Lebanon: 30,000 civilians caught in crossfire
BEIRUT (IPS) — Palestinians inside Lebanon have been in a quandary as to how to assist the more than 30,000 residents of the densely populated Nahr el-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon, where thousands are still trapped after fighting between Lebanese Army units and members of a Sunni Islamist group, Fatah al-Islam, broke out May 20.
Rice pressures Spain on Cuba
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice condemned Spain’s recent opening to Cuba as she talked with reporters accompanying her May 29 to Germany, Austria and Spain for talks.
WHAT'S REALLY GOOD
Burger King: a ‘Whopper’ suspect Students win worker justice Mamas walk for peace Stand up against guns
Angelinos fight transit rate hike
LOS ANGELES — Hundreds of workers, students, handicapped and elderly people filled the downtown Metropolitan Transit Authority building May 24 to protest proposed transit fare hikes, following MTA Chief Executive Roger Snoble’s announcement of restructuring proposals that would raise basic bus and rail fares from $1.25 to $2.00 for a one-way trip.
Critics say expansion plan wont reform California prisons
A $7.4 billion program to expand California’s already vast prison system, proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and approved by the Legislature last month, is drawing fire from advocates of prison reform and is viewed skeptically even by some legislative leaders.
Market efficiency and health care
For several decades now, those who advocate privatizing virtually every government program preach about how much more efficient private business is, how much more can be accomplished with less drain on the public coffers. Well, now we have proof about how right they are: not at all!
THIS WEEK IN LABOR
Security workers march for health care, respect Congress approves boost in minimum wage Defense Dept. unions fight to overturn Bush rules Minnesota hospital contracts protect nurses’ right to unionize
Ohioans urge end to foreclosure frenzy
CLEVELAND — Residents here appealed to Congress May 21 to end the epidemic of home foreclosures wrecking their city. Community leaders, public officials, researchers and banking experts charged in testimony at a congressional hearing that the Federal Reserve Bank had abdicated its regulatory responsibility and was complicit in the raping of inner-city neighborhoods, especially in the African American community.
Workers, residents protest immigration raids
PAINESVILLE, Ohio — In sorrow and anger, over 200 people held an evening rally in front of St. Mary Catholic Church here, May 21, protesting sweeping arrests by federal immigration authorities over the weekend.
