The President can commit the country to war without much consultation with the legislative branch of government. He seems to sanguinely pass judgement of innocent and guilt in his public remarks on matters currently under consideration by a jury
To be sure, the congress has not been dissolved. At this writing, the supreme court is still meeting to decide vital questions of constitutional law. But the autonomy of the two branches of government seems to be in question. The executive branch, acting in behalf of the ruling class, but often without their consent, seems to suffer the supreme arrogance of power. Senators are reduced to delivering feeble whining protests against this concentration of power.
One might think that these words were written about George W Bush. Rather, I got them from a pamphlet I’m currently reading, called Honor America - The nature of fascism, historic struggles against it and a strategy for today by Stanley Aronowitz. It was released in 1970.
This blog is generally restricted to political posts, and I mostly try to avoid posting really random shit. But, I do have a random category, and every now and then I see something that demands posting.
It might be the fact that it’s 3:25am, and I haven’t had much sleep lately, but this video is amazing. Go watch it now.
Fiji: Public sector strikes grow amid death threats and intimidation
A week long strike by 1400 nurses in Fiji expanded on Thursday as 1000 teachers and 300 public works, water and sewerage workers also began strike action, demanding the reversal of a 5% pay cut and the changing of the retirement age from 60 to 55, and an additional 10% pay rise.
The pay cut and change in retirement age were announced shortly after the military government took power in a coup last December. Earlier this week the military and police detained union leader Taniela Tabu, during which time they made deaths threats against him and demanded he pass on death threats to two other union leaders upon his release on Wednesday night.
The teacher’s strike began with a 1000 person sit-in at the teachers union headquarters, with songs, speeches and kava. Meanwhile, Fijian police went to schools and hospitals in an attempt to intimidate strikers.
The Fijian government is still considering declaring the nurses strike illegal, in which case it would be able to fire all 1400 nurses for not attending work for 7 days.
I may not exactly be a regular Subway customer (in fact, I can’t remember the last time I went there, if ever) but that doesn’t mean I can’t support fired Subway worker Jackie Lang, fired from a Dunedin Subway branch and charged with theft for sharing a drink with a friend. Oddly, Jackie was apparently the last member of the Autonomous Workers Union at that Subway branch - perhaps this has something to do with her harsh treatment.
Good on the Autonomous Worker’s Union and Jackie for staying staunch and fighting this - the support will only keep increasing. Pickets/fundraisers are being held this weekend to support Jackie in Auckland (1pm Sat 12th @ 155 Queen St Subway) and Christchurch (1pm Sat 12th @ High Street Subway).
Donations to the legal fund can be made to the AWU KiwiBank account, 38 9003 0045483 00 with the reference SUBWAY.
In other news, Greenpeace made this nice little spoof of Genesis Energy’s latest ad, calling them on their greenwashing bullshit. If you can’t see the embedded video, click here.
On Thursday 6th April, Hossein (Thomas) Yadegary, an Iranian born chef, was released from Auckland’s Mt Eden Prison, where he had been for 30 months after refusing to sign an order for his deportation. Yadegary arrived in Aotearoa in 1993, and made 3 failed bids for refugee status.
As a Muslim who has converted to Christianity, Yadegary could potentially face the death penalty if sent back to Iran. He was sent to prison by the District Court, which has continually extended his prison sentance in an effort to force him to sign his application for an Iranian passport, required for him to be deported.
In December, Yadegary applied for a judicial review of his case in the High Court. Two weeks ago Clayton Cosgrove, the Immigration Minister, rejected an appeal for Yadegary’s release, but on Thursday the High Court decided his detention served no purpose and released him.
Yadegary could still face deportation, but for now has been freed on restrictive bail conditions which include a 7pm to 7am curfew and reporting to Police 3 times a week.
Meanwhile, in the USA, Anarchist journalist Josh Wolf was freed from Federal Custody after 7 & 1/2 months in prison on April 3rd. Wolf was imprisoned for refusing to turn over video he had shot at a protest to a federal grand jury. Wolf was in prison for longer than any other journalist in US history.
I promised Kakariki that I’d do an announcement when her baby was born, so here it is. Just got a text saying a happy healthy baby girl was born at 4:59am this morning. Wicked! Huge congrats to the parents
In other news, Waitangi Day has come and gone, so in the spirit of that, here’s a movie well worth watching. Tuhoe - A history of resistance. Click here if you can’t see the embedded video.
For many of you, your reaction to reading the title of this post might be “Well, obviously, he did die in 1932″. But for a brief moment, he made me smile the other day.
You see, I was reading the the newspaper, and spotted a letter about a new motorway “bypass” built through a suburb that I used to live in. The road has destroyed what was once a vibrant and creative community, but thats not the point I’m getting at. What made me smile was the author of the letter, a certain Errico Malatesta.
It seems, sadly, that someone must’ve let the Dominion Post realise their stupidity, for the following was printed in the paper today:
We were misled
We regret that this week, readers and ourselves were misled by a letter-writer. The lead letter on Monday, January 8, about Wellington’s new inner-city bypass, was written by a man who says his real name is Peter Steiner, of Te Aro, which is not the name he used to sign the letter. Though we do our best to verify the details that correspondents provide, some deception is inevitable. This was one deception we missed.
- Letters editor
Sorry about the lack of writing, been focussing on getting the second issue of the Anarchia zine finished (it’s almost done, will hopefully be online before New Years). In the meantime, enjoy this lovely image, apparently from a new NRA comic book!
NYC Indymedia volunteer Brad Will killed in attack by Paramilitaries in Oaxaca
Federal Police and Paramilitaries attack the barricades near Oaxaca’s office of justice, in the Calicante municipality. There aresereveal injured and one person dead.
Indymedia New York’s reporter, BRAD WILL, was shot in the chest and die before get the hospital, while Oswaldo Ramírez, photographer for Milenio Diario, has also been shot and is injured in the foot.
THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT BRAD FROM A PERSON WHO WAS THERE WITH HIM:
- He was at the Santa Lucia Barricade
- He was shot from a distance of 30-40 meters right in the pit of the stomach
- They say it was urban paramilitary priistas in plain clothes who shot him
- People then pulled him away to safety; its confirmed that he’s dead; his body is at the red cross in oaxaca
- 3 additional dead (4 total); 1 member of radio universidad was injured, he went to the hospital in a volkswagen cuz no ambulances would come
All my love and solidarity goes out to the people of Oaxaca and to all those who knew Brad. Much more (including a brief rundown on the buildup and reasons for whats going on in Oaxaca) at Angry White Kid.
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