cartoon: masses, etc.

Above: cartoon from The Masses magazine circa 1916. Joke referencing earlier cartoon below.



Above: 1913, same publication, similar cartoon as originally drawn.




Below: for a period Soviet cartoons such as the one from the Soviet Satirical magazine Crocodile below made fun of the problems of rapid collective industrialization.




All of these funnies are from marxists.org including this one on post-modernism.

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International Communist Meeting

Press Statement of KKE
On the Seminar of Communist and Workers’ Parties
Brussels, March 26 2010

The seminar of Communist and Workers’ Parties on the role of communists in the struggle for the parity and the emancipation of women was held in Brussels on March 26, with the participation of 26 communist and workers’ parties from 24 countries: Communist Party of Azerbaijan, Communist Party of Belarus, Workers' Party of Belgium, New Communist Party of Britain, Communist Party of Cuba, AKEL-Cyprus, Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, Unified Communist Party of Georgia, Communist Party of Greece, Hungarian Workers' Communist Party, Tudeh Party of Iran, Communist Party of Ireland, Workers’ Party of Ireland, Party of the Communists of Kyrgyzstan, Socialist Party of Latvia, Lebanese Communist Party, New Communist Party of the Netherlands, Portuguese Communist Party, Communist Party of Russian Federation, Communist Workers' Party of Russia - Revolutionary Party of Communists, Communist Party of Slovakia, Communist Party of Peoples of Spain, Communist Party of Sweden, Syrian Communist Party, Party of Labour [EMEP] along with Pôle de Renaissance Communiste en France as special guest.

Head of the KKE’s delegation was the General Secretary of the Central Committee of Communist Party of Greece, cde Aleka Papariga, who also delivered the opening speech to the Seminar.

The 100th anniversary since the establishment of the 8th March as International Women’s Day gave the participants the chance to exchange views and assessments of the role of communists in the struggle for gender equality and women’s emancipation in the course of a century.

At the same time the seminar discussed according to which strategy and tactic will the international communist movement tackle with the deterioration of women’s position under the conditions of the capitalist crisis, as a special issue and integral element of the life of the worker’s families.

The participants underlined that the historical limits of the capitalist system appear more distinctly under the conditions of the crisis. This is evident in all issues and in the women’s issue as well. The capitalist system made certain legal and institutional concessions, especially in the more developed countries and continents of the imperialist pyramid; it improved women’s educational level, it established a limited number of social foundations for children and family in order to achieve its main goal, namely the biggest possible exploitation of the women’s labour, as well as of the youth and immigrants’, their political and social manipulation in the name of equality.

The bourgeois political parties gave the women of the bourgeoisie and the upper strata the role of MP, minister, even prime-minister and president of republic, soldier and general with the aim to set the example for the women of the working class and the popular strata, to substitute and manipulate them.
The discussion confirmed that these assessments do not apply for all countries as in Africa, Asia and in other countries women suffer forms of oppression that reflect the uneven capitalist development and not the particularities of the so-called patriarchism or Androcracy .

Capitalism and bourgeois governments were forced to make some concessions despite their will, under the pressure of the labour, people’s and women’s movement that was emancipated from the influence of the few progressive bourgeois women. In addition, the unprecedented gains of women in socialist countries exerted a strong influence on the capitalist system.

The participants stressed the vital role of communists in the development and strengthening of the organised women’s movement, in the promotion of women in the labour and people’s movement.

Almost all participants highlighted that apart from the deterioration of life there is also a danger of a dramatic increase in the gap between the contemporary needs and the situation that will be formed in the near future.

It was stressed the need to attract in the organised class struggle, in the movement, broad working and peoples’ masses, women and men. It was also underlined the importance to advance the alliance of the labour movement, of people’s movement in general with women’s radical movement on the basis of the exacerbated problems of women and with goals of struggle against the monopolies and their power in order to repel the anti-people’s measures and to bring positive changes in the correlation of forces, to pave the way of the perspective, of socialism.

It was also underlined the need to highlight the historical origins of radical women’s struggle, namely the communist movement and the theory of scientific socialism, as well as to draw conclusions from the history of the struggle for women’s emancipation.

It was stressed the importance of highlighting the historical achievements of women in the socialist countries that were incomparable with the conquest of women at that time in conditions of capitalism.

It was underlined the significance of ensuring that the women’s question constitutes an inextricable element of our work in all sectors of the working class, the peasantry, the self-employed, in the education, health and environment sector, everywhere. Underlying the class nature of the women’s question is the most appropriate way to confront any derogatory perceptions at the expense of women that still exist although under the mantle of modernism and cosmopolitism.

It was expressed the need to stand by the side of women, especially of those who experience greater pressure due to personal and family difficulties.

It was also expressed the willingness to exchange experience in a more systematic way between communist and workers’ parties in order to specify our strategy in women, for the coordination and the reinforcement of the international women’s radical movement.
This period gives us the benefit to exert influence on the masses as regards the main issue, namely that there are two paths of development, two paths of internationalisation and international cooperation. The one is determined by the interests of the capital, of the monopolies and the other by the satisfaction of people’s needs. The two paths differ as regards the question of the political power.
The whole discussion confirmed that the national field remains the basic field of class struggle because from this derive the positive changes in the international correlation. Of equal importance is also the internationalisation of the field of struggle, the coordination and the high level of class solidarity.

This year on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the declaration of March 8 as the international working women’s day, it should be highlighted the theory of scientific socialism for the liberation of women from the class exploitation and double oppression.

Finally, the seminar adopted three solidarity statements with socialist Cuba, with the Palestinian People and with the women of Iran.

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What’s new at the Toronto Palestine Film Festival (TPFF)?

Visit the new TPFF website
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new and interactive festival website. Now you can follow this season’s campaign and upcoming events, watch films and trailers, purchase tickets and more. Visit www.tpff.ca today!

Celebrate the 2010 season with us
To kick off the 2010 season, we are hosting the TPFF 2010 Launch Party: With Love From Palestine. Join us on Thursday, April 29th for a night with Toronto's hottest DJs at The Stealth Lounge (@ The Pilot), 22 Cumberland Street (doors open at 9pm). Save the date, spread the word, and stay tuned for more details on performances and DJs.

TPFF Co-Presents...
We are honoured to co-present film screenings in partnership with Images Festival and Hot Docs Festival taking place in April and May. We hope to see you there.

Images Festival:Port of Memory Opening Night, Thursday April 1st (7 pm) at the Bloor Cinema.

Hot Docs: Aisheen: Still Live in Gaza on Mon May 3rd (9:30 pm) at the Isabel Bader Theatre and Thursday May 6th (1:30 pm) at The ROM Theatre.

Reminders:
Submit your films
The TPFF Call for Film Submissions is available on our website (hyperlink: http://www.tpff.ca). We accept films made by Palestinian filmmakers, and films on subject matters related to Palestine made by Canadian and international filmmakers. For more information, please consult the submissions criteria or email submissions@tpff.ca

Partner with TPFF
Through the generous support of our sponsors and donors, we have created an exciting Palestinian film and cultural festival in Toronto for filmmakers and avid film fans to enjoy. Help us build on our accomplishments by supporting our great work. We offer various opportunities and incentives for businesses, community organizations, and individuals. For more information, please consult the TPFF Partnership Package available on our website and email sponsorship@tpff.ca.

Volunteer with TPFF
TPFF’s dedicated volunteers are instrumental to our success. Develop skills in fundraising, event management, media relations, grant-writing, marketing, promotions and a many other areas by volunteering with TPFF. If you are interested in joining our growing team, please complete the TPFF Volunteer Application available on our website or email volunteers@tpff.ca.

Keep in touch:
Don't be shy, there is a variety of ways to find out what we are up to.

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Ontario Minimum Wage

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, March 30, 2010

GOOD JOBS FOR ALL COALITION CELEBRATES
MINIMUM WAGE PASSING THE $10 AN HOUR MILESTONE

The Good Jobs for All Coalition is celebrating tomorrow’s scheduled increase in Ontario’s minimum wage to $10.25 an hour, up 0.75 cents from $9.25.

Many groups in the Good Jobs for All Coalition were leaders in the ‘$10 Minimum Wage’ campaign, which successfully pressured the Ontario government to increase the minimum wage in 2007. Although the campaign demanded the minimum wage jump immediately from $8 to $10, the Ontario government staggered in the increase over three years.

“It’s about time the Ontario government moved us above the $10 per hour minimum wage milestone,” says John Cartwright, President of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council. “A decent minimum wage is about bringing fairness and dignity to hard working people who deserve to bring home a wage that lets them raise their families, pay for housing, and live with decency. Tomorrow, low wage earners across Ontario will find it at little bit easier to survive in one of the most expensive cities in Canada.”

“The ‘$10 Minimum Wage’ campaign was one of the first campaigns that brought together unions and community groups in Ontario in a powerful way,” says Tam Goossen, Co-Chair of the Good Jobs for All Coalition. “The hard economic recession we’re going through is a powerful reminder that campaigning for minimum wage increase was one of the most forward thinking initiatives we’ve ever been a part of. We are building a safety net for the million plus low-wage earners struggling to make ends meet in Ontario today.”

“The ‘$10 Minimum Wage campaign was one of those grassroots initiatives where workers and communities across Toronto stood up and collectively demanded this change, and in 2010 we are finally seeing the fruits of our efforts,” says Effie Vlachoyannacos, former coordinator with the Scarborough Civic Action Network. “It’s about time the minimum wage was increased as wages have been falling behind inflation for years. We’re still a long way from moving people out of poverty, particularly women and new immigrants who constitute the majority of low wage earners, but today’s increase is a great step in the right direction.”

The minimum wage did not increase in Ontario between 1995 and 2004. During this time, working families in Toronto suffered serious setbacks. The real pay of two income families dropped 13% in real dollars; those with only one earner dropped 18%.

Even with the $10.25 per hour minimum wage rate, workers will still be earning about $1,500 per year below the poverty line. In addition, there is no commitment from the Ontario government to issue further wage increases.

The Good Jobs for All Coalition is calling on the Ontario government to raise the minimum wage rate now to at least the Ontario poverty line and make a commitment to annual cost of living increases so that workers are not continually having to fight for this basic dignity.

The Good Jobs for All Coalition is an alliance of more than 40 community, labour and student groups representing people throughout the Greater Toronto Area. For more information on the Coalition and its’ members go to: http://goodjobsforall.ca/

-30-

For more information and interviews, please contact:

- Jessica Bell, Communications, Good Jobs for All Coalition, 416 937 0076, jbell@labourcouncil.ca

- John Cartwright, President, Toronto & York Region Labour Council, 416-999-5663

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cartoon: Henry Dubb by Ryan Walker

Ryan Walker was a cartoonist for the Socialist Paper Appeal to Reason in the days before WWI and the Russian Revolution. We have posted a cartoon below dealing with housing. You can see more cartoons on the Marxists Internet Archive website (marxists.org) [link to homepage] [deep link to cartoons]

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The severe permanent anti-people measures must not pass!

The severe permanent anti-people measures must not pass!
Demonstrations, sit- ins and general strike on Friday March 5th
from KKE: http://inter.kke.gr

Yesterday the Greek government announced the most severe package of measures over the last decades. In this way it confirmed that the attack that the social democrat government of PASOK is launching against the vast majority of the people with the support of the EU, the great capital, the liberal ND and the nationalist LAOS is escalating and it will definitely have no end.

All the measures announced by the government of the social democratic PASOK on Wednesday as well as the others that will come in the future strike a blow at the peoples income either directly by imposing cuts on civil servants’ salaries, Christmas and Easter bonus, as well as on holiday allowance while at the same time similar measures are planed for the private sector or indirectly by means of increasing VAT for all categories of products and services as well other taxes on fuels, alcohol and tobacco. Furthermore the government announced a hiring freeze.

Since Wednesday afternoon after the measures’ announcement, KKE and PAME have been in the frontline for the organization of the counterattack against the full fledged attack against the people.

The day the new measures were announced the forces of PAME immediately realized manifestations in 55 cities throughout Greece. PAME called the people to a general mobilization so as to give a unified, to stage a war against the war of the capital and its parties.

The call for militant mobilization was spread throughout the streets of Athens and other big cities. Thousands of working people participated in the placard protests, the demonstrations and other multiform mobilizations organized by PAME calling the people to reject this policy and to struggle to overthrow it. These initiatives spontaneously were converted into mass manifestations that directly condemned these measures.

This morning the forces of PAME proceeded to a massive sit-in at the building of Ministry of Finance in the centre of Athens and at a number of other government buildings throughout the country.

The action is escalated today with big demonstrations and rallies in more than 62 cities throughout Greece.

On Friday 5, the day that the parliament will pass these measures, PAME calls for a nationwide strike. The working class has the duty to respond to the war launched against it. Workers must fight for themselves, their children and for the next generations.

“It is a tragedy for the people to lose their rights, to see their wages being cut down despite the long lasting struggles in the previous years, despite the sacrifices that led even to blood shed. But above all it is a disgrace -and we do not believe that this will happen- these barbarous measures to pass without the people’s resistance, without the people’s counterattack and even more so to give the impression that the people consent to these measures” stressed Aleka Papariga, GS of the CC of Communist Party of Greece, at a special press conference.

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A look back: Quebec fascism, KKK, bailouts in Ontario, YCL club life

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE FOR FULL READABLE VIEW

Above: YCL clubs of the past may hold lessons and tips for today's youth

Above: ditto.







Above: history proves that IT CAN HAPPEN HERE. Although major fascists like Arcand were federalists, the article above shows nationalism as being more akin to bigotry versus a genuine act of self -determination. While Germany had ominous events like the boycott of Nathan Israel's Department Store and Kristallnacht Toronto has had events like the Riots at Christie Pits Park.













Above: racist movements are again cropping up in Canada, most notably Alberta.

Above: Racism can also be systemic and entangled in class structures and economics, poverty.
(note: Joe Abramovitch's sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment at St.-Vincent-de-Paul Penitentiary in Quebec.)

Above: Is current premier Dalton McGuinty any different?

Above: Unity of the left is still needed more than ever today

Above: Free speech has been fought for more at home than overseas

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Montreal panel on education

You are invited to a Public Panel & Discussion about the Future of Accessible and Quality Higher Education:

What is the future of higher education? Will tuition increase? Should it? Will our universities follow the 'American model'? Should they?

Come learn more or voice your opinion at the Public Panel & Debate:

"The Future of Accessible Education: Who Should Pay for it?"

With panelists:

- Dr. Judith Woodsworth, President, Concordia University
- Dr. Daniel Dagenais, Faculty, Concordia University
- Eric Martin, Researcher, IRIS (Socio-economic Research Institute)

Tuesday March 30th, 2010
6:30pm - 8:30pm (2 hours after the announcement of the provincial budget)
Concordia University's Hall Building, Room H-110
1455 deMaisonneuve W.

The event is open to all and absolutely free.

Organized by Concordia Graduate Students' Association and Free Education
Montreal (formerly Montreal Students Against Tuition Increase), co-sponsored by CKUT and CJLO radio

For more information please email gsa@alcor.concordia.ca /
info@freeeducationmontreal.org

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Luis Posada Carriles and Ladies in White go out on a limb in Miami

Posada Carriles at yesterday's march in Miami (March 25, 2010) Photo: Reuters

Posada Carriles and the Ladies in White, “Friends Forever” - español

By José Pertierra

Translation: Machetera

Only in Miami. Despite the seventy-three outstanding first-degree murder charges against him related to the mid-air explosion of a Cubana Airlines passenger jet, Luis Posada Carriles has not been extradited to Venezuela nor has he been indicted in the United States for these crimes. He wanders unleashed and un-vaccinated along Calle Ocho in Miami, marching alongside Gloria Estefan in support of the so-called Ladies in White.

His support of the “ladies” ought not to surprise us. There is an important link between Posada and these “ladies.” The link is called Santiago Alvarez Fernández-Magriña. It’s a well established fact, admitted even by the “ladies” themselves that their organization receives $1,500 a month from Rescate Jurídico [Legal Rescue] in Miami. Posada and the “ladies” share the same godfather.

The president of Rescate Jurídico is no more and no less than Santiago Alvarez Fernández-Magriña. An extremely close friend and Luis Posada Carriles’ financial sponsor,Alvarez was the person who brought Posada to the United States on his boat, the Santrina, according to documents from the U.S. District Attorney’s office. A few weeks later, he organized the famous and shameful press conference for Posada Carriles who had up until that point been “hidden” in Miami. Alvarez is also the same person who got one of his people to place two bombs in the Tropicana nightclub in Havana. This conversation was recorded and exposed on Cuban television.

It’s evident that the terrorist history of this sinister person did not stop the “ladies” from involving themselves in this game and receiving money salted with Cuban blood. In the United States, receiving money from a terrorist organization is a felony that carries a harsh punishment. I suppose the same is true in Cuba. Nevertheless, until now, the only sanction that these “ladies” have received is repudiation from Cubans in the street. The Cuban government has shown itself to be extremely tolerant, even providing police protection.

Here’s a suggestion for Posada Carriles. If he really wants to march in support of Santiago Alvarez Fernández-Magriña’s “ladies,” he ought to go to Havana to do it. As Calle 13 would say, “I dare you!”

Machetera is a member of Tlaxcala, the international network of translators for linguistic diversity. This translation may be reprinted as long as the content remains unaltered, and the author and translator are cited.

Posada Carriles at yesterday's march in Miami (March 25, 2010) Photo: Reuters

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Cuba's Terry Fox Run

DICK CORNISH'S HAVANA HOWLERS DIARIES - #6 - March 23,2010

What a perfect day!

In a country that has a plethora of heroes and knows how to celebrate them, the biggest hero this weekend in Cuba was Terry Fox. Throngs of Cubans turned out in front of the Capitolio building in downtown Habana to await their syncronized start with every other province and city in the country for the stroke of 10 am on this Sabado, viente de Marzo 2010. This included current Cuban track stars Olympic champion hurdler Dayron Robaldes and world champion triple jumper Yargelis Savigne who were front and centre in recognition factor but played gracious hosts to Terry Fox's run on this day. As they gathered together, my family and I slipped in on the backstreet past Hemmingways famous hangout El Floridita to the grand avenue across from Salon Kid Chocolate (Cubas most famous pugulist), where we joined the Canadian contingent in Habana for a little national pride. Decked out in our finest Canadian gear complete with flags and tatoos we counted down to the start gun as we joined with a Cuban family which included Sophia, Cuba's biggest(smallest?)Terry Fox admirer. I met Sophia 3 years previously and she asked about Terry Fox being from CANADA and informed me through her mother that she loved Terry and participated in a run each year here in her city. I shared with her my own families respect for Terry and his legacy and our own annual participation in the run and fundraising.

Little did I know then that I would be back someday running with both Sophia and her Dad as well as my wife and three children. I also could never have imagined that on my first Cuban Terry Fox run that we would join the rest of the country in welcoming Terry's mother, father and sister to Habana. Terry's family were given a welcome beffiting the true hero that he is and it was humbling as a Canadian (where we tend to downplay our best efforts) to see the outpouring of affection for this family who lost so much and have continued to give so generously of themselves. They were celebrated in the Cuban media for the week proceding an event that we began to look forward to more and more as it crept closer.

However, now that we were only minutes away from the continuation of Terry's Marathon of Hope we could not believe the scale of the celebration in Cuba and how warmly the people here have embraced this truly Canadian boy who won the hearts of not just his countrymen but of many in other countries as well. With my entire family emblazoned with Maple Leaf's we were appoached time and again by Cubans thanking us for giving them Terry Fox and telling us how much they admired his courage. The word HERO was repeated over and over again as my kids talked about their Terry Fox runs at school as well a their own interest in Terry fed by books, TV and movies.

A cuban man brought his young family over to us and stated clearly for my family " Listen closely my English is bad. My family and I honor Mr. Terry Fox for his courage. We thank you for giving us such a hero of Canada." You can't get anymore pride in your nation and people than our family had this day, and to share this with the Fox family was incredible. After the Cuban family came several groups that wished to have pictures taken and talk to us to explain their reasons for participating. We met the Wings of Life group (Alas por la Vida) marching together with their ribbons as cancer survivors. The Habana chapter of the Terry Fox Club intoduced themselves and we took pics together, followed by a Mexican group of runners in for the event, the local Chinese association out for a run together, Curtis Peters with his wife and child who are fellow Reginians whom we just happened to rub elbows with at the starting line and a local group that I think was loosely translated as the Association of the Heart for Terry Fox. And then suddenly, without warning, the starter signaled us off and we were moving in a dense pack out from the front of the Capital building through the picturesque and historical streets of the city. As we trotted along we passed in front of the beautiful churchlike buildings of the main promenade and dived into the gritty downtown avenues of shops and malls most tourist never see. As we ran, the locals applauded generously and vigourously encouraged our efforts. Cheers of TERRY TERRY TERRY echoed back and forth from participants to spectators. The excitement was so palpable you could feel it begin to push you along as the streets narrowed around you and we were engulfed by the hanging laundry and TV antennae that are an integral part of the local city scape.

With three year old William in the kid backpack laughing and cheering, we took film and photos of the scene around us and when I finally looked up I realized that Julianna 12, Cyandra 8 and my wife Joanne (age unknown at time of press) had been sucked down the cobblestones ahead and disappeared into the heart of the city. This was no reason for panic, as in a city of 2 million we were bound to run into each other eventually, and sure enough as I now ran under Williams hard spurring I encountered my wife chatting and strolling elegantly down a tight commercial mall area with a couple who work at the Canadian Embassy. I tossed her the camera and ran off beside my new british friend, approximatley 65 years, who was keeping pace with me and chatting about my rugby jersey before we were seperated by a couple in fine dress and full three piece suit jogging together with a woman in complete white Santa Ria long dress and accessories, who I would surmise was previously unknown to them. They bounded along oblivious to their less than appropriate choice of footwear and I am still at loss to explain whether they were a planned entry with an eccletic selection of training gear or if they were merely swept in by the energy and emotion and became part of the swirling crowd of Cubans from babies to great-grannies.

At the one kilometre mark William had had enough of being the jockey and demanded the opportunity to run, and run he did. When I put him down he was off like a shot and as I struggled to throw the backpack onto my shoulders again he dissapeared around a corner. I heard the cheer building first and then as I neared the intersection, coming like a wall of water, William had turned right at a open area where a large selection of men drinking beer (10:13 am local time) dressed in INDUSTRIALIS (Habana's team in the baseball championship finals currently) blue t-shirts and caps let out a roar as the pint sized participant paraded past in full stroke, seemingly alone and bent on the finish line. As the supporters jumped into the street to high five the streaking boy he cantered to the far side and tucked his head to his chest, firing all cylinders in an attempt to leave his attendants behind. This drew boistrous laughter and a further cheer from his fans which strengthened his resolve to escape Forest Gump like in his gait and arm stroke as he raced up the uneven street ahead. I needed to make a burst with aging knees creaking as a hill unlike any in Saskatchewan (elevation 11 metres) soared ahead of us. William mercifully became entangled with the China Town contingent and slowed to rubber neck at bright silk outfits long enough for me to catch-up.

At this point we came upon his sisters, whose early energies had flagged somewhat. They were now gawking along happily after losing contact with Sophia who completed the uneven course of potholes and cobblestones in a pair of roller blades, without once tumbling on hills, slick corners or other participants socializing their way through a minefield of career ending ankle injuries. From here we could see the Malecon, Habanas seawall that runs nearly the length of the city and is ground for parade, picnic, paramours and apparently a year ago to KC and the Sunshine band, for a concert that may or may not have drawn close to a million people depending on translation and storyteller. With the sea air now blowing behind us we turned onto Prado a long strip from the sea back to the Capitolio with two or three lanes a side and a giant well tree'd plaza type boulevard down the middle. It is gorgeous and requires a full afternoon to saunter along, but a lifetime to enjoy properly. Now with a full stand of spectators to the left William chose to run again and was soon flying down the wide street as a woman running along beside us began to video his tight sprinters style. Her friend waited a moment into our conversation as we jogged before introducing the camera woman as Terry Fox's sister. We delightedly exchanged Canadian greetings and William accepted a high five and was off again intent on escaping his supporters as quickly as he could. "Dad" he said, "people are laughing to me." I responded "No people are liking to you." and on he ran. Each step taken was for him to escape the unwanted attentions but instead drew more as he passed each camera that focused on him.

For his first run of any length William set a personal best that will be hard to better. Long after I thought he had emptied his tank he finally slowed to a walk and then asked to jump back in the backpack. We were just less than one third to go and as I loaded him Cyandra caught up and begged a lift, as she claimed her recently stitched chin (swimming accident) was throbbing as she ran. So with one on the shoulders and one in the pack I lurched off down the course. I thought I was doing pretty well although I admit that an extra 90 pounds does not make for great running especially as I am used to carrying that extra around my midsection rather than my neck. As we reached the last few hundred metres my foggy glasses were threatening to slip off the end of my nose due to the cascade of sweat that was attempting to wash out my vision. My heart pounding in my ears was deafening and my legs were spongey on the uneven terrain. But even now, I was still too caught up in it all. I had to keep jogging onward with my load of laughter. Now the pointing and encouragement was for me as fellow dads shared pain and pride at my precious cargo. With William and Cyandra yelling RUN RUN RUN we swayed forward.

One hundred metres from home and I hear, through my labouring pants, someone say "Yeah Canada, Yeah for Canada" When I turned to my right to see who was cheering my gaze was met by two 50 plus fellows, one wearing a t-shirt with Terry Fox's face on it. "Are you from Canada too?" I gasped. The t-shirted mans amigo answered "Why of course..... this is Terry Fox's father". Unbelieveable!!!! I stop in my tracks (glad for the excuse) and share a quick handshake and greeting with Terry's dad. My wife appeared out of the crowd just in time to snap a few pictures which we will treasure always. A chance meeting on a summer afternoon in Havana.. Me...him.....his friend.........my kids......my wife..... we couldn't be prouder to be Canadians on this spectacular Cuban day.

You could tell Mr. Fox was as excited and taken aback as everyone else who is experiencing this for the first time. To have a kid who is a hero in Canada is amazing, to have a kid who is a hero worldwide is unfathomable. To have a kid who is a hero in Cuba, a land of giant monuments and giant men behind those monuments is a testament to the human appeal of Terry Fox and his struggle. Everyone understands the courage that this man had and admires him for his acheivements. He is a great Canadian and naturally, came from a great Canadian family.

One hour after the last few participants had struggled in we stood across from the Capitolio, waiting in line to say Hi to one last special person on this incredible day. She stood chatting with the people (her people) who lined up to say a few quick words and to have her sign their t-shirts books or pictures of her son. Terry Fox's mother, standing in front of the Salon Kid Chocolate that was was draped in Canadian flags, Cuban flags, Terry Fox flags and banners as well as a 20 foot tall poster of a marathoner breaking the line. She smiled and chatted softly and when our turn came to say hello and to thank her for coming to Habana for the event she didn't hurry. She asked the kids where they were from and then joked with them that they came to Cuba to escape Saskatchewan snowbanks and then thanked us for participating. I may not come back to Habana for Rugby again or to Cuba for tourism but as a family we have promised that we are coming back to run in the Terry Fox Maraton de la Esperanza again as a family and as proud Canadians. You don't get many feelings like this in your life..... I would encourage everyone to make your trip to Cuba during March to include this date. As a Canadian or a as a fellow human being you won't have a better day then this one.

As we stood close for a few minutes afterwards, an American couple approached us to ask about the event and the story of Terry Fox. Joanne and the kids explained as much as they could and pointed out Terry's mom and dad and talked about their trip to the run in Cuba. Their last question was " Where is Terry? Is he here today?" Maybe we didn't have time to explain everything to this young American couple but I think the best answer to their final question was "Yes Terry was here today..... he was here in Habana"

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Vancouver Island Community Forest Action Network versus City of Langford

Vancouver Island Community Forest Action Network versus City of Langford
Press conference: Monday, March 22, 1:00 pm
BC Supreme Court, 850 Burdett St, Victoria
Hearing will last two to three days starting Monday.

Environmental group's Supreme Court case challenges Langford development

"This case is not just about challenging the destruction of natural
heritage," says Zoe Blunt, VIC FAN director. "We're challenging how
they go about doing it - the tactics and strategies they use. This
case is about putting a stop to these abuses of power."

Blunt asks, "Why does Langford want to build more developments, when
they can't even finish the ones they've started? Whose interests are
being served here?"

More than a year after the mayor of Langford "berated, bullied and
browbeat" speakers at a public hearing, the BC Supreme Court will hear
a petition for Judicial Review of the South Skirt Mountain development
bylaw. The petition asks the Supreme Court to quash the bylaw for
violations of the Local Government Act. The hearing is expected to
last two to three days beginning March 22.

Forest Action Network charges Langford City Council with multiple
abuses of the public trust, including:

1) Non-disclosure of documents related to the development's
environmental impacts, heritage values, and infrastructure
requirements.

2) Public hearings tainted by verbal abuse and interruptions by the
mayor, councillors, and pro-development onlookers.

3) Suppression of information about the Spencer Road Interchange (also
known as the Bear Mountain Interchange).

Featuring:

THE PETITIONERS -- Vancouver Island Community Forest Action Network
(VIC FAN) and Zoe Blunt (using my "real" non-pen-name, Tracie Park.)

THE RESPONDENTS -- City of Langford, Totangi Properties, Goldstream
Heights Properties, Bear Mountain Parkway Estates, South Skirt
Mountain Village, and Clara Kramer (intervenor)

THE LAND -- Skirt Mountain (also known as SPAET Mountain) home to
abundant wildlife, rare ecosystems, wildflower meadows, seasonal
creeks and indigenous cultural sites. The South Skirt Mountain
properties are bounded by Bear Mountain Resort to the north, the
TransCanada Highway and the half-built Spencer Interchange to the
south, Goldstream Provincial Park to the west, and Florence Lake to
the east.

FIND OUT:
- Do local officials have the right to "berate, bully and browbeat"
citizens at a public hearing? Does verbal abuse taint due process?

- Is the city required to disclose reports and assessments relating to
a development's impacts on environment, heritage, and infrastructure?

- What's more important when planning growth -- private profits or the
public interest?

Join us at BC Supreme Court in Victoria March 22 and 23, or tune in
from home. Your support and participation are more than welcome! Send
comments to forestaction@gmail.com

Big thanks to everyone who helped bring this case forward - including
all who contributed to our year-long fundraising drive. We are
especially grateful to the Environmental Law Centre at UVic, West
Coast Environmental Law, the Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund,
and lawyers Irene Faulkner and Robin Gage. Thank you!



--
Zoe Blunt
250-813-3569
forestaction@gmail.com
www.forestaction.ca

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Update on Bil'in and Na'alin

In a move the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz called “seriously anti-democratic", the Israeli Army just declared the villages of Bil'in and Na'alin closed military zones from 8am-8pm on Fridays for the next six months. For five years, Friday protests with Palestinian, Israeli and international activists have made these towns centers of unarmed resistance to occupation.

Now it has been announced that Israeli activists in the villages during those hours will be arrested, foreigners will be deported, and Palestinians from other villages will be jailed.

Today, the new repressive policy of the Israeli Army will be tested by Palestinian, Israeli and international nonviolent protesters.

JVP is partnering with local activists who have already started Twittering from the closed areas. You can follow multiple activists Tweets here: http://twitter.com/search?q=%23israelidemocracy (you don't need a Twitter account to read along.)

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Labour Start conference

LabourStart will be holding its first-ever global solidarity conference this summer in Canada and it's very important that you, as one of our correspondents, attends this event.

The conference will be held on 9-11 July 2010 at McMaster University School of Labour Studies, in Hamilton, Ontario.

We're starting to put together a detailed agenda of plenaries and workshops based on the input we've received from trade unionists around the world.

Now we need to know who is coming and we've begun registering participants.

If you would like to attend, please register today.

(You must do this even if you pre-registered -- it will remember your details once you've keyed in your email address.)

Participants from developed countries are expected to pay their own way, but we are also raising some money -- including from registration fees -- to bring over trade unionists from developing countries as well.

This promises to be an enormously exciting and important event and I look forward to seeing you there.

Eric Lee

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Global Peoples Conference on Climate Change

Renowned human rights activists, scientists, academics, and social organisations from various parts of the world have confirmed their participation in the Global Peoples Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth, which will be held in Cochabamba, April 19-22.

Among those who will be present are Naomi Klein, author of No Logo; Eduardo Galeano, author of The Open Veins of Latin America; Danny Glover, actor in films such as Lethal Weapon and 2012; Nobel Peace prize winner Adolfo Perez Esquivel; Jim Hansen, director of the Goddard Institute of Space Studies and NASA climate expert; Bill McKibben, director of 350.org; the philosophy Samir Amin, North American Jerry Mander and others.

Moveover, eight "undeveloped" countries, as the UN refers to them, have confirmed their presence, among them Franck Armel, foreign minister of the Republic of Benin; Idi Nadhoim, vice-president and agriculture minister of the Union of the Comoros; Thant Kyaw, director of foreign relations of Myanmar; Konte Cheikh Abdel Kader, international expert on environment of Senegal; Brima Munda Sowa, general administrator of environmental issues for Sierra Leon; Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi, Minister Plenipotentiary of Yemen; and Khampadith Khammounheuang Ang, director general of Laos, as well as a representative from Nepal.

Bolivia has invited the 192 member nations of the United Nations to participate in the summit that was convoked by president Evo Morales following the failure of the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen.

International social movements who felt defrauded by the document signed in Copenhagen have also confirmed their presence. Representatives from countries such as Belgium, France, Mexico, Malaysia and the US will attend the summit in Cochabamba.

There will be various working groups. In the working group "Reestablish harmony with nature" will be Frei Betto, one of the maximum exponents of Liberation Theology; Bolivian Foreign Minister, David Choquehuanca; and Nobel Peace prize winner Rigoberta Menchu.

In the working group "Rights of Mother Earth" will be Leonardo Boff, one of the main promoters of the rights of the Earth; Corman Cullinan, who in his Wild Law proposes not only changing jurisprudence in the world, but also creating a jurisprudence of the Earth.

As panelists in the working group "Climate Justice Tribunal" will be present the South African bishop Desmond Tuto; the ex-president of the General Assembly of the US, Miguel d'Escoto; and writer Adolfo Perez Ezquivel.

In the working group "Climate debt" will be the writer Eduardo Galeano; Michael Meacher, research on the social impact of the exploitation of oil; and Andrew Sims, among others.

In the working group "Climate migrants" will be the author of No Logo, Naomi Klein; and John Davidson.

In the working group "Forests, food and water under climate change" will be present Pat Money, Alberto Gomez, Hildebrando Velez, Timothy Byakola and others.

In the working group "Do we need a referendum on climate change?" will be present Amy Goodman, journalist Ignacio Ramonet, Joao Pedro Stedile and Antonio Hill.

Moreover, ten presidents have confirmed their participation in the summit, who will debate some alternatives to confront climate change.

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E-mail your M.P. now to support Iraq War resisters and Bill C-440

E-mail your M.P. now to support Iraq War resisters and Bill C-440

In only a matter of a few weeks, Parliament could be debating and voting on Bill C-440, a bill that would make legally binding two motions that have already passed in the House of Commons in support of U.S. Iraq War resisters. Bill C-440 sends a message to the Harper government that the will of the majority in support of war resisters cannot be ignored.

In addition to the nearly 10,000 Bill C-440 postcards that supporters are gathering across Canada, we are asking you to take a few minutes today and directly contact your M.P. to ask them to support Bill C-440.

Here's the form on-line; it only takes a few minutes to e-mail your M.P.:
http://letthemstay.ca/action/email-your-mp/

Canadians are proud of the fact that we refused to send our soldiers into an unsanctioned and immoral war. Even a majority of Americans think Canada did the right thing by not participating. Canada has an honourable tradition of offering sanctuary to Americans who object to wars not sanctioned by the United Nations and want to live a life of peace, free from persecution. During the Vietnam War, Canada welcomed tens of thousands of American war resisters who have contributed greatly to our society.

U.S. Iraq War resisters still face deportation and the threat of jail for doing the right thing. Take action today to make sure your M.P. knows you want Bill C-440 passed.

Send an e-mail to your M.P. here:
http://letthemstay.ca/action/email-your-mp/

For more information and updates on Bill C-440:
http://www.letthemstay.ca/

Organized by the War Resisters Support Campaign:
http://www.resisters.ca/

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Web review: Hayes Peoples History

Want to know a view of U.K. People's and Labour history? you may find Hayes Peoples History of interest.

From rebel youth magazine

Above: image from Hayes People's History blog. A page from the British YCL's paper, Challenge, in the public domain. Notice that "slave-camps" are an issue in 1930s Britain as well as Canada.


other posts YCL, youth related: 1 , 2

And for good measure here is the link to the YCL site in the UK.

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A teacher speaks her mind - Peoples Daily World

Mr. Obama, I am disappointed in you. After all of the hope that surrounded your campaign, to see that you, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, supported such a hopeless decision as the mass firing of all the teachers in the Central Falls, R.I., high school was truly disheartening.

I am a teacher working in a high-need subject (math) in a struggling school in a struggling district just outside of Boston. I go to work every day 45 minutes before I am supposed to arrive. After working an already extended school day (the kids are there for eight hours) I stay another two hours longer than I am required. I spend this time writing lessons, helping students, grading student work and taking care of the assorted administrative tasks that make education run. Sometimes I also do this work at home on the weekends.

As a recent graduate of the education school at Harvard, and an active participant in district professional development, I utilize every applicable current teaching strategy in my practice. I manage my classroom very closely so that, at least while they are with me, my students participate and engage with the material. And still I have students who do not succeed - because so much of education is more than the teacher, or collective of teachers, who work with students each day.

Much of educational success is home life and whether education is reinforced at home. Another significant factor is class size and student load for individual teachers - I am responsible for 142. The more students a teacher has the more individual needs he or she must get to know and manage; too many students can inhibit the success of even the best teacher. Some of it depends on the model used to measure educational success (and whether that model is fair or plays to a student's strengths or weaknesses). Some of it is other factors entirely.

I would hate to think that all of my effort could be cast aside by my district all because the statistics of some standardized test or some other incomplete measurement suggested that I was not doing a good job.

And what of the impact of this sort of decision on the students involved? There are quite a few students with whom, by mid-February, the time of this decision, I had developed some close relationships. What would be the impact on these students if I was suddenly removed from their lives? What lesson would they take from seeing someone they respect, trust and look to as a source of guidance removed from her position because of how they performed on standardized tests? Is that truly the message that should be sent to children in already troublesome situations?

Additionally troubling is that much of the reason your campaign was so successful was the support of teachers' unions and educational workers who saw your presidency as an opportunity to do some real good. To support a unilateral decision against teachers and their union is to throw that support back into the faces of every education professional who has stood with you. It undermines our efforts and our collective bargaining rights in a way that can really hurt public education in our country.

Please consider the impact of your support of this decision.

As your administration turns its attention toward education legislation, please consider the true needs of struggling schools and districts. Continue the hopeful message so prevalent in your campaign. Do not succumb to the top-down, reactionary, status quo established by your predecessor. If you truly wish to have a positive impact on education in America, accept teachers as allies in the movement rather than scapegoating us and punishing our students with reduced resources. Ask us, and our students, what we need in order to improve educational results. Fund struggling schools (all of them, not just the ones that win a contest) with as much money as you can manage from the federal budget. Utilize your administration's brainpower to devise a plan to reach out to families and find ways to truly include them in the educational process. Do whatever is necessary to make education reform a positive experience for all.

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Mississippi court rules school violated lesbian student’s rights

Peoples Daily World

A Mississippi federal court ruled Tuesday that officials at Itawamba Agricultural High School violated a lesbian student's First Amendment rights when it canceled the school prom rather than let the student attend with her girlfriend.

Constance McMillen, an 18-year-old senior, made national headlines when she sued the school district for the right to bring her girlfriend to the prom. School officials had told her she could not wear a tuxedo and had to bring a male date instead.

"It feels really good that the court realized that the school was violating my rights and discriminating against me by canceling the prom," McMillen said in a statement. "All I ever wanted was for my school to treat me and my girlfriend like any other couple that wants to go to a prom."

In the ruling the court wrote, "The record shows Constance has been openly gay since eighth grade and she intended to communicate a message by wearing a tuxedo and to express her identity through attending prom with a same-sex date. The Court finds this expression and communication of her viewpoint is the type of speech that falls squarely within the purview of the First Amendment."

The federal court said the school board does not have to reschedule the dance because parents have already organized an alternative private prom that will be open to all students on April 2.

McMillen said she plans to attend the private prom as well as the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition's Second Chance Prom, a dance open to all LGBT students in the state as well as straight students who are LGBT-supportive.

"Now we can all get back to things like picking out our prom night outfits and thinking about corsages," said McMillen.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented McMillien in the case, hailed the ruling as "a win for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students who just want to be able to be themselves at school without being treated unfairly."

"Public schools can't just stomp on students' free expression rights just because they don't want to deal with these students, and if schools do try to do that they'll be dealing with us," said Kristy Bennett, legal director for the Mississippi ACLU.

Christine P. Sun, senior counsel at the ACLU's national LGBT Project who also represented McMillen, said, "These school officials should be ashamed of themselves for trying to scapegoat a young girl and then trying to lay the blame for their bad behavior at her feet."

McMillen first approached school officials about bringing her girlfriend to the prom in December, and again in February. They said no.

The prom was canceled after the ACLU and supporters demanded the school board reverse its decision to prohibit McMillen from bringing her girlfriend. School officials told McMillen she could not arrive at the prom with her girlfriend and said they would be thrown out if other students complained about their presence.

Both the ACLU and the the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition say they deal with complaints every year from LGBT students all over Mississippi who face resistance from their schools about bringing same-sex dates to proms. Some students don't feel safe going to their own proms, they note.

LGBT activists hope McMillen's story sheds light on the problem and encourages school districts everywhere to accept students for who they are regardless of their sexual orientation.

About 715 students attend McMillen's high school in the town of 4,000 in rural northern Mississippi.

Since McMillen's case was filed, a Facebook page set up for her case has attracted over 400,000 supporters. McMillen was also a recent guest on the Ellen DeGeneres talk show and received a $30,000 university scholarship.

Photo: Constance McMillen with her father. Facebook/Let Constance Take Her Girlfriend to Prom!

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