WORLDNOTES
Haiti: High child mortality rate Philippines: Human rights violations Iraq: Aid agencies blocked by U.S. military Mexico: World forum to protect water Botswana: Labor unions join opposition

Cuban medics prepare to leave Pakistan
Members of Cuba’s Henry Reeve Brigade are returning from medical work in Pakistan where they arrived six months ago, six days after the Oct. 8 earthquake. Formed last year, the brigade provides disaster relief anywhere in the world. Henry Reeve was a U.S. volunteer killed in Cuba’s first war for independence.
Efforts to overturn Belarus elections fail
After several days of tolerating illegal and increasingly violent protests against the results of the country’s recent presidential elections, the Belarusian government put a stop to them during the early morning hours of March 25

Midwest gears up for YCL Convention
ST. LOUIS — On March 25-26 the Young Communist League hosted its first Midwest Regional Conference at Teamsters Hall here. YCL members and friends, old and new, came from all over the Midwest to discuss a draft action plan to be voted on at the group’s national convention on May 27-29 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Detroiters battle over water issues
DETROIT — Chanting “No layoffs, no cuts, Detroit won’t go to the back of the bus,” Detroit Water and Sewage Department (DWSD) workers braved cold winds March 21 to protest the city’s plan to lay off 5 percent of the workforce beginning the week of April 10.

