Daily Archives: November 18, 2021

2021-11-18: News Headlines

José Manuel Blanco Diaz (2021-11-18). President Maduro as 21N Elections Approach: 'This is Venezuelan Democracy'. orinocotribune.com As the protagonist of an intense and permanent battle in defense of the rights of oppressed peoples, President Nicolás Maduro defines the progressive forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Now, President Maduro is in the midst of the electoral process to choose regional and local offices. | The president addressed the issue this Wednesday, November 17, during his participation, via video-conference, in the World Day in Defense of Democracy and the Truth of Venezuela. The event was attended by more than 300 international guests of Maduro's United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) who arrived in Venezuel…

Richard Falk (2021-11-18). Climate Challenge Cannot be Overcome in an Unjust World. zcomm.org Can the world's awakening youth, exert enough pressure to make the political class in the Global North to cut themselves off from the militarized belief systems of political realism and capitalism…

Moderator (2021-11-18). Why It's So Hard to Tax Billionaires. scheerpost.com By Christopher Orlet / CounterPunch A recent NPR story attempted to explain why it is so hard to tax billionaires. The expert NPR interviewed for the story ticked off the usual ways the 1 percent avoids paying its fair share of taxes: Billionaires have the best accountants who know all the loopholes. Their wealth isn't in income, …

Internationalist 360 ∞ (2021-11-18). Anti-Communism, Anti-Blackness, and Imperialism. libya360.wordpress.com Dr. Charisse Burden Stelley In this talk prepared for the Albuquerque Anti-War Coalition's Anti-Communism & Imperialism panel discussion, Dr. Charisse Burden Stelley discusses how anti-communism and anti-Blackness are intrinsically intertwined structures of white supremacist and capitalist control. Transcript Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Charisse Burden Stelley and I am a professor of Africana studies in political science…

Brittani Banks (2021-11-18). Don't Blame Government Benefits for Inflation—Blame the Modern Economy. independentmediainstitute.org Headlines are screaming that inflation is here to stay. Consumer prices have risen by an average of 6.2 percent in the past year, the sharpest increase since 1991. Although Americans are supposedly—in the words of the New York Times—"flush with cash and jobs," they are also deeply unhappy with the state of the economy. It's …

Economic Policy Institute (2021-11-18). Moral policy = Good economics. zcomm.org Lifting up poor and working-class people—and our whole economy…

WSWS (2021-11-18). 3.6 million UK families worse off after budget cuts. wsws.org The entire edifice of UC is based on workers receiving poverty level wages. The tapering system is effectively a tax on the lowest paid.

WSWS (2021-11-18). Sri Lankan teachers' unions shut down all protests. wsws.org Contrary to the unions' claims, the deal is a betrayal of the teachers, with a paltry wage increase that has already been wiped out by rampant inflation and the government's removal of price controls on all essentials.

Ajamu Baraka (2021-11-18). COP26: Greenwashing, Plutocratic Misadventures and the Possibilities of Radical Transformation. dissidentvoice.org COP26 reaffirmed what has been obvious from the beginning: the Northern colonial and capitalist states most responsible for creating the climate crisis are unwilling to place people before profits in order to address the planet's looming ecological collapse and humanitarian catastrophe. We need justice. But that word — Justice! — despite all of the philosophical …

WSWS (2021-11-18). Michigan nurse speaks on the conditions in hospitals as COVID-19 cases surge. wsws.org Danielle, a nurse at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor recently discussed staffing shortages, working conditions and the impact of the profit motive on health care with the WSWS.

Devin Cole (2021-11-18). Marxist-Leninist revolutionary Thomas Sankara ‚àí unconquered. workers.org Thomas Sankara In April 2021 a military court in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, finally indicted Blaise Compaore in the murder of revolutionary Marxist-Leninist and former Burkinabe president Thomas Sankara. Sankara established a revolutionary government in Burkina Faso in August 1983. In October 1987 Compaore oversaw a coup d'etat that resulted in . . . |

WSWS (2021-11-18). Kaiser nurses furious at unions' decision to call off strike. wsws.org Despite their powerful position, the nurses unions called off the strike Saturday morning after they reached an eleventh-hour deal and announced a deal which amounts to a four-year decline in real wages, in exchange for millions of dollars in corporate funding for the unions.

WSWS (2021-11-18). Australian Electoral Commission rejects SEP application for pandemic extension of registration deadline. wsws.org The AEC's pre-election refusal of an extension confirms the necessity for the determined campaign being conducted by the Socialist Equality Party against the new anti-democratic electoral laws.

WSWS (2021-11-18). Sri Lankan SEP/IYSSE to hold online meeting on Rajapakse government's austerity budget. wsws.org World Socialist Web Site readers, workers, youth and intellectuals are invited to participate in this crucial meeting and discussion on how to fight Colombo's brutal social attacks.

_____ (2021-11-17). 'Tell the Bosses We're Coming'. popularresistance.org The ongoing debate about reviving the U.S. labor movement tries to grapple with the devastating decline in the union membership rate from one-third of the workforce in the 1950s to less than 11% today. In this discussion, occasionally a book comes along that is a great combination of labor history, thoughtful analysis of union organizing, and suggestions for ways forward. Shaun Richman's Tell the Bosses We're Coming: A New Action Plan for Workers in the Twenty-First Century is such a book. | Richman is the Program Director of the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies at the State University of New York Em…

Staff (2021-11-17). FBI & CDC investigate 'smallpox' vials at big pharma facility — media. rt.com The FBI and CDC have launched a probe after several "questionable vials" labeled as "smallpox" were discovered in a freezer at a lab near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to an alert obtained by Yahoo News. | The 15 mysterious vials were found on Tuesday night at a Merck laboratory,

Tom Suille (2021-11-17). Obreros de Starbucks luchan contra ruptura de sindicato. workers.org Buffalo, N.Y. Boletín — 9 de noviembre: Tres tiendas adicionales de Buffalo han presentado ante la Junta Nacional de Relaciones Laborales para una elección sindical — duplicando el número en la zona a un total de seis. Las tres tiendas iniciales recibirán las papeletas de voto por correo el 10 . . . |

_____ (2021-11-17). School Bus Drivers In Nationwide Strikes Over Poor Pay And Covid Risk. popularresistance.org Yellow school buses are part of the American streetscape, familiar to families across the US and an easily recognizable symbol the world over. | But the drivers of the vehicles that shuttle America's children to and from school are now caught up in the wave of labor unrest sweeping across the US in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. | Strikes, walkouts, protests or sick-outs among school bus drivers have taken place this fall in many states including North Carolina, New Mexico, Maryland, Florida, Indiana, Georgia Pennsylvania and New York among others. | Some school districts have periodically closed schools due…

_____ (2021-11-17). 'Conference Of The Polluters' Confirms Global Arson Needs Local Fire Extinguishers. popularresistance.org The United Nations COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact signed on November 14 is another confirmation of what we learned in Durban in 2011, at the 17th UN climate summit. As expressed by Indigenous activist Ta'Kaiya Blaney (from the Tla A'min Nation in western Canada): 'COP26 is a performance. It is an illusion constructed to save the capitalist economy rooted in resource extraction and colonialism.' | Swedish youth leader Greta Thunberg was also clear: 'The COP26 is over. Here's a brief summary: Blah, Blah, Blah. But the real work continues outside these halls. And we will never give up, ever.' | The climate activists are…

_____ (2021-11-17). Glasgow's "Conference Of The Polluters" Again Confirms That Global Arson Needs Local Fire Extinguishers. popularresistance.org The United Nations COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact signed on November 14 is another confirmation of what we learned in Durban in 2011, at the 17th UN climate summit. As expressed by Indigenous activist Ta'Kaiya Blaney (from the Tla A'min Nation in western Canada): 'COP26 is a performance. It is an illusion constructed to save the capitalist economy rooted in resource extraction and colonialism.'

Domenica Ghanem (2021-11-17). Inflation Is Complicated, But Making It Better Doesn't Have to Be. otherwords.org Many Americans are noticing the rising price of goods from sour cream to carburetors as politicians sound the alarm on an inflation crisis. | You may be wondering what single force would cause the cost of a dairy product to go up at the same time as the cost of a car part. The truth is that not all inflation is the same. Each sector has its own issues. | And none of it is solved by less government funding for our safety net, as some politicians have proposed. | Some of it is what we can call pandemic inflation. Because our economy bounced back quicker after the COVID-19 shutdowns than anyone predicted — tha…

Peter Certo (2021-11-17). In OtherWords: November 17, 2021. otherwords.org We're still a week out of Thanksgiving, but many of us have gotten an early start on holiday shopping. Why? Because even with the economy recovering and the pandemic easing, inflation, supply chain unpredictability, and expected postal delivery delays could make this year's giving season more difficult than usual. | This week in OtherWords, we tackle a few sides of the problem. | First, Domenica Ghanem explains the causes of inflation — from pandemic disruptions to plain old greed — and explains why passing the administration's jobs and infrastructure package is the simplest solution in sight. Then, S…

WSWS (2021-11-17). Canada admits aerosols are major source of COVID-19 transmission after nearly two years of denying it. wsws.org Canada's government has hitherto dismissed the role of aerosols in COVID-19's spread, because to do so underlines the reckless and homicidal character of its drive to "reopen" the economy in the midst of a deadly pandemic.

Tanya Wadhwa (2021-11-17). The world stands with Cuba. peoplesdispatch.org The US-backed counter-revolutionary protests planned for November 15 in Cuba fell flat as the Caribbean country reopened its borders to tourists and its schools on the same day. The Cuban people blatantly rejected being a part of the US destabilization attempt and proved that they are more concerned about the reopening of the economy and the return to normalcy after a year and a half of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | A small number of people in a few cities took to the streets as a part of the "Civic March for Change", called for by an NGO called Archipiélago in 10 cities across Cuba. Videos shared…

_____ (2021-11-17). The Post Office At A Crossroads. popularresistance.org USPS has a public service mandate to provide a similar level of service to communities across the country regardless of local economic conditions. In addition to daily mail delivery to far-flung locations,…

Ann Brown (2021-11-17). 7 Things To Know About How Wallace/Warith Dean Muhammad Removed Nation-Building From NOI. moguldom.com During his tenure as the leader of the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975, Elijah Muhammad promoted the philosophy of self-help, building the NOI into an economic powerhouse worth millions of dollars. He did so by encouraging members to grow their own personal wealth as well as the wealth of the …

_____ (2021-11-17). Davos Billionaires Want to Save the Planet… Why Don't Developing Countries Trust Them? strategic-culture.org For the time being, the world's developing sector is generally not going to accept being sacrificed on the altar of a new Gaia cult managed by a priesthood of Davos billionaires. | A miracle appears to be happening, as the multibillionaires of the World Economic Forum (WEF) appear to have grown consciences. | As if by magic, it appears that these gold collar elites no longer yearn for profit and power as they once had. As COP26 closes up its 12 day annual ceremonies, leading WEF-connected figures like Prince Charles, Jeff Bezos, Mario Draghi, Mark Carney and Klaus Schwab have announced a new system of economics t…

Shriya Singh (2021-11-17). As farmers protest in Sri Lanka after fertilizer ban, experts warn of food crisis. peoplesdispatch.org Fresh protests by farmers took place on November 10 in the aftermath of the Rajapaksa government's ban on chemical fertilizers earlier this year which has added to the country's ongoing economic crisis…

Sameena Rahman (2021-11-17). Coverup: U.S. military hid massive civilian death toll in 2019 Syria bombing. liberationnews.org This new report highlights the callousness with which the U.S. military and secret task forces destroyed communities in Syria in their effort to overthrow the Syrian government, establish U.S. hegemony in the region and plunder Syria's wealth.

WSWS (2021-11-17). Imperialist powers hold Libya "peace" conference, 10 years after NATO war. wsws.org The same powers professing their commitment to Libyan "self-determination" plunged what was previously among Africa's wealthiest countries into a bloody civil war.

Isheka N. Harrison (2021-11-17). Popular Democrat MSNBC Host Says Americans Can Pay Higher Prices With Inflation Due To Record Savings During Pandemic. moguldom.com Popular MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle has come under fire for being tone-deaf and out of touch after saying Americans can actually afford rising prices on basic goods due to inflation because of record savings during the pandemic. During an appearance on "Sunday Today," Ruhle told host Willie Geist that Americans needed to put the rising …

The Socialist Program (2021-11-17). Inflation is Class Warfare. liberationnews.org Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the steepest rise in prices in the last 30 years, which has handed politicians like Joe Manchin a convenient excuse to deepen their opposition to pro-worker social programs…

_____ (2021-11-17). Nuclear Energy Gains Momentum in the Green World. journal-neo.org The notable development of nuclear power came after the first oil shock in 1973 to reduce countries' dependence on Middle Eastern oil. The current situation in Europe is similar: prices are rising. The share of electricity in consumption is also growing, further contributing to a diversification of energy sources and the development of renewable resources, …

Moderator (2021-11-17). 'Reckless' FDA and Big Pharma Greed Blamed for Medicare Premium Hike. scheerpost.com By Jake Johnson / Common Dreams Medicare Part B recipients will soon be hit with one of the biggest premium increases in the history of the government program, a hike driven in large part by the Food and Drug Administration's scandalous approval of a costly—and, according to many experts, dubious—Alzheimer's drug. "Medicare's inability to negotiate lower drug prices means that Big …

F. William Engdahl (2021-11-17). Colossal Financial Pyramid: BlackRock and The WEF "Great Reset" globalresearch.ca First published by …

David P. Goldman (2021-11-17). US inflation expectations now highest on record. asiatimes.com A spike in inflation expectations embedded in US Treasury yields has pushed market fears of long-term inflation to the highest level since the series began twenty years ago. So-called "breakeven inflation" at the five-year horizon, the Treasury market's measure of average annual change in the Consumer Price Index over five years, rose another .08% to …

Dean Baker (2021-11-17). NYT Gives Steven Rattner a Victory Lap on Inflation Prediction. cepr.net We're getting a lot of "I told you so's" on inflation in recent days. Yesterday, it was Larry Summers in the Washington Post, today we get Steven Rattner in a New York Times column. Their story is that the 6.4 percent year over year inflation shown in the October CPI proves that their warnings about …

Nora Barrows-Friedman (2021-11-17). Podcast Ep 47: Why we have to talk about Zionism. electronicintifada.net Professor David Miller was sacked by University of Bristol over criticism of Israeli policy.

_____ (2021-11-17). Workers At HelloFresh Speak Up Against Anti-Union Scare Tactics And Dangerous Conditions. popularresistance.org Facing unlivable wages, higher-than-average injury rates, and a union-busting campaign, workers at two HelloFresh factories are pushing forward union drives. If successful, workers would form the first union in the nation's growing meal-kit industry. Around 400 workers in Aurora, Colorado are currently casting votes, which are set to be counted on November 22. Another 850 workers in Richmond, California will receive ballots by November 18. In a petition to the company, workers say that while HelloFresh "profited from the pandemic, employees faced disrespect, a COVID-19 outbreak, and preventable injuries."

_____ (2021-11-17). Workers At HelloFresh Speak Up Against Anti-Union Scare Tactics. popularresistance.org Facing unlivable wages, higher-than-average injury rates, and a union-busting campaign, workers at two HelloFresh factories are pushing forward union drives. If successful, workers would form the first union in the nation's growing meal-kit industry. Around 400 workers in Aurora, Colorado are currently casting votes, which are set to be counted on November 22. Another 850 workers in Richmond, California will receive ballots by November 18. In a petition to the company, workers say that while HelloFresh "profited from the pandemic, employees faced disrespect, a COVID-19 outbreak, and preventable injuries." | Accor…

Brett Wilkins (2021-11-17). New Report on 'Grocery Cartels' Details Exploitive Retailer Monopolies. zcomm.org The grocery and food processing industries have "created an illusion of choice and efficiency to disguise their profiteering off of the American consumer, who is unwillingly asked to trade abundance for resilience."

WSWS (2021-11-17). Profit instead of science: The German government's COVID-19 policy. wsws.org A letter signed by dozens of prominent scientists and sent to Germany's federal government sharply criticized the political establishment's failure to prevent mass infection and deaths.

Brett Wilkins (2021-11-17). 'We Need to Get Our Priorities Right'. zcomm.org "Isn't it strange how even as we end the longest war in our nation's history concerns about the deficit and national debt seem to melt away under the influence of the powerful military-industrial complex?"

Ann Brown (2021-11-17). Popular Black Socialist Gets Death Threats After Successful Event, Complaints About Using Fred Hampton's Name. moguldom.com Nearly 500 workers at a Kellogg Co. cereal plant in Omaha, Nebraska went on strike six weeks ago, and they are still walking the picket lines after the company and employees' union failed to reach a new deal. The previous contract expired at midnight on Oct. 5, Omaha CBS affiliate 3News Now reported. A popular Black socialist …

K. Gandakin (2021-11-17). Anti-socialist protests flop in Havana; pro-Cuba solidarity on display in NYC. peoplesworld.org NEW YORK—For months, opponents of Cuba's socialist government have been calling for protests on Nov. 15th. Archipelago, the largely internet-confined Cuban activist-led "initiative" organizing what they called a "Civic March for Change" or "N15" protests, promised to flood the streets of Cuba demanding political liberty—and regime change. These calls quickly found amplifiers in the United …

Editor (2021-11-17). The eco-politics of the sublime: nature, environmentalism, and Covid-ecology. mronline.org A conception of the sublime, liberated from its racist, sexist and domineering classic form, should form a part of any ecosocialist imaginary.

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