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Published by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI)

25 July 2009

Obama escalates assault on public education

By Tom Eley, 25 July 2009

President Obama announced an education funding program Friday that would award money only to states that encourage charter schools and agree to allow merit pay for teachers based on students’ test results.

Following example of Bush-Cheney
Obama administration bars torture investigators from Guantánamo Bay

By Patrick Martin, 25 July 2009

Adding to its six-month record of extending the Bush administration’s attacks on democratic rights, the Obama administration is blocking efforts by human rights investigators from the United Nations to interview detainees at the Guantánamo Bay prison.

Britain: Unemployment continues rise to 2.4 million

By Peter Reydt, 25 July 2009

UK unemployment rose by a record 281,000 to 2.38 million in the three months to May.

A model for Obama’s health care plan
Massachusetts proposes rationing of health care for workers

By Kate Randall, 25 July 2009

In a move that could have wide-ranging implications for any restructuring of the national health care system, Massachusetts has proposed scrapping “fee-for-service” payments to providers and instituting de facto rationing of care for working people.

Detroit schools “financial czar” orders teachers to reapply for their jobs

By Walter Gilberti, 25 July 2009

2,600 Detroit Public School teachers, counselors and administrators from nearly 50 schools have been forced to reapply for their jobs at the schools where they teach.

An Afghan voice against the US-led occupation

By James Cogan
25 July 2009

“The occupation forces are supporting the enemies of my people and it is better that they leave. We will know what to do about our destiny.”

Sri Lankan prime minister denounces newspaper lawyers as “traitors”

By our reporter, 25 July 2009

The Sri Lankan prime minister made an extraordinary statement in parliament on July 21, branding five lawyers as “traitors” because they had appeared for the Sunday Leader in a defamation case filed by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse.

Iceland’s parliament votes to apply for European Union membership

By Jordan Shilton, 25 July 2009

On July 16, Iceland’s parliament (Althingi) voted by 33 votes to 28 to apply for membership of the European Union.

New in French

Les syndicats divisent systématiquement les travailleurs chez Opel et GM-Europe

Par Ulrich Rippert, 24 juillet 2009

Dès le départ, les comités d’entreprise allemands ont fait tout leur possible pour que le principal fardeau du « plan de sauvetage » d’Opel soit porté par les usines européennes situées en dehors de l’Allemagne.

Troisième accident mortel chez Total depuis le début de l’année

Par Françoise Thull, 24 juillet 2009

Une explosion sur la plate-forme pétrochimique Total de Carling, en Moselle, a fait 2 morts et 17 blessés.

New in German

Deutsche Offensive in Afghanistan

Von Ulrich Rippert, 25. Juli 2009

Die Bundeswehr hat in den vergangenen Tagen den Kriegseinsatz in Afghanistan dramatisch verschärft. Bei ihrer Großoffensive im Norden Afghanistans setzt sie schwere Waffen, wie Schützenpanzer vom Typ Marder und Mörser Artillerie-Geschütze ein.

Die Hillary Clinton Doktrin

Von Bill Van Auken, 25. Juli 2009

US-Außenministerin Hillary Clintons Drohung, die Nachbarn des Iran zu bewaffnen und Atomraketen gegen das Land zu richten, verschärft den Druck auf Teheran, um den erbitterten Machtkampf innerhalb des klerikalen Regimes zu beeinflussen.

Dritter tödlicher Unfall bei Total in diesem Jahr

Von Françoise Thull, 25. Juli 2009

Der Explosion in einem Chemiewerk von Total Petrochemicals France (TPF) in Lothringen fielen zwei junge Arbeiter zum Opfer, sechs erlitten schwere Verbrennungen und elf weitere einen Schock.

Afghanische Aufständische halten US-Soldaten gefangen

Von David Walsh, 25. Juli 2009

Im Rahmen der umfassenderen Tragödie der brutalen US-Besetzung von Afghanistan weist das Schicksal des Soldaten Bowe Bergdahl seine eigene tragische Dimension auf.

New in Spanish

Paro de mediaciones dictadas por EE.UU. intensifica tensiones en Honduras

Por Bill Van Auken, 25 Julio 2009

Las tensiones políticas siguen empeorando en Honduras. El régimen llevado al poder por el golpe de estado del 28 de junio ha rechazado una propuesta tras otra ofrecida por el presidente de Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, cuyas mediaciones gozan del apoyo y respaldo de los Estados Unidos.

Perspective

US outrage over “rigged” elections does not extend to Kyrgyzstan

25 July 2009

The rigging of an election, the repression of opposition candidates and the use of police violence against demonstrators has been met with silence and indifference on the part of the Obama administration and the US media.

Earlier Perspectives »

Socialist Equality Party

Video: Rally of Detroit City workers against concessions contract

24 July 2009

SEP Detroit mayoral candidate D’Artagnan Collier addresses a Detroit City workers’ rally.

End all utility shutoffs! For a socialist response to the economic crisis

By D’Artagnan Collier, SEP candidate for mayor of Detroit,
24 July 2009

This statement is in response to the tragic death of four Detroit residents from carbon monoxide poisoning. The fumes came from a generator installed after the family’s electricity had been shut off.

SEP conference in Detroit on July 25
A new political perspective for the working class

The SEP is holding this critical conference in Detroit on July 25 to discuss a new political perspective for the working class to defend jobs and living standards.

Arts Review

Moon: Back to the future in science fiction

By William Moore, 25 July 2009

The new science fiction movie Moon, directed by Duncan Jones, was apparently released to coincide with and capitalize on the fortieth anniversary of the first landing of humans on the moon.

Workers Struggles

Scotland: Oppose Diageo job losses by mobilising the working class

Statement of the Socialist Equality Party (Britain), 25 July 2009

The following leaflet is being distributed by the Socialist Equality Party (Britain) to Sunday’s march and rally in Kilmarnock against the announcement by Diageo, the world’s largest drinks manufacturer, that it is shedding 900 jobs across Scotland.