlike Microsoft's Windows is free, said Carlos Torres, a Montreal-based Chilean organizer.

I'm sure Bill Gates noticed.

The event brought out Venezuela's many part-time street vendors. Luis Escobar, a 38-year-old unemployed construction worker, was selling Chavez masks amid thousands of anti-war marchers during the forum's opening "anti-imperialist" demonstration. "They're going fast! They're going fast!" he called out to activists, holding up the mask which sold for $23. But privately he said he'd found few takers. "Nobody's buying," Escobar said in a low voice, adding that he opposes Chavez but doesn't mind capitalizing on the president's image.

Which is why Chavez is still around.

Hundreds of visitors from Europe, the United States and Latin America camped out in parks, some hawking their own items, from beaded necklaces to books on the Palestinian cause. Nestor Petrola, who came by bus from Argentina, offered copies of his "Worker's Weekly" newspaper in exchange for "a small contribution," or "whatever they can give." "It's not much, but it helps with travel costs," he said.

Link

Fifth Column

Thousands march to protest Iraq war

2006-01-26

Thousands marched in Caracas on Tuesday chanting against US imperialism and the war in Iraq at start of the World Social Forum, where activists campaign for causes from fair trade to indigenous rights. US peace activist Cindy Sheehan, who held a vigil outside US President George W Bushs Texas ranch after her soldier son was killed in Iraq, led the flag-waving crowds shouting No to the war in Spanish to end of the rally. We need to stop the war in Iraq, we need to bring our troops home immediately, Sheehan said from a stage. We need to see George Bush and the rest of them tried for crimes against humanity. We need justice for our children.

Many at the rally hailed Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a self-styled socialist revolutionary and critic of Washington, who has become a regional standard-bearer for left-wing and anti-US movements since allying himself with Cuba. Colombian drummers, whistles and stilt-walkers brought a festive atmosphere to an event that has become a central forum for international debate on subjects as diverse as gay rights, anti-globalisation and global arms control.

This is against conflict, against wars all over the world, said Marie Eve Rheault, from Quebec, Canada, who was helping hoist a peace dove fashioned from white sheets.

This is a process that can bring change for everyone, said Colombian Lucy Martinez, who belongs to a solidarity group with Cuba. Its great that it is here in Venezuela because Chavez, like Fidel Castro, is an example for everyone. Many traveled by road from neighboring Brazil and Colombia. At least four Brazilian students were killed and 11 injured when their bus crashed in Peru in route to Caracas.

Link

Caribbean-Latin America

Protests open Venezuela meeting

2006-01-25

Thousands of anti-globalisation protesters have marched through the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, at the start of the World Social Forum. The protesters shouted anti-war slogans and many of them carried banners criticising US President George W Bush.

Any puppets? Can't have a rally without giant puppets

The annual meeting is seen as an ideological alternative to the World Economic Forum, attended by business leaders in the Swiss resort of Davos. Delegates will discuss fair trade, debt forgiveness and indigenous rights. The country's President, Hugo Chavez, is attending the six-day forum.

Some 10,000 people from 54 countries joined the anti-war march in Caracas. Peace activist Cindy Sheehan, the mother of an American soldier killed in Iraq, addressed the crowds, saying the US needed to bring its troops home immediately.

Ah, I knew there'd be a puppet

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