L.A. janitors take on big aerospace
LOS ANGELES — Some 500 Los Angeles janitors are standing up to the nation’s giant aerospace corporations here. Click here for Spanish text
Objection!!!: Supreme Court nominee seen as threat to women, labor, racial equality
WASHINGTON — Hours after President George W. Bush nominated John G. Roberts to the Supreme Court, fighters for human rights bombarded the Senate with demands that they reject him on grounds he is an enemy of women’s equality, labor rights and voting rights. Roberts’ nomination threatens to push the nation’s highest court further to the right for years to come, they said
Grenada hit hard by Hurricane Emily
Still reeling from the disaster of last September’s Hurricane Ivan, Grenada was battered early Thursday by Hurricane Emily, killing at least one man, injuring many and destroying several buildings.
Asian nations to U.S.: Set date to leave bases
The Shanghai Cooperation Association — China, Russia and the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrghizstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — last week fired a diplomatic shot across the bow of the Bush administration’s plans to keep bases in Central Asia.
Connecticut nails Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart has been nailed for child labor violations by the state of Connecticut. The State Department of Labor has fined Wal-Mart stores in Putnam, Norwalk and Hartford for 69 violations. These violations parallel similar violations of child labor laws throughout the country and world.
Houston activists celebrate housing victory
HOUSTON — Chinese food and lively music helped local members of ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, beat the Texas heat June 25. They gathered at the Julia C. Chester House in the historic, predominantly African American 5th Ward to celebrate the passage of Texas House Bill 1823.
The Keeper: The legend of Omar Khayym
HOUSTON — I attended a screening of the new independent film “The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyám” here in June. The film was written, directed and produced by Kayvan Mashayekh, who emigrated from Iran to the U.S. in 1979 with his family when he was 11. Seven years ago he abandoned his Houston law practice to pursue his dream of directing movies.
London concert celebrates Peggy Seegers 70th
The Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s South Bank was packed on May 29 as legendary folk performers from both Britain and the U.S. gathered to celebrate the 70th birthday of legendary folk singer-songwriter Peggy Seeger.
Whats behind the Student Bill of Rights?
An older generation of teachers may remember the days of California’s loyalty oaths and red scares. During the cold-war, McCarthyite era of the early 1950s, educators accused of being Communists or harboring left-wing views were driven from the school system.
Supremes stand up for big business
On June 27, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, illegalized peer-to-peer file sharing networks — P2P for short. Motion Picture Association (MPA) moguls, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) giants and other capitalists, who fought long and valiantly to convince the American people that sharing art is a mortal sin, now rejoice in their victory over the evil P2P.
