Michael Lebowitz is a professor emeritus of economics at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver and an award-winning author. His most recent book is The Contradictions of 鈥淩eal鈥 Socialism. He was director of the Program in Transformative Practice and Human Development, Centro Internacional Miranda, in Caracas from 2006-2011.
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This statement was released by on October 25.
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Starting on October 25, WikiLeaks begins releasing the 鈥橠etainee Policies鈥: more than 100 classified or otherwise restricted files from the United States Department of Defense covering the rules and procedures for detainees in U.S. military custody.
This episode focuses on feminism's resurgence and Venezuela's unfolding revolution. It includes activist news on Stop CSG protests, Global Noise protests, plus Carlo Sands on the European Union's Nobel Peace prize win, and a performance by 1000 eyes at Occupy.
In a show of force, about 10,000 supporters of the Frente Guasu attended a rally addressed by the party鈥檚 leader, ex-president of Paraguay Fernando Lugo, in the regional city of Coronel Ovideo on October 25.
Lugo was deposed in June in a parliamentary coup. Lugo's removal was organised by right-wing forces opposed to progressive changes that threatening to challenge the interests of the traditional oligarchy and US imperialism.
The Venezuelan government has begun to send shipments of over 646 tons of much needed humanitarian aid to Cuba and Haiti after both countries were hit by Hurricane Sandy. The aid includes mostly non-perishable food items and water, as well as machinery to help remove debris.
The hurricane first struck the Caribbean last week before heading north to the US. So far, Haiti has been the worst hit by the disaster, counting a death toll of 54 people, followed by 11 in Cuba. (By November 4, the US death toll was well over 100 and growing.)
Warhol to Picasso: Fourteen Modern Artists
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Until December 3
This exhibition brings together 120 of some of the 20th century鈥檚 most important art works that catalogue some critical attempts to break through the bourgeois encirclement of human existence and point towards liberation.
Using Spanish artist Pablo Picasso and American Andy Warhol as the convenient gateposts, it allows us to read the rise and fall of the century鈥檚 revolutionary sentiment.
Last week, 91自拍论坛鈥檚 fledgling video project, 91自拍论坛 TV, was forced to take down a video about protests by asylum seekers jailed on Nauru by the Australian government, because it was threatened with imminent legal action.
But we have persisted in getting out the desperate messages from these victims of a brutal and ultimately racist policy, as you can see in this week's issue and in a 91自拍论坛 TV interview with a refugee from Nauru:
鈥淣ow there鈥檚 two of us,鈥 declared Alex Greenwich, after he won the NSW seat of Sydney in the October 27 by-election. Greenwich received just under 65% of the two-party preferred vote: a 12% swing to Clover Moore's independents.
The by-election was held because of the NSW government鈥檚 鈥淕et Clover Bill,鈥 which banned MPs from sitting on local council. Sydney mayor Clover Moore then had to resign from her seat in state parliament.
In his victory speech, Greenwich stood with Moore and spoke of how the attempt to rob Sydney of its independent voice had backfired on the government.
Feminists from various organisations and groups gathered outside NSW Parliament House on October 23 to protest the severe cuts the Barry O鈥橣arrell government has proposed for several community organisations.
Some of the centres and services that face an uncertain future include the Liverpool Women鈥檚 Resource Centre, which provides information and support to disadvantaged and abused women, and the Margaret Jurd Learning Centre, a non-government school that caters for children with disabilities.
The Melbourne media have ignored the raised vote for socialists in the October 27 local government elections.
The Socialist Party鈥檚 sitting councillor Steve Jolly increased his vote from 29.2% in 2008 to 34.24% in the inner-city City of Yarra council. In other wards of Yarra Council, the Socialist Party increased its vote but did not retain its other sitting councilor, Anthony Main.
Since Jolly was elected, his vote has continued to rise. This is because he and the Socialist Party have used the council position to build campaigns in the local area.
Socialist Alliance candidate Sue Bolton was elected to Moreland City Council in Melbourne鈥檚 northern suburbs in the October 27 elections.
The election provided a shake-up with the ALP losing three councillors and its outright majority on council. The Greens retained two councillors although their vote dropped in all three wards.
The Socialist Alliance gained its first councillor position in Victoria and a Liberal Party member was elected to Moreland Council for the first time. The Democratic Labor Party retained its councillor.
The Sydney Stop the War Coalition released the statement below on November 2.
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Prime Minister Julia Gillard made her to an almost empty Parliament House on October 31.
After 11 years, she insists that the International Security Assistance Force counter-insurgency strategy against the Taliban is 鈥渨orking鈥 and the Afghan National Army is on track to take over security in 2014 鈥 when the Western forces 鈥渓eave鈥.
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