French rail strike enters 8th day, spreads to civil servants
PARIS — French rail workers entered the eighth day of their nationwide strike to defend their hard-won retirement benefits on Nov. 21, buoyed by parallel strike actions by teachers, firefighters, utility workers, airport personnel, customs agents, tax inspectors, and weather service employees who walked out the day before in a dispute over proposed job cuts.
Middle East talks in Annapolis: photo-op or talk-fest?
There is one thing certain about the international (or regional or bilateral) Middle East peace conference (or meeting or get-together) called by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (or George Bush or Elliott Abrams) for November (or maybe December): it’s going to be held in Annapolis, Md. (probably).
Who are the real American gangsters?
If you want fast-paced, episodic plotting and the latest Hollywood version of “Super Fly,” go see “American Gangster.” But whether you’ve seen it or not, here is my opinion. And I’m 65 years old and come from these same streets by way of St. Louis, Chicago and New York, so I not only do I have an opinion, but I have a qualified one at that!
20,000 protest torture school at Fort Benning
In what has become the nation’s largest annual gathering for peace and human rights, over 20,000 people protested outside the gates of Fort Benning, Ga., on Nov. 18. Eleven people were arrested on federal criminal charges and face up to six months in prison.
Who is Ron Paul?
It is relatively easy to see why far-right presidential candidate Ron Paul of Texas is driving some of the other Republicans crazy. He clearly won the straw poll after their first debate. On Nov. 5, he set a one-day fund-raising record through the Internet. Polls show that, although he is still far behind the big-money candidates, he is beating TV star Fred Thompson and in a dead heat with war hero John McCain.
Young Communist leader speaks to Texans
DALLAS — The national coordinator of the Young Communist League, Erica Smiley, spoke to audiences in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 2-6. While she was primarily on tour to boost the People’s Weekly World fund drive, she also sowed seeds for a stronger youth movement.
POEM: Hey Bush
Hey Bush step back. Stop trying to kill Iraq. You devil that’s a fact. Stop trying to act.
Where should we go? How did we get here?
Even though we can point to a number of promising developments in today’s trade union movement, the declining membership numbers nag away at our hopeful attitude. After the General Motors and Chrysler contracts gave a grim edge to our expectations, more and more unionists came to realize that finding a way forward is needed.
L.A. 8 case ends in full exoneration
On Nov. 1, attorneys for the two last remaining defendants in the famous “Los Angeles 8” case announced an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, whereby all government proceedings against the two Palestinian immigrants would be dropped. This ended a 20-year ordeal
Jena Six plea: Not guilty!
Jena Six defendant Bryant Purvis pleaded not guilty to reduced charges of aggravated second-degree battery in his arraignment before the LaSalle Parish Court in Jena, La., Nov. 7.
