ARGENTINA: Occupied factory defended
On September 14, a delegation of 100 workers from Zanon, a factory under workers' control, and 70 participants in the Unemployed Workers Movement, travelled to Buenos Aires as part of a campaign to defend the factory. Zanon is one of 200 Argentinian factories, employing 10,000 workers, that have been occupied by workers. A ceramics factory, Zanon now employs 420 workers, up from the 320 that occupied it in March 2002. Local authorities have refused to recognise the factory, and are trying to force the workers into micro-business programs for the unemployed, despite it achieving record production and sales levels. The workers presented Congress with a bill for the definitive expropriation of occupied factories.
IRAN: Trade unionists to face court
Seven Iranian trade unionists will face court on September 23, charged with "organising a first of May event", "establishing an illegal workers' council", and "preparing a cost of living index for a family of five in Iran". The activists were arrested after organising a May Day protest in Saqez, in western Iran. While Mayday protests are illegal in Iran, they are frequently held. However, an application for the permit for the Saqez rally was denied, and 51 of the participants were arrested. The government has also alleged that the imprisoned workers are members of the Worker-Communist Party of Iran, which, like all non-Islamic parties, is banned. The International Confederation of Trade Unions is organising a campaign to pressure the government to drop the charges. To help, visit .
SCOTLAND: SSP opens John Maclean centre
To mark the 125th anniversary of the birth of Scottish socialist legend, John MacLean, the Scottish Socialist Party celebrated the opening of its new national office in Glasgow in August , the John MacLean Centre. According to the SSP website, "Allan Green [SSP national secretary] thanked young members of CF Productions who gave freely of their time to paint a mural of John McLean and another scene depicting contemporary struggles on the walls of the new office. Carole Gillman created the original artwork the murals are based on." Pictures of the centre are available at <www.scottishsocialistparty.org>.
BRITAIN: Muslim torture to go unpunished
On September 10, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that no charges would be laid regarding a severe beating of a British Muslim who was arrested during a terrorism raid in December 2003. Babar Ahmed was released after six days without charge. On his release, he was examined by a consultant from University College London hospital, who reported that Ahmad had been left with blood coming from his ear and in his urine, and with extensive injuries to his face, torso, arms and legs. The medic also said that the blows had been controlled, and designed to cause pain rather than threaten life. Ahmad described being dragged by his genitals, and said that the police had said, "Where is your god now?" while they beat him. The CPS said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute any police officers. Ahmad was rearrested under terrorism legislation on the day of the decision. The following day, the Metropolitan Police Office released a survey that found less than half of officers agreed that the force "treats people equally regardless of ethnicity".
Cuba a 'model' of disaster relief
As Hurricane Ivan wreaked havoc throughout America, the director of the UN secretariat on international disaster relief said that Cuba offered a role model in hurrican preparedness, saying: "the Cuban way could easily be applied to other countries with similar economic conditions, and even in countries with greater resources that do not manage to protect their population as well as Cuba does". He pointed to the contrast between Cuban death tolls from recent hurricanes and that of the region, specifically Florida. As Hurricane Ivan threatened Cuba, the country evacuated 1.9 million people, 17% of the population, over 15 days. All shelters were staffed with nurses, and doctors were sent to the high risk areas. President Fidel Castro went to the highest risk region to assist the effort. No one was seriously injured or killed as a result of the hurricane.
BOTSWANA: Mining dispute settled
After more than two weeks of an illegal strike, workers at Botswana's diamond mines have returned to work, accepting an offer of a 10% pay increase, with a one off 10% bonus, from Debswana, the joint venture between the Botswana government and mining giant De Beers. The dispute was triggered by the disparity in miners' pay and that of management, at a time of high profitability. Debswana is still refusing to re-employ 318 of the 451 workers it sacked for striking. The union is appealing the decision to outlaw the strike. If it is successful, Debswana has agreed to reinstate all the workers.
CHINA: Global warming threatens crops
A China-Britain research project concluded on September 11 that China's rice yield could drop as much as a fifth by 2080 as a result of global warming. The study, carried out by Britains Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and China's Ministry of Science and Technology, found that average temperatures in China would rise between three and four degrees Celsius unless the current levels of carbon emissions are reduced.
MALAYSIA: Worlds biggest deforester sues Greenpeace
Rimbunan Hijau, a Malaysian logging company with operations in eight countries has threatened to sue Greenpeace International over a report that highlights the company's destructive record. Greenpeace published "The Untouchables: Rimbunan Hijau's World of Forest Crime and Political Patronage" in February. The company has demanded that it is taken out of the public domain. The report is available online at .
UNITED STATES: Hecklers arrested at press conference
On September 8, seven Act Up activists were arrested after heckling President George Bush at a campaign appearance. After they disrupted his speech with cries of "Bush lies: people die", they were dragged out of the room by ushers, some by their hair, one by her bra strap, the Washington Post reported on September 9. The activists were then surrounded by plainclothes secret service personnel. Reporters were told that if they attempted to speak to the protesters, they would be prevented from returning to the speech. Police were then called, and the seven charged with disorderly conduct.
CAMBODIA: Yellow unions defeated
Agreements signed by Cambodian hotel unions affiliated with the Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers Federation and the general managers of Cambodia's Raffles hotels on September 11 have ended a months long dispute over union representation. Management agreed to recognize the CTSWF affiliates as the only recognised unions, ending an attempt to set up yellow unions. Most of the workers who had been sacked in the dispute and wanted reinstatement, won it. The unions thanked those workers and organisations that offered solidarity and contributed to the successful outcome. For more labour news, visit .
NEW ZEALAND: Dispute at New Zealand Herald
New Zealand Herald journalists have banned work on the paper's Sunday edition until the Herald allows collective bargaining on their wages and conditions. The Sunday edition, due to launch on October 3, has employed all staff on individual contracts. A key issue in the dispute is whether penatly rates will apply to Saturday afternoon work. For updates on the strike, visit .
SOUTH AFRICA: 'Don't let big business rule the world'
On September 1, two members of Earthlife Africa unveiled a banner over Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg reading "Don't Let Big Business Rule The World". The protest marked the second anniversary of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Earthlife Africa Johannesburg co-ordinator Richard Worthington said in a a statement that the summit had failed to establish sustainable and equitable energy consumption. "Two years on, millions of South Africans are without access", he said.
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, September 22, 2004.
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