April

Bush IOU stunt cynical and irresponsible

WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush’s Social Security road show ran off the road last week and he can’t seem to get it back on track. The uproar was unleashed April 5, when he cast doubts on the creditworthiness of the federal government.

Celebrating women in peace, freedom struggles

PHILADELPHIA — In honor of Women’s History Month, the Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware District of the Communist Party USA hosted “Celebrating the Contribution of Women in the Struggle for Peace, Freedom, Justice and Equality” forum here.

Newsmaker winners announced

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The People’s Weekly World Connecticut bureau announced this week the recipients of its annual Newsmaker Awards. Connecticut Working Families Party and Community Organized for Responsible Development (CORD) have been selected to receive this year’s awards for building the coalition against the Bush agenda with grassroots organizing to win democratic rights for working people.

SOARs George Edwards: Sparkplug for rank & file activism

George Edwards points out he’s the only unpaid worker at the Steelworkers’ Gateway Center headquarters in Pittsburgh. The 87-year-old veteran of the Lorain, Ohio, US Steel mill now wields a phone and a keyboard instead of a pair of calipers, but he’s working just as hard on the class struggle as he did throughout his 39 years in mill. He is putting his energy into building what he calls “probably the most activist organization in the Steelworkers” — the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees.

National Clips

BASILE, La.: Women inmates petition for reform; SPRINGFIELD, Ill.: Gov. orders pharmacists to provide birth control; INDIANAPOLIS: Demand full funding for schools; BURLINGTON, Vt.: Health care for every resident; MADISON, Wis.: Voting rights under attack

Cesar Chavez 78th birthday celebrated

Across the nation, gatherings honored the 78th anniversary of the birth of labor and civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers of America and a leader in struggles for political and economic rights and peace.

NYC considers law for day labor

On a typical New York morning, thousands of workers can be seen congregating on sidewalks throughout the city, waiting to be taken to worksites. Called day laborers, these workers are among the most exploited in the nation.

Zimbabwe vote results draw mixed reactions

The March 31 Zimbabwe parliamentary elections resulted in a victory for ZANU-PF, the ruling party led by President Robert Mugabe.

Bush team blinks as Venezuela advances

Venezuelan President Chavez asked Feb. 25, “If not capitalism, then what? I have no doubt, it’s socialism. … But what kind?” Change is the rule now in Venezuela, and the forces of popular struggle there are causing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to look over her shoulder. Hugo Chavez himself is coming under similar pressures.

World Notes

Colombia: Army kills 3 trade unionists; Brazil: IMF loan won’t be renewed; Korean Peninsula: Protest vs. U.S. nuclear sub; Nigeria: Oil workers set ‘warning’ strike; India: ‘Just say No’ to F-16s

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