WOLRD NOTES
Brazil: Landless workers weigh in on biofuels Ghana: African leader tells rich nations to keep promises UN: Iraqi, Palestinian children abandoned, forced to work Nepal: Gov’t prepares elections, cuts king’s powers Britain: Troops say, ‘Out of Iraq!’
Marchers uphold immigrant rights
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — After residents were terrorized by a federal immigration raid, the usually busy streets of this city’s Fair Haven neighborhood were silent for a week and a half. The silence was broken June 16, as over 1,000 marched in solidarity wearing signs declaring, “No human being is illegal.”
Finish the job: take America back from GOP
WASHINGTON — Fired up by victory over the Republican right in last November’s election, 3,000 progressives at a “Take Back America” conference cheered as speakers demanded that Congress end the Iraq war, restore union rights and enact health care for all.
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.
