29 July 2009

Honduran coup enters second month

By Bill Van Auken, 29 July 2009

With the coup in Honduras now entering its second month, the Obama administration’s policy is directed at consolidating the changes wrought by Zelaya’s overthrow, while formally condemning the action.

Egypt hit by wave of social and industrial unrest

By Jean Shaoul, 29 July 2009

On July 16 thousands of quarry workers in Egypt went on strike in opposition to a decision by the authorities to impose a tax of E£40 on each ton of quarried rock.

Indonesian bombings portend renewed attacks on democratic rights

By John Braddock, 29 July 2009

The July 17 suicide bombings in Jakarta are being exploited to justify inroads into the limited democratic rights gained in Indonesia since the end of the Suharto dictatorship.

Study shows sharp growth of low-wage sector in Germany

By Elisabeth Zimmermann, 29 July 2009

A study by the Institute for Labour and Qualification (IAQ) shows that there has been a drastic expansion of the low-wage sector in Germany, which now totals 6.5 million workers.

South Korean “non-regular” workers face mass job losses

By Ben McGrath, 29 July 2009

A parliamentary standoff over new laws making it easier to sack workers has highlighted the political instability produced in South Korea by the global economic crisis, with more than 300 “non-regular” workers losing their jobs every day.

Australia: Olympic gold medalist Ian Thorpe speaks out against Aboriginal “intervention”

By Richard Phillips, 29 July 2009

Powerful criticism of decades of deliberate government neglect of Australia’s poverty-stricken indigenous communities by former swimming star Ian Thorpe has been subjected to a virtual media black out.

San Diego’s Union Tribune attacks city workers

By Kevin Martinez, Alfonso Santana and Ettore Severi, 29 July 2009

The Union Tribune has recently published the results of its investigation of the San Diego city payroll. In the face of the ongoing economic crisis, the capitalist class and its media representatives seek to blame the working class to conceal their own responsibility for the disaster.

New in French

L’indignation américaine face à des élections « truquées » ne s’étend pas au Kirghizistan

Par Bill Van Auken, 29 juillet 2009

Le trucage d’une élection, la répression des candidats de l’opposition et le recours à la violence contre des manifestants ont été passés sous silence et ignorés par le gouvernement Obama et les médias américains.

France : Défaite de justesse pour les néo-fascistes aux élections anticipées à Hénin-Beaumont

Par Antoine Lerougetel, 29 juillet 2009

Le Front national a obtenu une défaite de justesse aux élections municipales d'Hénin-Beaumont le 5 juillet. Dans une situation où une grande partie de la population ne voit pas d'alternative crédible au Parti socialiste et au Parti communiste français discrédités, le FN peut s'attirer un soutien significatif.

Allemagne : les travailleurs d'Opel luttent contre la suppression du "salaire vacances"

Par Ulrich Rippert, 29 juillet 2009

Dans les usines d'Opel à Bochum la résistance grandit contre les baisses de salaire continuelles, la démolition des acquis et autres détériorations des conditions de travail.

New in German

Opel Europe
Bundesregierung erwägt Insolvenz

Von Dietmar Henning, 29. Juli 2009

Am letzten Wochenende zeichnete sich ab, dass die Bundesregierung von Beginn an erwogen hat, auch den europäischen Opel-Konzern in die Insolvenz zu führen. Betriebsräte und IG Metall reagierten nervös. Ihre Bereicherung mithilfe der Mitarbeiterkapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaft wäre in Gefahr.

Ohne Kompass - Filme der Wende
Eine Filmreihe im Berliner Zeughauskino

Von Bernd Reinhardt, 29. Juli 2009

Ende Mai zeigte das Zeughauskino in Berlin die Filmreihe "Scheiden tut weh." Die vom Autor ausgewählten Spielfilme zwischen 1990-1992 zeigen das Zerplatzen der Reformhoffnungen auf einen lebenswerteren "Sozialismus" in der DDR und das Aufkeimen neuer Illusionen - diesmal in einen lebenswerten Kapitalismus.

Obama verschärft Angriff auf staatliches Bildungssystem

Von Tom Eley, 29. Juli 2009

Präsident Obama gab am Freitag ein Programm für die Finanzierung der Bildung bekannt, das nur solchen Staaten Geld zur Verfügung stellen würde, die Charter Schulen begünstigen und den Leistungslohn für Lehrer auf der Grundlage der Noten der Schüler einführen.

New in Portuguese

Seis meses do governo Obama

Por Joe Kishore, 29 de julho de 2009

Há seis meses, Barack Obama tomou posse como o 44º presidente dos Estados Unidos.

França: trabalhadores ameaçam explodir fábricas contra demissões

Por Alex Lantier, 29 de julho de 2009

Operários franceses de várias plantas assinaladas para fechamento ameaçaram detonar dispositivos explosivos em suas fábricas.

Perspective

Citigroup’s $100 million banker

29 July 2009

A Citigroup energy trader is demanding that the bank honor a contract to pay him $100 million this year.

Earlier Perspectives »

Polemics

The significance of the British Socialist Workers Party’s call for a new “left alternative”
Part two

By Tony Robson and Chris Marsden, 28 July 2009

This is the conclusion of a two-part series on an open letter issued by the Socialist Workers Party in Britain.

Arts Review

Atom Egoyan’s Adoration: Also not very compelling

By David Walsh, 29 July 2009

In Atom Egoyan’s Adoration, Simon is a high school student in Toronto, whose teacher, for reasons of her own, encourages him to pose as the son of a would-be terrorist.

Workers Struggles

Scotland: Politicians and union leaders grovel to Diageo over Johnnie Walker closure

By Steve James, 29 July 2009

Around 20,000 people demonstrated in Kilmarnock July 26 against the planned closure of the Johnnie Walker’s whisky bottling plant by the major drinks transnational Diageo.

Toronto city workers no-concession struggle in danger

By Keith Jones, 29 July 2009

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has moved to shut down a five week “no concessions” strike by 24,000 City of Toronto inside and outside municipal workers.

Socialist Equality Party

SEP public meeting in California
For a socialist solution to the economic crisis

29 July 2009

SEP National Secretary Joe Kishore and John Burton, former SEP candidate for Congress in California’s 29th District, will speak on the first six months of the Obama administration, the crisis in California, and a new socialist perspective for the working class.

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