28 May 2010

Tense standoff between two Koreas

By Peter Symonds, 28 May 2010

The confrontation between North and South Korea over the sinking of a South Korean warship intensified this week after Seoul, backed by Washington, announced a series of retaliatory measures.

Oil burn“Top kill” has yet to stop Gulf oil flow
Massive spill nation’s worst, study confirms

By Tom Eley, 28 May 2010

As the latest attempt to stop the massive flow of oil from the ocean floor was suspended early Thursday morning, government scientists confirmed that the Deepwater Horizon spill is by far the largest in US history.

Jamaica state of siege: Scores dead, hundreds detained

By Bill Van Auken, 28 May 2010

Scores have been killed or wounded and hundreds arrested in what critics describe as indiscriminate violence by Jamaican security forces besieging the impoverished Kingston neighborhood of Tivoli Gardens.

China signs $23 billion oil deal with Nigeria

By Trevor Johnson, 28 May 2010

China has signed a $23 billion deal with the new government of Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria to build three oil refineries and a petrochemical plant.

“That place was a ticking time bomb”
Miners and families denounce Massey and government inspectors for West Virginia mine disaster

By Samuel Davidson, 28 May 2010

Coal miners and relatives of the 29 miners killed in the April 5 West Virginia explosion at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine described the deadly conditions in the months leading up to the blast during testimony Tuesday before a congressional hearing.

Australia: Mining tax battle intensifies

By Patrick O’Connor, 28 May 2010

The political furore triggered by the Labor government’s proposed new 40 percent “Resource Super Profits Tax” has intensified in recent days.

Sri Lankan government exploits flood disaster to evict slum dwellers

By Sujeewa Amaranath, 28 May 2010

The Rajapakse government is using the extensive floods in Colombo as an excuse to remove poor slum dwellers from the capital and other parts of the country.

US college graduates face bleakest job prospects in decades

By Jack Cody and Naomi Spencer, 28 May 2010

A new report by the Economic Policy Institute points to a severe employment crisis for working class youth between the ages of 16 and 24.

New in German

Kochs Rücktritt: Rechter im Wartestand

Von Ulrich Rippert, 28. Mai 2010

Vieles deutet darauf hin, dass Kochs Rücktritt nur ein Intermezzo ist und der Vorbereitung einer rechten Offensive dient, wenn die Regierung Merkel scheitert.

Ungarn: Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz sorgt für Spannungen mit der Slowakei

Von Markus Salzmann, 28. Mai 2010

Das neue ungarische Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz ist nicht nur ein giftiges, nationalistisches Manöver, das zu erheblichen Konflikten mit den Nachbarstaaten führt, es dient auch dazu, von den bevorstehenden sozialen Angriffen abzulenken.

Versenkung von Kriegsschiff:
Südkorea verhängt Strafmassnahmen gegen Nordkorea

Von Peter Symonds, 28. Mai 2010

Die Spannungen auf der koreanischen Halbinsel haben stark zugenommen, nachdem Südkorea Nordkorea beschuldigt hat, das südkoreanische Kriegsschiff Cheonan am 26. März absichtlich versenkt zu haben.

Die politischen Lehren der Proteste in Thailand

Von Peter Symonds, 28. Mai 2010

Obwohl die regierungsfeindlichen Proteste in Thailand vergangene Woche gewaltsam unterdrückt wurden, bleiben die politischen Probleme ungelöst und werden in neuer Gestalt wieder aufbrechen.

New in French

Le rassemblement de la Syriza : la politique réactionnaire de « gauche » de la classe moyenne en Grèce

Par Alex Lantier et John Vassilopoulos à Athènes, 28 mai 2010

Les reporters du WSWS ont pris part le 14 mai au rassemblement de la SYRIZA (la coalition de la gauche radicale) organisé dans le but de discuter des coupes sociales massives imposées par le premier ministre George Papandreou.

Other Languages

Perspective

Obama press conference
Lies and evasions in defense of BP

28 May 2010

The White House press conference Thursday, focused on the Gulf coast oil disaster, saw President Obama cover up for both the oil industry and the federal government.

Earlier Perspectives »

Committee Against Utility Shutoffs (CAUS)

CAUS campaign continues
The profit motive and utility shutoffs

By Andrea Peters, 28 May 2010

In this comment, the Committee Against Utility Shutoffs (CAUS) explains why the provision of electricity and gas on the basis of private profit can neither guarantee essential services nor ensure that workers in the utility industry have jobs and a decent standard of living.

Arts Review

The White MeadowsSan Francisco International Film Festival 2010 Part 5: The small pictures that still dominate

By Joanne Laurier and David Walsh, 28 May 2010

Films from Iran, Germany, Palestine, Belgium, Mexico, South Korea, the US and China exhibit some of the same “smallness,” some of the same passivity, some of the same aversion to tracing out phenomena historically.

TatlinA comment on Tatlin in London today

By Virginia Smith, 26 May 2010

The tower design for London’s 2012 Summer Olympics is mysteriously evocative. The steel structure, designed by sculptor Anish Kapoor and called Orbit, is funded primarily by ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel maker.

Commentary

The political lessons of the Thai protests

By Peter Symonds, 27 May 2010

Last week’s military crackdown may have crushed anti-government protests in Bangkok but the underlying social tensions and political issues remain and will inevitably erupt again.

BP Oil Disaster

Gulf oil spill: Why is BP in charge?

27 May 2010

Since the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon, the Obama administration has insisted that BP remain in command of the spill site and cleanup, in spite of the oil giant's criminal actions in causing the deadly blast and its greed and incompetence in handling the spill.

BP had prior warning of Deepwater Horizon blowout

By Andre Damon, 27 May 2010

BP, which leased the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, disregarded indications hours before the April 20 blast that the rig might suffer a catastrophic blowout, according to a preliminary report published Wednesday by the House Energy and Commerce committee.

Mehring Books

Detroit DisassembledNewly available from Mehring Books
Detroit Disassembled: A visual exposé of Detroit’s decline

25 May 2010

Mehring Books is pleased to offer Detroit Disassembled, the recently published monograph by photographer Andrew Moore.

Workers Struggles

Workers Struggles: Europe & Africa

28 May 2010

The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Vale IncoVideo: Vale Inco strikers and supporters in Sudbury speak

26 May 2010

3,300 nickel miners, smelter and mill workers have been on strike in Sudbury and Port Colborne, Ontario for over ten months against the concession demands of Brazilian based transnational mining giant Vale Inco.

Australian Ford workers strike against regressive agreement

By Chris Sadlier, 26 May 2010

Ford Australia workers have launched two 24-hour strikes this month, the first such industrial action in 12 years.

Correspondence

Retired driver blames budget cuts for fatal accident on Detroit school bus

By Mary Coleman, 27 May 2010

On May 20, 11-year-old Tiffany Lynn Ross-DiCicco was struck and killed by a tree branch as she leaned out of a Detroit school bus window to say goodbye to friends. If transportation aides had not been eliminated the young girl might still be alive, says a retired Detroit school bus driver.

This Week in History: May 24 - May 30

25 years ago: Nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island restarted six years after partial meltdown

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA) voted four-to-one May 29, 1985, to restart one of the reactors at Three Mile Island in south-central Pennsylvania, the site of a partial meltdown in 1979. That accident caused 80 petabecquerels (13 million curies) of radioactive noble gases to be released into the atmosphere. While highly toxic cancer-causing agent iodine-131 made up only a tiny fraction of the pollutants, a full-scale nuclear disaster was only narrowly averted.


More »

50 years ago: Turkish government overthrown in bloodless coup

Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes was overthrown in a bloodless military coup on May 27, 1960. He, along with President Celâl Bayar and members of his cabinet, was driven from office by a cabal of 37 of the country’s young military leaders, who then installed General Cemal Gürsel as head of state.

75 years ago: US Supreme Court rules National Industrial Recovery Act unconstitutional

The United States Supreme Court ruled the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) unconstitutional on May 27, 1935. The unanimous decision was handed down during the case of Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, more popularly known as the “sick chicken case.”

More »

100 years ago: Chinese-Americans call for boycott of US-made goods in China

The US-based Chinese Chamber of Commerce (CCC) called for a boycott of American goods throughout China on May 29, 1910. The CCC’s League of Justice issued the appeal to protest the creation of a detention center for Chinese immigrants on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. Telegrams were sent by the organization to business associations across China requesting that they refuse to purchase US-made goods in an effort to pressure Washington to abandon its discriminatory practices.

More »

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Videos and Images


Detroit resident speaks on utility shutoff
Friend of Detroit fire victim denounces utility shutoffs
Shutoff victim speaks to WSWS at DTE public relations stunt
Scientist says government policy contributed to Gulf Coast Spill
Louisiana workers denounce BP’s oil spill response
Lawyer for family of worker killed in blast says BP guilty of negligence
SEP candidate addresses Oxford Union
Hearing of the Citizens Inquiry into the Dexter Avenue Fire
Detroit firefighters discuss impact of utility shut-offs and budget cuts
Citizens Inquiry chairman speaks at press conference
Dexter Avenue fire victim’s son speaks to the WSWS
ISSE members speak at San Diego rallies
Neighbors of Detroit fire victims oppose utility shutoffs
Interviews with neighbors of Bangor Street fire victims
Sister of fire victims speaks on utility shutoffs NUMMI
NUMMI auto workers denounce UAW intimidation Borax
Locked-out California Borax workers oppose concessions Borax
Boron, California mine workers denounce company lock-out House fire
Family members denounce deaths in Detroit fire Detroit teachers
Detroit teachers speak out against DFT Contract Handful of jobs offered at Detroit jobs fair
Handful of jobs offered at Detroit jobs fair H1N1 distribution interviews
Thousands line up for Swine Flu vaccine in Michigan Ford workers speak on contract rejection
Ford workers speak on contract rejection Ford workers speak out against concessions contract
Ford workers speak out against concessions contract 50,000 line up for housing assistance in Detroit
50,000 line up for housing assistance in Detroit ISSE members speak on education cuts at rally
ISSE members speak on education cuts at rally Detroit residents speak on utility bills, social crisis
Detroit residents speak on utility bills, social crisis OU video
Michigan’s Oakland University faculty strike has student support Detroit teachers denounce pay cuts
Detroit teachers denounce pay cuts D'Art
Detroit city workers oppose concessions, layoffs Interviews at Los Angeles health care clinic
Interviews at Los Angeles health care clinic Workers continue Vestas occupation on Isle of Wight
Workers continue Vestas occupation on Isle of Wight A conversation with Windsor municipal workers
A conversation with Windsor municipal workers New York City workers speak against cuts in healthcare and social services
NYC workers speak against cuts in social services Flint vid
Flint, Michigan and the bankruptcy of General Motors MI auto vid
GM workers on bankruptcy and plant closings MI auto vid
Michigan auto workers and families speak on plant closures GM vid
GM workers speak out on concessions contract Protesting students and parents speak to the WSWS
Protesting students and parents speak to the WSWS Chrysler workers speak on concessions vote
Chrysler workers speak on concessions vote UK Visteon workers speak on occupation
UK Visteon workers speak on occupation GM and Chrysler workers oppose more concessions
GM and Chrysler workers oppose more concessions Chrysler workers oppose Obama auto plan
Chrysler workers oppose Obama auto plan
WSWS interviews G20 protesters in London Donovan
Pontiac residents speak on schools crisis Detroit jobs fair
Workers interviewed at Detroit jobs fair
Ford workers: “Now the fight is with our own union.” GM workers videoGM workers denounce concession demands Chrysler workers oppose cuts
Chrysler workers oppose pay cuts, concession demands London demonstration against Sri Lankan war
Over 100,000 demonstrate in London against Sri Lankan war Joanne
Funeral for Michigan man frozen following utility shut-off Montserrat
Exposing Franco's mass graves Bay City, Mich.: “Shutting somebody's electricity off in the dead of winter is criminal”
Bay City, Michigan residents speak on death from utility shut-off London protesters speak to the WSWS
WSWS interviews London protesters London demonstrators protest Israeli assault on Gaza
London demonstrators protest Israeli assault on Gaza Chrysler workers denounce pay cuts
Chrysler workers denounce pay cuts Griffiths and Walsh
The Writer and Revolution: A conversation with Trevor Griffiths

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