Daily Archives: December 13, 2021

2021-12-13: News Headlines

Internationalist 360 ∞ (2021-12-13). Guernica, Lidice, My Lai … and Now Talon Anvil. libya360.wordpress.com Patrick Martin US MQ-9 Reaper Drone (Image credit: U.S. Air Force/Paul Ridgeway public domain) On Sunday, the New York Times published a detailed report chronicling the systematic, years-long mass murder of civilians by the United States in Iraq and Syria, carried out by a death squad called Talon Anvil. The unit directed air strikes and…

Staff (2021-12-13). Headlines for December 13, 2021. democracynow.org Biden Declares Major Federal Disaster in KY; 100+ Feared Dead After Tornadoes Rip Through 8 States, U.S. Health Officials Say Boosters Could Curb Winter COVID Surge as NY Tightens Mask Rules, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Tests Positive for COVID-19, Over Half a Billion People Faced Extreme Poverty Due to Healthcare Costs During Pandemic, SCOTUS Says Providers Can Sue over Texas Abortion Law But Limits Scope and Keeps Ban in Place, Gov. Gavin Newsom Says He Will Use Texas Abortion Ban as Model for CA Gun Control Laws, NYT: Secret Unit Launched 10,000s of Strikes Against ISIS, Killing Syrian Civilians in…

Alan MacLeod (2021-12-13). "Every option is on the table": U.S. prepping for Libya-style intervention in Ethiopia. mronline.org A considerable military buildup is now underway. Last week, the U.S. military announced it was sending over 1,000 National Guard members to nearby Djibouti.

WSWS (2021-12-13). Australian government, Labor opposition greenlight US rendition of Julian Assange. wsws.org There is outraged opposition to Assange's persecution in Australia, but it will find no way forward within the parliamentary set-up.

Internationalist 360 ∞ (2021-12-13). Paper Tiger Imperialism and the US-Beijing Boycott. libya360.wordpress.com Miguel Garcia On Monday, December 6, 2021, the United States government announced they would not be sending government officials to the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022. The diplomatic boycott is the latest move by Washington and the Biden administration in their all-out-blitz smear campaign against the People's Republic of China. White House…

Sonali Kolhatkar (2021-12-13). Amazon preparing its next offensive, but it can't bust unions forever. peoplesworld.org The National Labor Relations Board, or NLRB, just ruled that a historic union vote among Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Ala., was not valid. The highly publicized vote resulted in a resounding defeat for the union in March 2021, with more than 70% of those voting choosing against union membership. The union accused Amazon of engaging in "efforts to gaslight its …

WSWS (2021-12-13). Germany's new chancellor and foreign minister visit Paris and Warsaw: Promoting European Great Power policy. wsws.org The new German government regards a strong European Union as a precondition for an aggressive military foreign policy. This calls for close collaboration with its largest neighbours, France and Poland.

Joris Leverink (2021-12-13). Mutual aid and solidarity in Nigeria's #EndSARS protests. roarmag.org Young people joining the #EndSARS protesters in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. October 20, 2020. Photo: Emmage / Shutterstock.com | On October 18, 2020, during the #EndSARS protests against police violence and state corruption in Nigeria's capital Abuja, a photo was shared on social media that quickly drew nationwide attention. The image showed passionate protesters with their fists pumped in the air, mouths wide open singing songs and chanting slogans. Some were holding placards that read "Our Lives Matter." | What drew the attention of the public, however, was the woman right at the center of the image. With a small N…

Chabeli Carrazana (2021-12-13). Build Back Better Could Help End Subminimum Wages for People With Disabilities. truthout.org Originally published by For almost a century, it has been completely legal for companies to pay workers with disabilities mere cents on the hour. Employees This practice of paying "subminimum wage," which the U.S. Departm…

_____ (2021-12-13). Columbia University Strikers Raise Hell, Saying School Plans To Illegally Replace Them. popularresistance.org Now, the brinkmanship has heightened. Late last week, Columbia Vice President of Human Resources Dan Driscoll emailed all of the student workers telling them that only strikers who returned to work by December 10 would be assured of work assignments for the spring term. (The email also said that "striking student officers who return to work after December 10, 2021 will be appointed/ assigned to suitable positions if available.") To the union, this was a clear threat to permanently replace striking workers‚Äâ—‚Äâand an illegal one.

_____ (2021-12-13). Workers At Activision Blizzard Lead Week-Long Work Stoppage. popularresistance.org The work stoppage began on Monday when quality assurance (QA) workers at Raven Software, one of the main developers behind the hit Call of Duty video game series, began being laid off. Employees are demanding that these contractors be reinstated and given full-time contracts. The exact number of workers participating in the work stoppage is unclear, but hundreds of both remote and in-person employees across studios and states participated, with many walkouts occurring virtually.

Monica Cruz (2021-12-13). Six workers killed in Amazon warehouse collapse. peoplesdispatch.org At least six people have been killed and countless others injured during a partial collapse of its Edwardsville, Illinois warehouse on the night of December 10. A category EF3 tornado hit the warehouse around 8: 35 pm. The "search and rescue" mission through the remaining rubble has changed to a "search and recover" mission, suggesting that officials believe there are no survivors. | At least 100 workers were in the warehouse at the time of the collapse and an unknown number are still missing. Management does not have an exact number of how many workers were in the warehouse at the time the tornado hit because a s…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-12-13). 6 weeks and counting: Graduate student workers stay defiant before Columbia University admin. peoplesdispatch.org The graduate student worker union organized a large protest on Wednesday December 8, and shut down two main entrances of the university's Manhattan campus. Dozens of community members and workers from a host of different unions joined them in solidarity…

WSWS (2021-12-13). Kellogg's strikers denounce mass firing threat, two-tier wages from the picket lines in Battle Creek, Michigan. wsws.org Striking Kellogg's workers remain defiant and opposed to any concessions following their rejection of a concessions contract brokered by the BCTGM union.

WSWS (2021-12-13). Unionization vote passes at Starbucks in Buffalo, New York. wsws.org Despite the small number of workers involved, the unionization drive has drawn substantial attention in the national press and from top Democratic Party politicians.

WSWS (2021-12-13). "Amazon should absolutely be held liable": Growing outrage over deaths of workers kept on the job during massive tornado outbreak in US. wsws.org Workers at an Amazon facility in Edwardsville, Illinois, and at a candle manufacturing plant in Mayfield, Kentucky, were working late into the night and early morning as a series of devastating tornadoes ripped through six states.

Jake Johnson (2021-12-13). Sunrise Movement Says Call Tornado Devastation What It Is: "A Climate Disaster" truthout.org As emergency workers and local residents sifted through the wreckage of towns left devastated by the tornado system that hammered six U.S. states over the weekend, the youth-led Sunrise Movement "People's homes have been demolished, 40,000 people are without power, and there are so many unanswered questi…

WSWS (2021-12-13). West Coast educators and parents support Global Workers' Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic. wsws.org West coast educators and parents met to discuss concerning developments in the global COVID-19 pandemic with the spread of the Omicron variant and the urgency to fight for necessary public health measures to stop the spread of the virus.

Sarah Anderson (2021-12-13). Gig Workers are in the Driver's Seat in Europe. Is There Hope for the US? inequality.org

Noah Styzkgold, with a contribution from the Battle Creek picket line by Kris Hamel (2021-12-13). Kellogg's workers reject two-tier contract. liberationnews.org The workers are ready to fight back against their employer's demands for ever greater concessions and attempts to push the workers to sell out future generations.

Editor (2021-12-13). 'Inexcusable': Amazon Under Fire After Warehouse Collapse Kills at Least Six. scheerpost.com Workers remove debris from an Amazon Fulfillment Center in Edwardsville, Illinois, on December 11, 2021, after it was hit by a tornado. The event caused at least six deaths at the facility that suffered "catastrophic damage," while the western Kentucky town of Mayfield was "ground zero" of the storm—a scene of "massive devastation," one official said. (Photo: Tim Vizer/AFP via Getty Images) | By Andrea Germanos / Amazon was accused Saturday of putting corporat…

Cam Scott (2021-12-13). Canadian Communist movement celebrated in new feature-length documentary. peoplesworld.org The life of a Communist Party, in its everyday intensity and historical specificity, too often eludes commemoration. There are meetings, demonstrations, pickets; glowing victories and momentary defeats. So much remains unwritten in the momentum of revolutionary enthusiasm that it can be astonishing to notice just how far we've come. To celebrate the centenary of the …

teleSUR (2021-12-13). Colombia: Commons Party Presents 21 Candidates For Senators. telesurenglish.net On Sunday, Colombia's Commons Party (PC) presented 21 candidates for senators to contest in the 2022 elections. Whatever the results of the vote, the 2016 Peace agreement signed between the Colombian State and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) secures this party 10 seats in the Senate. | RELATED: | "Our list of candidates has gender parity and is representative since it comprises politicians from 20…

Natalia Marques (2021-12-13). Unions, NYC community back strikers at Columbia U. liberationnews.org The escalation in tactics from a picket line in the middle of campus to a picket line peacefully blocking entrances is a response to illegal threats by Columbia.

Tucker Davis, Zach Farber (2021-12-13). MLB execs shut down baseball industry in attempt to divide player's union. liberationnews.org At midnight on Dec. 2, Major League Baseball executives officially began a "lockout" of players from all team facilities. This results from the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement between the MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association which is the union representing around 1,200 players. Speaking for the MLBPA, executive director Tony Clark stated, "We remain committed to negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement that enhances competition, improves the product for our fans, and advances the rights and benefits of our membership."

WSWS (2021-12-13). The misunderstood—and misrepresented—Zero COVID policy in China. wsws.org One of the most striking facts about the pandemic is that China, the country from which SARS-CoV-2 first emerged, has suffered very few cases. This article is a detailed look at China's Zero COVID policy.

Internationalist 360 ∞ (2021-12-13). Highland Resistance: How the Che Guevara Commune Confronts the Crisis. libya360.wordpress.com Cira Pascual Marquina and Chris Gilbert First-hand accounts of the impact of the US sanctions on a coffee and cocoa growing commune in the Venezuelan Andes. The Che Guevara Commune lies on the fertile hillsides that rise up from the shores of Lake Maracaibo in western Venezuela. Historically this has been a cocoa-growing region but…

teleSUR (2021-12-13). The ALBA-TCP Summit To Foster Latin American Sovereignty. telesurenglish.net Cuba's Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Josefina Vidal said that 19th Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples' Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP) to be held in Havana on Tuesday will strengthen Latin American sovereignty. | RELATED: | "The Summit will be a good opportunity to assess the regional scenario, actions to guarantee peace and stability, and political agreements to prevent interfere…

teleSUR (2021-12-13). ALBA Denounces US' Criminal Use of COVID Against Other Nations. telesurenglish.net The executive secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People's Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP), Sacha Llorenti, ratified this Monday the regional bloc as a mechanism for strengthening Latin American unity. | Executive Secretary of ALBA-TCP Sacha Llorenti said Tuesday, "We are proud to hold the first face-to-face summit in Cuba. Despite the challenges we remain steadfast, as ALBA continues to be as necessary as it was 17 years ago."

Carlos Fazio (2021-12-13). Biden vs. Maduro: øCambio de ruta? globalizacion.ca El reconocimiento del gobierno de Nicolás Maduro como representante legítimo de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela por la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas y las contradicciones emergentes dentro de los sectores más extremistas del antichavismo, exhiben el fracaso de…

Seoul Women's Association (2021-12-13). Korean Feminists Shout "Ni Una Menos" (Not One Less). peoplesdispatch.org November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The date was first selected in 1981 to honor three sisters who had fought against the dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. In 2000, it was designated an international day by the United Nations. | The Korean government also designated the week for the elimination of violence against women in 1981, but reality hasn't changed a lot since then. That is why the Seoul Women's Association (SWA) and its sister organization the College Feminist Club Association decided to perform "Un violador en tu camino" ("A Rapist in Your Path"). The…

Internationalist 360 ∞ (2021-12-13). Indian Farmers Celebrate Victory March as Their Historic Struggle Ends. libya360.wordpress.com Peoples Dispatch On December 11, tens of thousands of farmers in India participated in a final 'Victory March' from the borders of national capital Delhi where they had been camping in protest for over a year After a year and 15 days, the historic farmers' struggle at the borders of the Indian capital New Delhi…

Internationalist 360 ∞ (2021-12-13). Moussa Ibrahim: Saif Al-Islam Qaddafi Has the Widest Support Heading into Libyan Elections. libya360.wordpress.com We speak to Moussa Ibrahim, the former spokesperson for late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. He discusses the overturning of the decision banning Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi (the son of Muammar Gaddafi) from running in the Libyan Presidential elections, current polling for the elections and why he believes the polls are wrong, why Saif Al-Islam is the…

Internationalist 360 ∞ (2021-12-13). Venezuela: Why Chavismo Must Win in Barinas. libya360.wordpress.com Eder Peña Santo Domingo river canyon, in Barinitas, Barinas state (Photo: Archive). From the valley of the Santo Domingo river comes a strong wind called "Barinés" that descends from the Andean mountain range in a west-east direction during the rainy season, against the prevailing trade winds in most of the country. Contrary to what a…

teleSUR (2021-12-13). 'I Defend Social Equity': Chilean Presidential Candidate Boric. telesurenglish.net With less than 7 days to go until the second round of the presidential elections, the "Approve Dignity" coalition candidate Gabriel Boric is consolidating himself as the politician who represents the desire for change in Chilean society. | RELATED: | Born in 1986 in Punta Arenas City, Boric joined the "Autonomous Left" organization and was elected the Chilean University Student Federation (FEH) councilor in 2008 w…

Sarah Anderson (2021-12-13). A Last-Ditch Effort to Eliminate a Tax Dodge for Super-Rich Private Equity Executives. inequality.org

teleSUR (2021-12-13). Bolivia & Venezuela Urge To Strengthen LATAM Integration. telesurenglish.net On Sunday, Vice Presidents David Choquehuanca (Bolivia) and Delcy Rodriguez (Venezuela) met in Caracas, where they ratified their countries' commitment to strengthen regional integration and fight social injustices. | RELATED: | "On behalf of our people, we received Choquehuanca and sent a message of peace and brotherhood to Bolivia," Rodriguez tweeted, stressing that her government defends Simon Bolivar'

Staff (2021-12-12). Arrogant powers delighted by suffering of Iranian people. en.mehrnews.com Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the arrogant powers' joy at the suffering of the Iranian people has been manifested in events such as imposing a "medical embargo on the Iranian nation".

_____ (2021-12-12). Incarcerated Journalists Fought Isolation And Illness To Expose Abusive Conditions. popularresistance.org In the summer of 2020 we launched a collaborative writing program to connect incarcerated writers with outside journalists and editors. Our goal was to help them publish their writing in mainstream media publications. | We began only a few weeks after COVID-19 came into San Quentin State Prison, where Rahsaan lives. We knew that COVID-19 would be an incredible threat to people incarcerated, but were unprepared for the devastation and loss ahead. At San Quentin — which became home to the largest outbreak in the country — Rahsaan became infected with the virus and experienced the mental health toll of b…

Labor Video Project (2021-12-12). Justice For Cab Drivers! Taxi Drivers Demand Their Money Back From San Francico Officials. indybay.org Taxi cab drivers who have or had medallions protested the MTA and city officials who allowed them be become devalued.

Olivia Engling (2021-12-12). White House Hosts Democracy Summit and Highlights Global Anti-Corruption Commitments. indybay.org More than 100 leaders showcase initiatives to counter dictatorships, fight corruption and promote human rights at a virtual summit the White House hosts December 9-10.

Gary Flomenhoft (2021-12-12). 'The Time Machine' in Australia, in the Age of Covid. asiatimes.com In the classic H G Wells story The Time Machine, the Eloi are the surface-dwelling descendants of the upper class who are bred and fed on by the subterranean-dwelling Morlock cannibals, descendants of the working class. In the story, the Eloi don't ask any questions and line up voluntarily to be food for the Morlocks …

ecns.cn (2021-12-12). 17 mln U.S. workers hit by economic setback in pandemic: report. ecns.cn Nearly 17 million U.S. workers lost their jobs or saw their wages decline in the course of the pandemic, a U.S. report said on Thursday.

Dipa Sinha (2021-12-12). India's community health workers' struggle for recognition. zcomm.org India's ASHA and anganwadi workers are rallying under the slogan "Community health work is work!" to demand fair pay and treatment for the essential services they provide…

WSWS (2021-12-12). Numerous warnings were issued in advance of tornadoes that killed dozens of candle factory and Amazon workers. wsws.org At least six Amazon workers died after a warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois received a direct hit. In Kentucky, a tornado struck an occupied candle factory in the city of Mayfield, with 100 workers in it.

Sharon Zhang (2021-12-12). Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez Celebrate Starbucks Workers' Historic Union Victory. zcomm.org Progressive lawmakers are celebrating after Starbucks workers in Buffalo triumphed over nearly insurmountable odds to form the company's first-ever union…

Brett Wilkins (2021-12-12). Socialist Seattle Council Member Sawant Declares 'Apparent Victory'. zcomm.org "Terrible news all around for the capitalist bums."

Revolution Books (2021-12-12). Sunday 12/19: Revolution Books at the Telegraph Ave. Holiday Street Fair. indybay.org Telegraph and Durant in front of 2340 Telegraph, Berkeley…

ecns.cn (2021-12-12). Commissioner's office of Chinese foreign ministry urges U.S., EU politicians to stop interfering in HK's rule of law. ecns.cn The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Friday strongly disapproved of and firmly rejected irresponsible remarks of some U.S. politicians and misguided comments of some European Union (EU) officials on Hong Kong.

National Welfare Rights Union (2021-12-12). Friday 12/10: Día de los Derechos Humanos: °Llévense nuestra pobreza, no nuestros hijos! indybay.org Evento en línea…

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