World notes: Feb. 16, 2008
Iraq: Food shortages loom Cuba: Guantanamo gets new prison Bangladesh: Garment workers fight crackdown Eritrea: No fuel for UN troops Venezuela: Courts favor Exxon Mobil Germany: Steelworkers out on warning strike
Workers die in mushroom clouds
For the second time in two months, America has witnessed a catastrophic industrial explosion involving multiple fatalities. On Dec. 19, 2007, the small T2 Laboratories in Jacksonville, Fla., detonated in a towering mushroom cloud, killing four workers.
McCain to seniors, vets: tough luck
One more unemployment check to a worker without a job might keep him or her in an apartment or a house. A $400 rebate check to a senior citizen or a disabled veteran might mean a meal tonight instead of nothing to eat.
Dalzenia Henry, community and union leader
Dalzenia D. Henry, of New Haven, Conn., a community and union leader for social and economic justice and peace died on Jan. 12 after a sudden illness at age 49. She devoted her life to working with children, and was acting president of the AFSCME local at the Children’s Center. Previously she had conducted an after school program for children at the Quinnipiac Terrace housing development where she grew up.
And the Oscar goes to?
The recently announced Oscar nominations include films of interest to progressive cineastes.
A-plus for Atonement
“Atonement” came out last December but I passed on it. It was nominated for the Academy Award for best picture, so finally I went to see it.
There Will Be Blood and profits!
“There Will Be Blood,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, is based on the Upton Sinclair novel “Oil!” It was filmed in West Texas, so as a Texan I recognized the landscape without difficulty. It is a visually stunning flick with a great portrayal by Daniel Day-Lewis of the boundless greed, violence and cutthroat competition of wildcat oilmen in the early days of the oil industry.
Stupid punditry
Pundits are busy dissecting the vote totals and telling people what is missing from the movement behind Barack Obama. They are busy, too, telling us who won’t vote for Hillary Clinton.
