La lucha en CHINA 12

workers.org April 12, 2012 Vol. 54, No. 13 $1 TRAYVON MARTIN OUTRAGE BUILDS

By Monica Moorehead INT’L DAY OF JUSTICE 4 TRAYVON MARTIN April 3 — As each day passes without an arrest of Trayvon Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman, the anger and outrage around the country among the grassroots masses increase tenfold. It has been 37 days since Mar- tin, a 17-year-old African American, was fatally shot on TUES  APRIL 10 Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., as he was returning home from A Florida grand jury is scheduled on April 10 to ‘consider’ whether to arrest the buying iced tea and a bag of Skittles candy. A so-called vigilante who lynched by bullet our brother & son, Trayvon Martin, on Feb. 26. neighborhood watchman, Zimmerman stalked the un- armed teenager with a 9mm gun, then shot him in the chest as Martin cried for help. Zimmerman’s “excuse” TAKE TO THE STREETS for going after Martin was that he looked “suspicious” because he was wearing a hoodie. 6 pm Gather @ Union Square 14th Street & Broadway Zimmerman has said that he shot Martin in self-de- The People’s Power Tour and Occupy 4 Jobs urges all organizations, activists and fense because the youth attacked him, jumping on him, slamming Zimmerman’s head on the sidewalk and giv- communities to UNITE AS ONE to tell the grand jury that we demand the arrest of ing him a bloody nose. Those claims were discredited George Zimmerman and hold the police responsible for him walking the streets free. when a police surveillance tape emerged several days ago  showing no visible major injuries when Zimmerman was JUSTICE FOR RAMARLEY GRAHAM brought in for questioning after the shooting. And All Victims Of Police Brutality The police did not charge or arrest Zimmerman for the  STOP THE RACIST STOP & FRISK POLICY killing based on the “Stand Your Ground” Florida law,  which states that anyone who feels threatened can de- JOBS NOT JAILS: A Massive Jobs Program for Youth fend themselves, including killing someone, without fear  No Jail or Police & Vigilante Terror of legal reprisal.  S TOP DEPORTATIONS of Undocumented Workers After the shooting Martin’s body, but not Zimmer-  man’s, was checked for drugs. NO MORE CUTS in Education, School Closings, Teacher & Faculty Layo s Richard Kurtz, the Miami funeral director who pre-  End Tuition Hikes pared Martin’s body for burial, publicly stated: “Trayvon STOP THE WAR AGAINST YOUTH Martin’s body showed no signs of a violent brawl.” He went on to say, “As for his hands and knuckles, I didn’t For more information and to get involved email: [email protected] see any evidence he had been fighting anybody.” (www. Milwaukee, March 27. WW PHOTO: BRY AN G. PF E IF ER www.Occupy4Jobs.org cnn.com, March 28) Zimmerman also claimed that the cries for help heard on a 911 audio tape, which documented what led up to 5 the shooting, were made by Zimmerman. However, fo- ILWU Behind the struggle rensic experts have reported that those pleas could not have come from Zimmerman. A special prosecutor, An- gela Corey, has been assigned by the Florida State At- EDUCATION IS A RIGHT North Carolina, Philly 6 torney’s Office to decide whether charges will be brought against Zimmerman. Corey is expected to make an an- nouncement by April 10.

What Trayvon Martin’s death symbolizes African Americans have been in the forefront of the many demonstrations around the country since the cir- cumstances surrounding Martin’s death, and the lack of an arrest, broke through in social media three weeks af- WW PHOTO: BRYAN G. PFEIFER ter the Feb. 26 killing. Trayvon Martin’s parents, Tracy 7 Martin and Sybrina Fulton, have played highly visible FIGHTING FORECLOSURES Detroit conference roles in bringing attention to what happened to their son. Martin’s tragic death has completely shattered the HONORING Continued to page 3 WOMEN Hit Wall Street 2 PAM AFRICA 5 Subscribe to Workers World SHAIMA 4 weeks trial $4 1 year subscription $30 ALBA Comes to Chicago 4 8 Sign me up for the WWP Supporter Program. ALAWADI For more information: workers.org/supporters/ 212.627.2994 www.workers.org Name ______SYRIA CUBA CHINA Address ______City /State/Zip ______& the Pope Phone ______Email ______9 11 Workers World Newspaper 55 W. 17th St. #5C, NY, NY 10011 Editorial 10 Page 2 April 12, 2012 workers.org

WORKERS WORLD this week ...

 In the U.S. TRAYVON MARTIN: outrage builds ...... 1 Women oppose Wall Street’s wars ...... 2 Demand Justice for Trayvon Martin ...... 3 Mental health workers challenge lawmakers ...... 4 March against pro-rich mayors ...... 4 Tribute to leader of Free Mumia movement ...... 5 Understanding the ILWU struggle in Longview...... 5 N.C. students mobilize, take action...... 6 Philadelphia shuts eight schools...... 6 Two great losses for revolutionary community ...... 6 Foreclosure ghters gather in Detroit ...... 7 WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN Fracking industry threatens Pa. mobile home village ...... 7 Afghan youth in U.S. protest war...... 8 Women oppose Wall Street’s wars Solidarity with Dr. Tarek Mehanna ...... 8 Rallies demand justice for slain Iraqi woman ...... 8 By Monica Moorehead of solidarity to the rally. Go to www.workers.org to read New York her statement. Strong anti-war message wins at UNAC conference ...... 9 Many of the marchers wore hoodies to keep atten- A rally and march denouncing Wall Street’s war on tion on the demand for justice for Trayvon Martin, the Around the world women took place March 31 in New York City in com- 17-year-old African-American youth gunned down and General strike shuts down Spain ...... 2 memoration of International Working Women’s Day, killed by a vigilante in Florida on Feb. 26. The rally also ALBA holds conference in U.S...... 4 March 8. Despite cold, windy, damp and drizzly weather, addressed other police killings, such as that of Ramarley women activists and their supporters rallied at the bull, a Graham, an 18-year-old Black youth killed in his bath- Imperialists, monarchies bankroll Syrian opposition...... 9 tourist attraction on Wall Street that represents the inter- room by police earlier this year in the Bronx, N.Y. The BRICS summit opposes ntervention in Syria, Iran ...... 10 ests of the 1% — the bankers and bosses. recent killing of Muslim immigrant Shaima Alawadi in The struggle in China, part 2...... 11 The rally addressed global issues impacting the 99%, es- San Diego was also raised. pecially women and their communities, who are the most Speakers represented such groups as Filipinas for Rights Editorials severely affected by the current global capitalist crisis. and Empowerment, GABRIELA-USA, Million Worker These issues included housing, health care, the environ- March Movement, Occupy 4 Jobs, Transport Workers Cuba & the Pope ...... 10 ment, immigrant rights, jobs, union organizing, education, Union Local 100, International Action Center, Women imperialist wars and occupation, reproductive justice, hu- Workers for Peace, International Women’s Alliance, Coali-  Noticias En Español man trafficking, socialism and Indigenous rights. tion To Save Harlem and Workers World Party. La lucha en China ...... 12 Political repression against women was a focal point. Activists from these groups and others worked together Particular emphasis was placed on the case of Cece Mc- in the International Working Women’s Coalition 2012 to Donald, an African-American trans woman in Minneapo- organize the rally and march. The coalition is launching lis facing murder charges in a case of self-defense, and an ongoing “Can We Live” campaign that plans to reach Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, an imprisoned Pakistani woman false- out to poor and working women of many nationalities in ly accused and convicted of terrorism. Another political order to struggle together against all forms of capitalist prisoner, people’s lawyer Lynne Stewart, sent a message oppression and exploitation. Workers World 55 West 17 Street New York, N.Y. 10011 Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] General strike shuts down Spain Web: www.workers.org Vol. 54, No. 14 • April 12, 2012 By John Catalinotto ones,” that is, the mostly unorganized youth who suffer Closing date: April 3, 2012 from nearly 50 percent unemployment, started seizing Editor: Deirdre Griswold A 24-hour general strike, involving more than 80 per- central squares of dozens of cities and making political Technical Editor: Lal Roohk cent of the workforce on a countrywide level, stopped demands. Though the police managed to clear most of Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, large sections of the economy in Spain on March 29. The the plazas, the movement still has an impact on the class Leslie Feinberg, Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead, leaders of the two major union confederations that called struggle. Gary Wilson the strike, the UGT and the CCOO, provided the numbers. As a consequence, the strike was much stronger than West Coast Editor: John Parker Unions in Galicia, the Basque Country, the Canaries the general strike of Sept. 29, 2010, and stronger than the Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, and Catalonia also called their members out, as did the general strike of 2002. Though the center-right govern- Greg Butterfield, Jaimeson Champion, G. Dunkel, more radical and grass-roots union organizations on a ment and the bosses tried to minimize the strike’s suc- Fred Goldstein, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, federal level, such as the CGT and the CoBas. cess, the union leaders said that the industrial sectors of Berta Joubert-Ceci, Cheryl LaBash, The strike was protesting the “labor reform,” which re- practically all cities were stilled and the assembly lines at ally means a change in labor laws that makes it easier for the Volkswagen, SEAT, Opel, Ford and Nissan factories Milt Neidenberg, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Betsey Piette, the bosses to fire workers. Spain’s workers already face an were stopped. Also the airports in Madrid and Barcelona, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac unemployment rate of more than 23 percent. The right- and port areas in 30 harbors were struck, along with the Technical Staff: Sue Davis, Shelley Ettinger, ist parties now in office and the so-called socialist PSOE railroads. Bob McCubbin, Maggie Vascassenno backed these new anti-worker laws. In regions of the country where labor militancy com- Mundo Obrero: Carl Glenn, Teresa Gutierrez, In addition, hundreds of social organizations backed bines with the desire of the local population for politi- Berta Joubert-Ceci, Donna Lazarus, Michael Martínez, the strike. Starting in mid-May last year, “the indignant Continued on page 10 Carlos Vargas Supporter Program: Sue Davis, coordinator join us Copyright © 2011 Workers World. Verbatim copying National Oce Bu alo, N.Y. Durham, N.C. Pittsburgh and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium Workers World Party 55 W. 17 St. 367 Delaware Ave. 331 W. Main St., Ste. 408 [email protected] without royalty provided this notice is preserved. (WWP) ghts for New York, NY 10011 Bualo, NY 14202 Durham, NC 27701 Rochester, N.Y. Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly socialism and engages 212.627.2994 716.883.2534 919.322.9970 585.436.6458 except the first week of January by WW Publishers, 55 [email protected] in struggles on all bu[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] W. 17 St., N.Y., N.Y. 10011. Phone: 212.627.2994. Sub- the issues that face Atlanta Chicago Houston San Diego scriptions: One year: $30; institutions: $35. Letters to the working class & P.O. Box 5565 27 N. Wacker Dr. #138 P.O. Box 3454 P.O. Box 33447 the editor may be condensed and edited. 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[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] New York, N.Y. 10011. workers.org April 12, 2012 Page 3 NATIONWIDE PROTESTS Demand Justice for Trayvon Martin By Kathy Durkin Zimmerman” were the main themes. The next day, 300 Seattle students from Their march went around the headquar- Franklin High School protested the youth’s As national outrage has grown against ters of the Mormon church, which has racist murder. the racist murder of Trayvon Martin, pro- a shameful history of racism, and then Workers World Party members and sup- tests have taken place around the country, ended with a rally at the public library porters participated in all of these actions. many on a day or two’s notice in large and amphitheater. Speakers focused on the Thanks to Catherine Donaghy, Michael small cities and towns. Everyone who has struggles of the oppressed and the fight Kramer, Jim McMahan, Bryan G. Pfeifer, participated is demanding justice in this against institutional racism in the U.S. Betsey Piette, Paul Teitelbaum, Summer case and the immediate arrest of George A strong crowd chanting, “Justice for Wulle and Wilden Wulle for contributing UMinnesota, Zimmerman, the vigilante who killed the Trayvon Martin!” marched from Veinte news from their cities for this roundup. See March 29. 17-year-old African-American youth in de Agosto Park through downtown workers.org for updates. Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26. T UCSON, ARIZ., to an Armory Park rally. All of these actions will help to build the There, Victor Clayton, an African-Amer- national day of protest on April 10 — the day ican community activist, addressed the a Florida grand jury is set to begin delibera- urgent need to unite and stop the injus- tions on whether to arrest Zimmerman. tices that led to the murder of Trayvon More than 2,000 protesters gathered Martin. at City Hall on March 31 in downtown A 1,000-strong multinational crowd SPRINGFIELD, MASS. The crowd of pre- rallied for the Seattle Unite 1000 Hood- dominantly African-American youth wore ies rally for Trayvon Martin at Westlake hoodies and carried signs saying, “Justice Park in downtown SEATTLE on March for Trayvon Martin!” and “Arrest George 28. Speakers included Cedric President- Zimmerman!” A spirited march circled Turner, 18, Trayvon Martin’s cousin; through the downtown area and ended up James Bible of the NAACP; and Asha Mo- back at City Hall for a rally. hamed, a Somali immigrant activist. The Rev. Herbert Daughtry, a decades- Miami long activist affiliated with the House of the Lord Church, in Brooklyn, N.Y., led a spirited march and rally on March 29 in the African-American community in J ERSEY CITY, N.J., on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Daughtry urged the 200 partici- pants to broaden demands for justice for Trayvon Martin to include demands for jobs, health care and housing. Many of the youth were attending their first political demonstration. Organized by Power99, more than Prince 2,000 people rallied at Love Park in honors P HILADELPHIA on March 26. Mic check, Trayvon. an Occupy Wall Street technique, was used to relay speakers’ comments. After the rally, Occupy Philly members led a smaller march to police headquarters. Love Park was also the site of a March 29 demonstration organized by the NAACP and Power99. Two days later, 200 stu- dents and North Philadelphia community residents gathered despite the rain to rally at the Temple University bell tower. Students and workers marched through the University of WISCONSINMILWAU Thousands rally in Sanford, Fla., March 31 KEE campus and rallied inside the Student Union on March 29 to demand justice for Trayvon Martin and Bo Morrison. Morri- son, a 20-year-old African American, was gunned down in early March in Slinger, TRAYVON MARTIN Wis., by white homeowner Adam Kind, under the “Castle Doctrine.” Students for a OUTRAGE BUILDS London, March 31 Democratic Society UW-Milwaukee spon- sored the action, which was endorsed by Continued from page 1 protesters marched to the Sanford police the handling of Martin’s case, including American Federation of State, County and myth that a postracial society has emerged station. Thousands upon thousands of pro-football player Ray Lewis; popular Municipal Employees Local 82, the Inter- in the U.S. since the 2008 presidential people, the vast majority of them African singers Prince, Chaka Khan, Betty Wright national Action Center and the Wisconsin election of Barack Obama. American but also Latino/a and white, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers; the Mi- Bail Out the People Movement. Martin’s death has done more than any marched and chanted, “Justice for Tray- ami Heat basketball team players; other Students and workers also came out to other recent killing to expose the grow- von Martin! Arrest George Zimmerman!” pro-basketball players, Will Bynum, Greg the library mall on the UWMADISON ing epidemic of racial profiling of youth of Students have staged walkouts from Monroe and Steve Nash. A group of les- campus on March 27 to protest these rac- color, especially young Black and Latino their high schools especially in Miami, bian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer orga- ist murders. Endorsers included the Wis- men. Martin’s death is helping to elevate where Martin attended school. Many nizations issued a joint statement calling consin Bail out the People Movement. The the local cases of young Black men all over have stated that what happened to Tray- for justice for Trayvon Martin. Read the International Socialist Organization spon- the country who have had their lives tragi- von could easily happen to them if walk- statement at www.workers.org. sored this action. cally cut short by either the police or racist ing or driving while Black. Others have Protests in solidarity with Trayvon Milwaukee progressive organizations are vigilantism. stated that if Martin had been the shooter Martin are also growing in other parts of mobilizing for an April 10 protest calling for In so many of these instances, charac- and the victim had been white, the Stand the world, including Toronto, Paris and “Justice for Trayvon Martin, Bo Morrison, ter assassination of the victim is pushed Your Ground law would not have applied Sydney, Australia. In London, thousands Derek Williams and all victims of police by the police and the media as a way to to him in the eyes of the police. Many of are expected to attend a protest today. brutality.” It will demand a jobs program justify a killing or a brutal beating. In this the protesters wear hoodies and carry a Last summer, a widespread rebellion and education, not jails for youth. The case, the fact that Martin was once sus- bag of Skittles and iced tea. broke out in London when a youth of color growing endorsers list includes Africans on pended from school for having drug resi- In Indianapolis on April 1, Black was fatally shot by the police. A London the Move, the National Black United Front, due in his book bag was used to attempt churchgoers staging a protest in solidar- paper stated that while the killing was a Occupy Fondulac, Occupy The Hood MKE, to demonize him and take attention from ity with Trayvon Martin decided to block spark, the real issue behind the rebellion Occupy Milwaukee, and WI BOPM. the real issue of Martin being murdered traffic for 45 minutes. Thirteen members was the lack of jobs for young people. Six hundred concerned activists and because he was Black. refused to disperse when police told them A similar situation could easily break students attended a “Hoodies for Human- Demonstrations have been the largest to do so, and they were arrested. College out in the U.S., given the alarming rate ity” protest on March 31 in downtown in Florida and especially in Sanford, where campuses are staging Justice for Trayvon of incarceration and unemployment of SALT LAKE CITY. “Justice for Trayvon,” Martin was killed while visiting his father. Martin rallies around the country. youth, especially if they are Black and “No Justice No Peace,” and “Prosecute In the most recent rally there on March 31, Celebrities are expressing outrage at Brown. Page 4 April 12, 2012 workers.org NORTH CAROLINA Mental health workers challenge lawmakers By Dante Strobino committee room with one letter pinned to Raleigh, N.C. each worker’s shirt, spelling out “LISTEN TO WORKERS.” They stood before the Public mental health workers from committee in silence making their state- across North Carolina, members of United ment that the workers must have a voice Electrical Workers Local 150, the North to ensure standards for quality care. Carolina Public Service Workers Union, The workers delivered packets of infor- WW PHOTO: DANTE STROBINO with support from Rev. William Barber II, mation and a letter about the poor work- and training, and have forced workers resolutions from churches calling for pas- President of N.C. NAACP, and members of ing and service conditions that workers to bear a huge burden of upfront costs, sage of the bill. Occupy Raleigh converged on the state leg- and patients currently face, including 1) including cashing out their retirement At a press conference called by UE 150, islature on March 13 to deliver a message continuously and outrageously high rates funds early. Kevin Yancey, a youth program assistant to the Joint Legislative Oversight Commit- of worker injuries at Cherry Hospital; 2) To address the issues that face all work- 2 at Murdoch Developmental Center in tee on Health and Human Services. the sudden release of several hundred ers in the Department of Health and Hu- Butner, N.C., explained why they went Workers in UE 150 have been fighting agency-hired, privatized workers without man Services, the Mental Health Workers to the legislature. “The more we would for the state to pass House Bill 287 (SB immediate replacement with state work- Bill of Rights would give workers the right call the legislative members, the less we 481), the Mental Health Workers Bill of ers at Central Regional Hospital, causing to adequate staffing levels, training, a fair would hear from them. We’d hear from Rights. However, even after months of severe understaffing and forced overtime; grievance procedure, the right to a safe their staff that they’d ‘get back to us,’ but written requests, State Rep. Nelson Dol- and 3) the unfair discharge of 10 workers workplace and the right to refuse exces- they’d never get back to us.” lar and Sen. Louis Pate denied front-line whom UE 150 helped reinstate over the sive overtime, among other rights. workers even five minutes to share their last 18 months, along with six more cases UE 150 members around the state have Cuts cause workplace injuries expertise and concerns. still pending. collected more than 2,000 postcards Occupational Safety and Health and in- Since the workers were not allowed to These cases have cost the state more (and plan to collect over 10,000 before jury logs at Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro, address the meeting, they went inside the than $2 million in back wages, legal fees the legislature opens in May) and many N.C., showed that workers had more than a 40 percent chance of getting a bad injury in 2010 and a 32 percent chance in 2011. Despite Washington’s e orts Workers’ recent complaints there led to an investigation that is currently being conducted by the Occupational Safety and ALBA holds conference in U.S. Health Administration. These logs show a large increase in total days missed from By Thomas J. Michalak work due to injuries at all state-operated Chicago facilities in the DHHS. “There are a number of serious inju- The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples ries at Cherry Hospital recently, bones of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty have been broken, one staff was choked (ALBA-TCP) held a conference at DePaul unconscious, and the severity of the inju- University here on March 22-23. Despite ries is horrible. That is part of the reason Washington’s refusal to allow Cuban rep- that I will be retiring early at age 62, af- resentatives to attend the conference, or ter 21 years of service to the state. I want even be Skyped in, the revolutionary is- to be able to enjoy my retirement and land’s message came through loud and not suffer from workplace injury,” stated clear. Larsene Taylor, health-care technician The countries of ALBA-TCP include An- at Cherry Hospital and Chair of UE 150 tigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Bolivia, Nicara- DHHS Council. “All the issues that work- gua, Ecuador, St. Vincent and the Grena- ers spoke out about today are core ele- WW PHOTO: CHERYL LABASH ments of our Mental Health Workers Bill dines, and Venezuela. Their goal is simple: Maria Helena Ramirez and Yosjuan Pina Narvaez discussed Venezuela’s gender diversity to create a better life for the people of their movement, shown here with Dr. Luther Castillo, a Honduran graduate of the Latin American of Rights. Our voices must be heard!” countries through human development School of Medicine (ELAM) from the Foundation for the Health of Our People. DHHS has cut 1,179 positions in state and solidarity, not corporate greed. mental health facilities since the 2001 ALBA represents a dramatic shift from ALBA, not surprisingly, does not re- people in the U.S. have dubbed ALBA, Mental Health Reform plan was imple- the Latin America of the past. Since Euro- ceive the attention in the imperialist me- “Latin America’s G8 for the 99%.” It mented, which contributed further to al- peans first arrived in the Western Hemi- dia that it rightly deserves. Its immense doesn’t represent imperialist ambitions. ready severely understaffed units. This in- sphere at the end of the 15th century, accomplishments based on unity around It represents what nations can do for the cludes 321 positions cut since June 2010. Latin America has been under the boot satisfying human needs have changed the betterment of their own people, no matter “Several hundred agency-privatized heel of colonialism and then imperialism, lives of millions of people for the better. how small or poor the nation might be. Continued on page 11 whether from Spanish colonists or the Since its founding in 2004, for example, Monroe Doctrine of the United States. ALBA has eradicated poverty for more Most of the more recent attempts by than 11 million people through providing the people of Latin America to secure self- universal education and health care, both March against pro-rich mayors determination have been crushed, like programs completely dedicated to in- the U.S.-engineered assassination of Chil- creasing the well-being of the population. ean President Salvador Allende in 1973. Venezuela recently declared itself to be MILWAUKEE But Cuba and Venezuela remain free, al- 100 percent free of illiteracy, making it though in a day-to-day struggle against the second country in the region — after violent foreign aggression. Cuba — to be able to make such a claim. Ambassadors Francis Campbell Hook- Cuba’s Latin American School of Medi- er of Nicaragua, Jorge Bolaños Suárez cine (ELAM) has been instrumental in of Cuba, Freddy Bersatti Tudela of Bo- providing education to aspiring physi- livia and Ángelo Rivero of Venezuela were cians and medical care to those who oth- scheduled to attend the conference. erwise would not have it. After a devastat- However, Bolaños Suárez, stationed at ing earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, student the Cuban Interests Section in Washing- doctors from ELAM joined Cuban doctors ton, D.C., was refused permission by the there on the second day to provide what State Department to travel to Chicago aid they could — free of charge. and was not even allowed to Skype into Since its establishment in 1999, ELAM the conference over the Internet. In light has provided health care that saved the of this, he prepared a speech that was de- lives of millions. In 2006, Venezuela Outside of mayors’ fundraiser, March 28. livered by Felix Masud, a professor at the started the construction of a sister univer- university who co-sponsored the event. sity that would serve the same function as At the Italian Community Center in their 1% bosses paid $400 to $2,500 per Also in attendance were various social its Cuban counterpart. Milwaukee, dozens of protesters con- dinner, Occupy Milwaukee, Occupy The activists from ALBA nations represent- ALBA represents a framework for how fronted the Chicago mayor, Rahm Eman- Hood and numerous other progressive ing causes such as the lesbian, gay, bi and international organizations connecting uel, on March 28 as he attended a fund- organizations militantly picketed, spoke trans movement and the Foundation for nations should operate: to promote the raising dinner for Tom Barrett, mayor out and confronted the cops who were the Health of Our People. welfare of humanity as a whole. Some of Milwaukee. As Emanuel, Barrett and Continued on page 5 workers.org April 12, 2012 Page 5

PAM AFRICA. Tribute to leader of Free Mumia movement

“Pam Africa, Our Revolutionary Baraka, Phile Chionesa, attorney Mi- Daughter of the Dust, Her Life and chael Coard, Dr. Suzanne Ross, Jamila K. Work” was celebrated in her home city Wilson, Michael Abdul, Iresha Picot, Dr. of Philadelphia on March 30-31 in com- Johanna Fernandez and other activists memoration of International Women’s recounted their experiences with Pam Af- Day. The tribute began March 30 with a rica, founder of ICFFMAJ, and the knowl- reception at the Charles L. Blockson Col- edge they gained from working with her. lection at Temple University. Speakers Mumia Abu-Jamal also spoke via audio- featured fellow activists in MOVE and the tape, comparing “General Pam” to Harri- International Concerned Family & Friends et Tubman, because both women warriors of Mumia Abu-Jamal, two representatives had their “eyes on freedom.” His complete of the Black Panther Party, as well as fam- words, recorded by Prison Radio, can be ily members, including her mother, Bessie heard at http://tinyurl.com/7rfapmw. Knighton. Temple University professors Tanay The March 31 gathering took place Lynn Harris and Anthony Monteiro or- at the historic Church of the Advocate, ganized and chaired the International where political prisoner Mumia Abu-Ja- Women’s Day celebration. mal once spoke as a 15-year-old member — Report & photo by Joe Piette of the BPP. Ramona Africa, poet Amiri Pam Africa, right, and her mother Bessie Knighton. Understanding the ILWU struggle in Longview By Terri Kay ty, EGT was forced to cancel that contract fear of reprisals by the militant defenders be operated simultaneously from a control and pay any associated penalties, when of the union. The power of this collabora- room. The International Longshoremen’s After a long, heroic struggle, reported in EGT was made to back down and sign the tion among the workers and community Association has been dealing with this in many previous issues of Workers World, agreement to honor ILWU jurisdiction at has highlighted a path for future struggles. Norfolk, Va., for four years, with new auto- which included history-making collabo- both the grain terminal and shipside. As mated systems coming online in Bayonne, ration among rank-and-file International Clarence Thomas, ILWU Local 10 Coast- Building labor-community solidarity N.J., and Jacksonville, Fla. Longshore & Warehouse Union members, wide Caucus & Convention Delegate and Thomas told WW, “The government In a related industry, struggle has re- labor and the Occupy movement, some Million Worker March Movement co- was very mindful of the ramifications of cently broken out on the part of port have expressed shock and dismay at the chair, told Workers World, “EGT had had our struggle … if indeed there would have truckers in Seattle. The truckers, primari- resulting contract for ILWU Local 21 in no intention of dealing with the ILWU!” been a major showdown in Longview, ly immigrants — Latino/a, African, Arabic Longview, Wash. In looking at the Local The embattled Longview ILWU Local what that could have done to ignite other and Asian — are fighting a heroic struggle 21 contract with EGT, one should realize 21 members had sparked a surge of soli- struggles on the waterfront beyond the to organize for safety, living wages and that it is one piece in the on-going battle darity and admiration when they fought West Coast.” After all, Gov. Gregoire had benefits, dignity and justice. of the workers against the malicious and for their jobs by blocking trains carrying met with the negotiating team many times Along with widening the Panama Ca- insatiable greed of the ruling class. grain to the scab EGT terminal last sum- before this settlement. The deal was only nal, which allows the East Coast to handle EGT’s new grain facility in Longview is mer and in September when they again finally brokered in light of the imminent larger ships, developing technology will a joint venture of Bunge North America, blocked trains, also dumping scab grain. mobilization to stop the loading of the allow these huge conglomerates to whip- ITOCHU International Inc. and STX Pan They faced down brutal police, who in- scab ship. saw the East and West Coast in competi- Ocean. They saw, in the small port town vaded the fighting workers’ homes and Thomas continued “There were many tion for jobs. of Longview, an opportunity to decisive- tried to intimidate family members. forces arrayed against the ILWU. We Dave Welsh, a union delegate who par- ly break the stronghold of the militant ILWU dockworkers from other ports were not only going up against multina- ticipated in Occupy Oakland’s mobiliza- ILWU over the entire West Coast. responded by coming to Longview to re- tional Bunge – the grain merchant — but tion for Longview, described the struggle Yes, ILWU International President inforce the picket lines, shutting down also the courts, the National Labor Rela- in Longview to WW as “going up against Robert McEllrath allowed management their home ports in the process. Thomas tions Board, the U.S. Coast Guard, a scab a juggernaut — EGT and the grain car- to get its foot in the door at the hiring said that “ILWU Local 21 set the tone in labor force, and dealing with the Demo- tel, the state government, the U.S. Coast hall. Additionally, ILWU Supercargoes the strongest traditions of the ILWU.“ cratic political establishment of the state Guard, police and the courts. Despite all and Clerks Union Local 40 was totally left Following that, Occupy demonstrated of Washington. It took rank-and-file this, Occupy and the ILWU ranks were out of the contract, despite having fought its clout in the Nov. 2 Oakland General members, other members of organized la- able to push these adversaries back on side by side with Local 21 in the struggle Strike and Port Shutdown and the Dec. 12 bor and Occupy. This wasn’t just a victory their heels.” against EGT, among other issues. These West Coast Port Shutdowns, with ILWU for the ILWU.” Despite many negative parts of the con- serious concerns must be viewed, how- dockworkers refusing to cross community Thomas went on to say “This surprising tract, Thomas said that “the ILWU is still ever, within the perspective of the overall picket lines. On D12 Occupy shut down coalition of labor and community forces getting pensions and health care funded.” victory of maintaining ILWU jurisdiction. Oakland, Portland, Longview and Seattle was able to outmaneuver all of these com- He emphasized: “This EGT struggle has Understanding this perspective requires a ports and significantly slowed operations bined forces. It was only because they shown the labor movement that if it wants review. at other ports. The three points of unity of thought there was going to be a major to win, it needs to set up new coalitions — the D12 port shutdowns were support for showdown on the Columbia River, at the with the Occupy movement and the com- Labor-community united front: ILWU Local 21 in their struggle against docks, and on the streets of Longview — munity. In the final analysis, the rank and path for future struggles EGT, support for port truck drivers, and that’s what turned the tide. In all of these file will have to come to grips with this Despite the concessionary nature of response to the recent repression of Oc- forces coming together, the leadership of contract internally.” the contract, it must be remembered that cupy groups across the country. rank-and-file members, Occupy and the Make no mistake, the contract itself is EGT originally signed a five-year contract The combined forces of ILWU and Oc- community were able to overcome ideolo- not a victory. President McEllrath, who with a subcontractor, General Construc- cupy created a militant, unprecedented gy, racism and other internal differences, brokered the concessionary deal, hogtied tion, to avoid ILWU jurisdiction. Due to labor-community united front. So when which the ruling class typically exploits.” the struggle with his gag orders to Local the remarkable, unprecedented alliance EGT announced that it intended to load One has to look at this as one part of 21 in an attempt to isolate the embattled between ILWU ranks and the communi- scab grain onto the first ship at its new a much larger battle against the capitalist local from its strongest supporters. McEll- EGT terminal in Longview, the united system. The role of community involve- rath has dug himself in with collaborative front organized car caravans ready to con- ment in the labor struggle has been proven ideology, buying into the idea that the verge at a moment’s notice on Longview to be an essential strategy for battles going workers’ jobs only exist if the company is to stop EGT and even block the ship. forward. The complexities of this struggle prosperous, which ties the union’s fate to protecting the rich inside. Since Emanuel However, the battle in Longview should not be oversimplified to just a bad that of the capitalists. McEllrath allowed is presently engaged in closing clinics in wasn’t allowed to be consummated, due contract and faulty union leadership. It concessions, such as the high-tech control Chicago, attacking unions and spending to government interference by Washing- is critical to recognize that the ports play room to be run by management, which sets millions for the NATO Chicago meeting ton Gov. Christine Gregoire and the U.S. a pivotal role in the supply chain of the a negative precedent for future contracts. in May, rather than providing funding for Coast Guard, as well as by ILWU Presi- capitalists. The industries which run the Nonetheless, the conclusion of this growing human needs, a strong contin- dent McEllrath. ports, like the EGT conglomerate and its contract maintains the ILWU jurisdiction gent of Chicago activists joined the Mil- The looming conflict was stopped short major stakeholder Bunge, control inter- across the West Coast ports, despite every waukee protest, including members of of execution by a last-minute deal, bro- national trade — a major component of attempt of EGT and its ruling class co- the Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign, the kered by Gregoire, in fear of the pending the heartbeat of global capitalism. horts to break it. This struggle has allowed Chicago Mental Health Movement, the Il- struggle. Even after signing the initial Technology is putting new pressures into labor to see the possibilities of and neces- linois Nurses Association and Southside agreement, recognizing the ILWU hiring the mix, with the elimination of many jobs sity for newly forged labor/community al- Together Organizing for Power. hall, EGT still had the U.S. Coast Guard due to automation. For example, instead of liances, and has allowed the ILWU to live —Report and photo by Bryan G. Pfeifer escort its ship into the Port of Longview, in workers on the cranes, the cranes can now to fight another day. Page 6 April 12, 2012 workers.org N.C. students mobilize, take action By Andy Koch eran freedom fighters came from across Rico forced the UPR president to resign, Raul Arce, an activist in Fight Imperialism Chapel Hill, N.C. North Carolina. At the conclusion of the and today the struggle continues. Stand Together (FIST), a socialist youth conference, attendees joined with more group. “I led a discussion to share what I More than 300 students from across than 400 community members to march Uniting against the 1% know on the struggle for the DREAM Act North Carolina stormed and occupied the in the streets of Greensboro to demand Participating in the conference were by undocumented youth, and also got to University of North Carolina Board of Gov- justice for Trayvon Martin and an end to representatives of eight public universities, attend a workshop on how to build stu- ernors meeting Feb. 10, forcing the unelect- all the racist attacks on Black youth and all two community colleges and a high school. dent-worker solidarity.” ed, mostly ruling-class board members to youth of color. Representatives from several labor and While the conference showed a rich di- exit out the back door of their own building. The meeting’s keynote speech was de- community organizations also attended. versity of issues, struggles and views, all Moments before, the board had approved livered by Waldemiro Velez Soto, a leader One student speaking on the opening attendees were unified and clear on who unprecedented tuition hikes, resulting in of the vibrant Puerto Rican student move- discussion panel addressed the effects of their common enemy is: the banks and cor- the students fighting back with the stron- ment, which has waged two highly success- these attacks on communities of color. porations, the capitalists. “This economic gest resistance the state has seen in years. ful general strikes in recent years against “I’m from an HBCU [historically Black crisis that they are trying to make us pay The statewide student movement took privatization, rising tuition, police on cam- college or university], and they say when for wasn’t created by Latinos, Black folks another stride forward on March 24. pus, neoliberal reform of education, and America gets a cold, Black America gets or the workers of this country,” said Velez Education activists with the NC Defend assaults on the entire public sector. the flu,” said Grace Anderson of Winston- Soto. “It was created by the banks, politi- Education Coalition came together in “When they tried to attack our dreams Salem State University. “I see it all around cians and managers of corporate interests.” Greensboro to plan their next move in of an education, we decided to get orga- me. Our school struggles on a daily basis, The conference ended with a general the struggle against the attacks on public nized,” Velez Soto said. “We brought our so the tuition hikes and budget cuts are assembly-style discussion of the next education engineered by the board and own proposals and ideas of how the uni- hitting us especially hard.” steps of the NC Defend Education Coali- the state legislature — both of which are versity should be run. Then they attacked, Participants spent the day discussing tion. Plans included all-out mobilizations controlled by North Carolina’s capitalist and we went on strike!” their experiences in the struggle, sharing confronting the legislature to fight tuition ruling class. The strikes shut down the entire Uni- organizing skills, strategizing and mak- hikes and attacks on the public sector, as The gathering was dedicated to the versity of Puerto Rico system and won a ing concrete plans for how to intensify the well as statewide actions against legisla- memory of Trayvon Martin, the murdered temporary hold on tuition hikes as well as fight to defend public education. tive attacks on university workers’ rights. youth in Florida. Seventy education activ- amnesty for all strikers, who endured 320 “For me, the whole day was a great op- Koch is a Fight Imperialism, Stand ists, students, community leaders and vet- arrests. In 2011, the movement in Puerto portunity to share and learn,” explained Together (FIST) activist. While parents, teachers keep two open Philadelphia shuts eight schools By Joe Piette During a March 29 SRC meeting, Feather schools to be turned over to charters.” powers to impose terms on its five labor Philadelphia Houstoun, chair of the SRC’s finance com- (Philadelphia Inquirer, March 30) unions to solve this year’s budget gap. As mittee, said that as many as “four or five doz- School nurses and their supporters con- for fiscal 2013, however, he told the Inquir- After weeks of community meetings en” additional closings could be necessary. tinue to hold “Occupy 440″ rallies every er that “there clearly has to be a discussion and rallies, parents, teachers and students The school closings are being enacted Wednesday in front of the School District with labor” about ways to cut costs. of two high-performing Philadelphia el- in part because of the Philadelphia School Headquarters at 440 N. Broad St. The ral- Philadelphia is not alone. Running ementary schools have won. E. M. Stanton District’s massive spending cuts of $600 lies began last December in opposition to schools like businesses, using standard- and Isaac A. Sheppard schools will not be million this year, due to reductions in state school nurse layoffs ized tests in place of real educational in- included on the list of eight others being and federal education aid. The 2011-2012 school budget is still un- struction, eliminating union contracts shut by the School Reform Commission. But the other driving force is the explo- derfunded by $26 million. The 2012-2013 and imposing unelected school oversight As Sheppard teacher Jamie Roberts told sive expansion of charter schools, which proposed budget projects a likely shortfall commissions — these same conditions are the Philadelphia Inquirer, “It was a vic- now include more than 50,000 Philadel- of $186 million, including $110 million in being used from coast to coast to create tory, a lesson about fighting for what you phia students. The SRC itself supports the increased debt service to the banks. Fur- profitable educational industries for the believe in.” (March 29) privatization of public schools, describing ther state education funding cuts, which benefit of the 1%. Students at Harrison, Drew and Lever- its mission as creating a “portfolio” of dis- will occur if state legislators approve a Many education activists question wheth- ing elementary schools; Pepper and Sheri- trict and charter schools. proposed massive voucher system, will er such an environment can adequately dan West middle schools; and FitzSimons The current budget has slashed music, likely increase the pain in the already teach the vast majority of our youth. The and Rhodes high schools, as well as the sports, library and other vital programs, cash-strapped district. parents, students and teachers of the Stan- High School for Business and Technology, but includes $20 million “for expansions Chief Recovery Officer Tom Knudsen ton and Sheppard Schools, however, know will be forced to transfer to other schools. of some existing charters and for district says the SRC will not use its state-given what to do about it: organize. Two great losses for revolutionary community

By Bob McCubbin lenges to the ongoing U.S. She also spent countless hours educating The recent death of the founder, coordi- San Diego, Calif. blockade of Cuba. Her spe- anyone willing to listen about the need to nator, chairperson and general secretary of cial touch was evident at demand freedom for the Cuban Five. Unión del Barrio, Comrade Ernesto Bustil- On the very same day, the welcoming dinners, not Betty Fry’s ashes will be los, is a great loss to March 26, Betty Fry and just in her always gracious taken to Cuba. An apprecia- Betty Fry the people and to the WW PHOTO: BOB McCUBBIN Ernesto Bustillos, two of San remarks as host, but also in tion of her life will be held at movement. Diego’s most steadfast and details such as the attractive the San Diego Unitarian Uni- In the words of the farsighted revolutionary activ- table displays that she some- versalist meeting house on organization’s state- ists, died of unrelated causes. how found the time to put April 21. ¡Betty Fry, presente! ment announcing his together. death: “Ernesto Bustil- Firm defender of In 1996, her home served Leading gure in Mexicano los was an unwavering Ernesto Bustillos revolutionary Cuba as the organizing center for liberation movement and dedicated combat- Mild-mannered, engagingly warm and a bitter, months-long struggle at the San Unión del Barrio has been ant to the cause of the a firm defender of revolutionary Cuba, Ysidro border crossing into Mexico, where on the front lines of the strug- poor, the exploited and Fry was the heart and soul of the San Di- the caravan tried to get donated medical gle for Chicano/a, Mexicano/a liberation in oppressed peoples the world over. He was a ego Friends of Cuba. Her home near San computers past U.S. customs and on to Southern California for several decades. It fervent anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist and Diego State University, which she shared Cuba. The publicity generated by a three- has forged strong bonds of solidarity with anti-colonialist. But most importantly, he with revolutionary activist Chuck Drury months-long hunger strike by Rev. Walker the Latino/a communities of San Diego, exuded a deep love for his people. Always until his death in 2007, was well known and four young activists at the border re- Los Angeles and Oxnard, Calif., consistent- an internationalist, and a national liberation to the FBI. It was not just where Fry lived sulted in an astounding victory over U.S. ly challenging police brutality and racial fighter, Compañero Ernesto stood tall among but the place where she hosted countless government intransigence. The seized profiling in these communities, defend- the struggling Mexicano people on both sides meetings, where public activities were computers were released and the caravani- ing the rights of migrant workers and the of the imperialist border. planned, and local activists involved in stas, along with their precious cargo, were undocumented, exposing the racist crimi- “Ernesto was a guiding political leader for many struggles and occasional interna- able to complete their journey to the revo- nality of the California prison-industrial Unión del Barrio and for our movement, ad- tional visitors met to discuss political is- lutionary island nation. system, demanding quality education for vancing at every turn the struggle for Raza sues and share potlucks. Fry directly challenged the blockade her- Latino/a youth, and promoting revolution- self-determination and liberation. Before Fry was a workhorse for the periodic self by frequently visiting Cuba. In 2000, ary politics and culture. It has demonstrat- and since the founding of Unión del Bar- visits of the Pastors for Peace Cuba cara- she traveled to Miami to join protests de- ed its solidarity with Cuba, Venezuela and rio in 1981, he struggled every day, and he vans. Since 1992 these nationwide efforts, manding that young Elián González, then the ALBA movement — the Bolivarian Alli- never gave up la causa, completing tasks for under the leadership of the late Rev. Lu- being held hostage by relatives in the U.S., ance for the Americas — with many meet- the organization to his final days.” ¡Ernesto cius Walker, have represented open chal- be allowed to return to his father in Cuba. ings and forums. Bustillos, presente! workers.org April 12, 2012 Page 7

WW PHOTOS: BRYAN G. PFEIFER Belva Davis, Carlos Marroquin, Brittany Scott, Patricia Hill and JR Fleming, Tommy Cavanaugh, and Vanessa Fluker Foreclosure ghters gather in Detroit

By Kris Hamel nie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Department ney and fighter against the banks. dumpsters; training homeowners to as- Detroit of Housing and Urban Development, The second session was chaired by An- sist others in obtaining loan modifications and the Federal Housing Administration. drea Hackett, a Detroit city worker who and sustainable workouts; antibank cam- Activists fighting to stop the ongoing These add up to approximately 75 percent lost her home to foreclosure. The session paigns and pulling money out of banks; epidemic of home foreclosures came to- of all mortgages in the U.S. focused on reports from around the coun- establishing eviction-free zones; and put- gether here on March 31 at a national Homeowners and their families get try on direct actions to stop foreclosures ting people in vacant homes. conference initiated and organized by the foreclosed by the banks and thrown out and occupy homes. U.S. Rep. Hansen Clarke announced Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Fore- onto the street. Meanwhile, the govern- Speakers included the Rev. Ed Rowe, that he has drafted and will soon intro- closures, Evictions & Utility Shutoffs. The ment rewards the banks, reimbursing of Central United Methodist Church, a duce legislation in Congress for a three- endorsement and participation of other them for 100 percent of the inflated loan longtime leader in struggles for social and year federal moratorium on foreclosures, organizations was reflected in the speakers value, plus the banks’ exorbitant fees. economic justice; Occupy Los Angeles along with mortgage loan principal reduc- and presentations at the gathering, held and Occupy Fights Foreclosures activists tions to reflect true market value for un- at the historic Central United Methodist Detroit, the banks & takeover threat Cheryl Aichele, Carlos Marroquin and derwater homeowners — those who owe Church in downtown Detroit. Abayomi Azikiwe, a leading anti-fore- Matt Ward; and Occupy Detroit anti-evic- more on their mortgage than the current Conference organizers said 130 regis- closure organizer and co-founder of the tion committee organizer Joe McGuire. market value of the home. trants attended. Beside Detroit and other Michigan Emergency Committee Against Also Brittany Scott, housing coordi- An open mic allowed other participants cities in Michigan, people came from Los War & Injustice, chaired the first session. nator of the National Economic and So- to ask questions and make comments. Angeles, Central Point, Ore., Chicago, Azikiwe welcomed the attendees to De- cial Rights Initiative; U.S. Rep. Hansen Chicago activist Jill Hill chaired the Milwaukee, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Bal- troit and reported on the banks’ attempt- Clarke, author of state and federal mora- third and final session on action plans timore, Washington, D.C., and New York ed takeover of the city through an emer- torium legislation; Nancie Koerber, of to fight for a foreclosure moratorium. City. International guests registered from gency manager. Project REconomy, which has brought Speakers included Debbie Johnson, of Paris, Jerusalem and Austria. Throughout the conference speakers’ homeowners and attorneys together to Moratorium NOW!; Larry Holmes, of the The entire conference was broadcast comments showed that the struggle to challenge foreclosures across the North- national Bail Out the People Movement live via Ustream. The recording can be stop Michigan’s governor from imposing west; and Jerry Goldberg, a Moratorium and Occupy 4 Jobs; and Andy Koch and viewed at nationalmoratorium.org. the emergency dictator was paramount NOW! leader and long-time advocate for Lamont Lilly, activists from North Caroli- Steve Babson, of the local People Before on the minds of Detroiters. Residents a national moratorium on foreclosures. na, who announced plans to demonstrate Banks Coalition, kicked off the meeting have already suffered waves of destruc- Among other speakers were Chicago at the Democratic National Convention in with an informative Powerpoint presenta- tion as the auto industry closed plants, Anti-Eviction Campaign organizers J. R. Charlotte, N.C., in September. tion. Babson vividly outlined the foreclo- and the predatory banks and lending Fleming and Patricia Hill; Steve Wyatt, Action proposals adopted included sure crisis in Detroit and around the coun- institutions targeted the city with racist coordinator of the United Auto Workers’ supporting all May Day actions and the try, its origins, the criminal scope of the subprime mortgages, devastating whole social unionism education project; Wis- call for a May 1 general strike; organizing banks’ actions, and why a national mora- neighborhoods. consin Bail Out the People Movement ac- to protest the NATO summit in Chicago torium to stop foreclosures is necessary. Detroit has lost one-quarter of its pop- tivists Bryan Pfeifer, Tommy Cavanaugh, on May 20 and supporting the call by the Babson’s presentation is being posted for ulation in the last 10 years due to these Cody Misiak and Brian Woods; Bob Day, Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign to oc- viewing at peoplebeforebanks.org. factors. The conference demanded repu- Detroit attorney and anti-foreclosure cupy 100 homes during the summit week; A strong theme throughout the event was diation of the government’s debt service fighter; Shawndrica Simmons, Secretary- holding an international tribunal dur- the criminal and racist role played by the to the banks, and for government to use Treasurer of the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO; ing the Democratic National Convention banks and financial institutions in the capi- taxpayers’ funds instead to pay the work- Cecily McClellan, Detroit city worker and in September to investigate the criminal talist economic crisis that laid off millions, ers and keep city services going. union activist in the Association of Pro- actions of the banks; and organizing a lowered wages and spawned the home fore- Speakers included Detroit City Coun- fessional and Technical Employees; and march on the DNC to demand President closure epidemic in the United States. Ac- cilperson and people’s representative Mike Shane of Moratorium NOW! Barack Obama use his executive authority cording to the Center for Responsible Lend- JoAnn Watson; Wayne County Commis- to impose a national moratorium on fore- ing, 7.5 million homeowners have faced sioner Martha Scott, author of a county Tactics, actions & furthering the struggle closures and evictions. foreclosure since 2007, with a projected 10 moratorium bill; Michele Finley, who led Among the many tactics used and dis- Following the conference, participants million foreclosures yet to come. the fight to save the home of her parents, cussed were home occupations; home adjourned to 1515 Broadway, a popular Participants discussed the criminal role Bertha Garrett and William Garrett, from defenses and blockades; eviction stall- coffee house and theater that was re- of the federal government in bailing out Bank of New York Mellon Trust; Belva ing methods; disruptions at auctions of cently saved from foreclosure thanks to a the very banks and financial institutions Davis, a Detroit homeowner who defeat- foreclosed homes; protests and actions at broad-based community struggle against that created the crisis for workers and the ed Ocwen and Wells Fargo’s attempts to banks and loan service providers; email Citibank. Dinner, cultural presentations poor. Activists demanded an end to the evict her from her home; and Vanessa and telephone campaigns directed at and lots more discussion rounded out the silent but continuing bailout that occurs Fluker, a leading anti-foreclosure attor- bank executives; turning back eviction day-long event. with every loan owned or backed by Fan- Fracking industry threatens Pa. mobile home village

By Betsey Piette gallons of water per day from the site, lo- ing failure rate of 6.2 percent in Pennsyl- left by May 1. In the same Sun Gazette cated on the banks of the Susquehanna vania. Environmental violations occur at article, ten-year resident Deb Eck said, Longtime residents of the 32-unit River- River. According to the park’s owner the a rate of 12 per day at Marcellus Shale gas “Mobile home movers have put the cost dale Mobile Home Village in Jersey Shore, park’s destruction hinged on the planning drilling sites in Pennsylvania. of moving the trailers at between $5,000 Pa., read in the Feb. 18 Williamsport, Pa., commission’s approval. “The water returns to the surface bear- and $12,000. Even if many residents Sun-Gazette that their leases were being Interviewed in the March 18 Sun Ga- ing toxic chemicals, heavy metals, ra- could move, they have nowhere to go.” terminated “immediately” and they would zette, Protecting Our Waters Director Iris dioactive materials and volatile organic Many of the residents are elderly and/ have to move by April 1. Marie Bloom said, “New York, Maryland, chemicals, which is why it is often trucked or live on fixed income. They have lived in Their park had been sold to Aqua PVR and the Delaware River Basin, where away to be re-injected underground, caus- Riverdale Park for years in older trailers LLC, a subsidiary of Aqua America based Aqua is based, have each imposed a mor- ing a number of earthquakes. No cumula- that won’t be accepted in newer mobile in Bryn Mawr, Pa. The company plans to atorium” on drilling. “The Susquehanna tive impact study regarding the life-cycle home developments. They question why tear down the park to build a water pump- River Basin Commission, in contrast, is impacts of fracking has been conducted Aqua America could not find another lo- ing facility for use in gas drilling called giving out multi-billion gallon water with- anywhere in Pennsylvania.” cation on the Susquehanna River to set up fracking. drawal permits with no examination of An explosion at a natural gas compres- their pumping station. The Lycoming County Planning Com- cumulative consequences to water, air, sor station near Allentown, Pa. took place Residents won’t go quietly mission approved the company’s plans land, climate, or human health.” March 29. for the pump station in mid-February. On Bloom noted, “High-volume hydraulic Adding insult to the injury of the too- On March 28 Riverdale residents held a March 15, Aqua PVR LLC received permis- fracturing, or fracking, injects chemical- short notice, Riverdale residents were of- town meeting where they demanded that sion from the Susquehanna River Basin laced water underground at high pressure fered an “incentive” payment of $2,500 if Aqua America compensate all 32 families Commission to withdraw up to 3 million — a process with a confirmed current cas- they were out by April 1 or $1,500 if they Continued on page 10 Page 8 April 12, 2012 workers.org Afghan youth in U.S. protest war By Terri Kay Fremont, Calif. the “U.S./Afghan Strategic Partnership body parts as trophies, the urinating on through the shopping center and down Agreement.” If enacted, this agreement dead Afghan bodies while filming it, and a divided eight-lane road in central Fre- Some 150 people from Fremont and would extend the U.S. military presence the burning of Qurans.” mont. The marchers held the entire width, Occupy Oakland demonstrated outside in Afghanistan beyond 2024. Abbas Darab, from Afghans for Peace, from the curb to the central divider, un- a U.S. military recruiting center in Fre- Michael Thurman, one of the veter- talked about the comparisons to Trayvon precedented for an unpermitted march in mont on March 30 at a protest organized ans, spoke in front of the recruiting cen- Martin, and “our brothers in downtown Fremont. by Afghan youth. They were also joined ter about how he had been lied to when Oakland. They’re doing the exact same Although Fremont motorcycle cops by a number of San Francisco Bay Area he was recruited right out of high school. thing to them.” tried to push the militant youth to the curb, Iraq Veterans Against the War activists. Thurman talked about how the killing of Treal Mustafan, an Afghan youth born everyone held their ground and marched Fremont has the highest concentration of civilians happens all the time. in Oakland, said he was “upset with what several blocks. They tied up traffic but got Afghans in the U.S. Dottie Guy said she had enrolled in the the U.S. has done in Afghanistan, histori- honks of support from passersby. The march organizers raised three National Guard, never imagining that she cally and currently.” He asked people to As the cops brought out squad cars to main issues: Protest the U.S. massacre would wind up being sent to fight overseas. not enlist, but rather to pay attention to support their motorcycle division, the of Afghans in Panjwai, Kandahar, as well The San Francisco vets Web page for history, instead of treating history as ir- marchers surprised them by doing a u- as all other atrocities related to this war; this action stated in part, “We’re outraged relevant. Mustafan said it was “a shame a turn, marching back on the other side of protest U.S. military recruitment of poor not only about this latest atrocity, but by lot of U.S. Afghans were conducive to war, the road, holding the entire width once people in this country; and raise aware- the drone attacks, the night raids, the ‘kill but were starting to learn.” more. The march ended near the military ness about and rally support against teams’ murdering for sport and collecting Following the rally, the crowd marched recruiting office without incident. Victim of anti-Muslim frame-up Solidarity with Dr. Tarek Mehanna By Frank Neisser spected leader in his community who has Mehanna and get him to agree to a ter- The prosecution spent six weeks showing Boston done nothing besides criticize U.S. foreign rorist act, and that Dr. Mehanna had re- videos and chats, taken out of context, policy, particularly as it affects Muslims fused. The same NYPD sources also told from Mehanna’s computer, distorting On Thursday, April 12, Dr. Tarek Me- here and abroad. Because of his stature in the reporter that the NYPD had come to their meaning and deliberately prejudic- hanna will be sentenced in Moakley U.S. the Muslim community, the FBI repeat- Boston and met with the prosecutors in ing the jury. Courthouse in Boston. The Tarek Mehan- edly pursued him to be an informant on Mehanna’s case. The incessant propaganda and anti- na Support Committee is urging everyone others in his community. But the defense motion for all informa- Muslim prejudice fed to the U.S. public to be in court by 9 a.m. for a strong show- When he steadfastly refused, he was tion about this — required under law as influenced the jury to find Mehanna guilty ing of support and solidarity. arrested in 2008 and charged with mak- exculpatory evidence — was denied after on all seven counts. Mehanna, a 28-year-old Muslim, ing “false statements to the FBI.” When a private session in the judge’s chamber Supporters, who were present through- Egyptian-American and a graduate of the Mehanna was arrested again in 2009, between the prosecutors and the judge. out the proceedings and who packed the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and the charge was “material support for ter- court for the closing arguments, vowed to Health Sciences, has been held in solitary rorism.” There was no new information Prosecutorial distortions lead support Mehanna’s appeals and to mount confinement 23 hours a day since his ar- about any actions on his part to back up to unjust conviction a campaign to stop the government’s goal rest in 2009. Justice-loving people were these charges. Dr. Mehanna’s trial began on Oct. 24. of railroading him to life in prison. outraged on Dec. 20 when, after a nearly As reported on FreeTarek.com, for a Throughout the trial, support for him This case follows the alarming pat- two-month trial, a federal jury falsely con- two-year period before his arrest, Me- was strong every day. The main court- tern of persecution of Muslims that has victed him on trumped-up “terrorism” hanna was “befriended” by an unknown room was filled. Often, one or two other emerged since 9/11: the secret evidence; charges. Sentencing guidelines in his case individual who continually tried to urge courtrooms were needed to accommodate inflammatory pre-trial accusations fed call for life imprisonment. him to “take action” against U.S. soldiers supporters. During the entire six weeks of to the press by government prosecutors; The TMSC has been conducting a letter returning from Iraq, which Mehanna con- prosecution testimony, no evidence was manipulation of informants and cooper- writing campaign to appeal for a short sen- tinually refused to do, rebuffing and cut- presented of Mehanna committing any ating witnesses through threats and re- tence. It has conducted a rally in support ting off contact with the man. violent or criminal act. wards; and the use of “material support of of Dr. Mehanna on the Boston Common. An Associated Press reporter came for- In contrast, the six FBI informants who terrorism” charges to criminalize dissent. You can learn more about the case and get ward with the information that the New testified against Mehanna had committed Cointelpro-style tactics of prosecutorial involved by visiting FreeTarek.com. York Police Department had sent an un- such acts but were given prosecutorial im- misconduct have produced many unjust Mehanna’s supporters say he is a re- dercover agent to Boston to “befriend” munity in exchange for their testimony. convictions. Rallies demand justice for slain Iraqi woman By Kris Hamel police and the FBI have not declared it a hate crime, even though doing so would Even as the failure of authorities in give the federal agency, which has per- Florida to arrest the killer of 17-year-old secuted many Muslims since 9/11, more African-American Trayvon Martin con- powers in the investigation. Students at UNC-Chapel Hill rally against racism, March 29. tinues to stoke the fires of righteous anger On March 24, Alawadi died after being at racism, another killing has taken place removed from life support. She was bur- lies have been held around the U.S. in “likes” on April 2. that has touched a nerve of outrage and ied in her homeland on March 31. solidarity with Alawadi’s family, includ- At the vigil in El Cajon, Alawadi’s solidarity around the U.S. At least two members of El Cajon’s Mus- ing a candlelight vigil March 28 outside 15-year-old son Muhammed stated as he This time it happened in the Southern lim community have reported receiving Alawadi’s home. wept, “My condolences go out to the fam- California city of El Cajon, a suburb of threatening phone calls since Alawadi’s ily of Trayvon. My candle goes out to you San Diego that is home to some 50,000 death, according to Sadaf Hane, civil rights ‘Hoodies and hijabs for justice’ as well.” (Reuters, March 29) people from Middle Eastern countries, director of the San Diego chapter of the “Hoodies and hijabs rallies for justice” Since the attacks in 2001 on the World second only to Detroit in that population. Council on American-Islamic Relations. — referring to the garb worn by Trayvon Trade Center, the U.S. ruling class of This time the victim was a 32-year-old Incidents of bias and racism toward Martin and the traditional headscarf worn capitalists and bankers has blamed “ter- woman. Her name was Shaima Alawadi, Muslims and peoples of Middle East- by Alawadi and other Muslim women — rorism” on oppressed peoples around the an Iraqi immigrant, a devout Muslim and ern origin are on the increase. In 2011, took place at several college campuses world, particularly in Arab and Muslim the mother of five children. the number of anti-Muslim hate groups around the U.S. on March 29, including at countries. This charge was used to justify On March 21, Alawadi was discovered tripled to 30, according to the Southern the University of North Carolina at Chapel the long, bloody U.S.-led wars and occu- by her 17-year-old daughter Fatima on Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate Hill and Queens College in New York. pations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Some 5 the family’s dining room floor, bleeding groups and documents Civil Rights abus- The cases of Martin and Alawadi have million Iraqis — 18 percent to 20 percent profusely after being severely beaten with es. FBI data show 186 separate bias crimes been linked increasingly on social media, of Iraq’s entire population — became refu- what police say was a tire iron. A note was against Muslims in 2010, the highest including the popular Twitter hashtag gees, with 2 million dispersed around the found which read, “Go back to your coun- number in five years. (msn.com, March #hoodiesandhijabs. Hashtags #RIPTray- world and 3 million internally displaced. try, you terrorist.” Several weeks before 31) Bias crimes and threats are also largely vonMartin and #RIPShaima are showing The FBI has infiltrated mosques and or- the attack, a note stating the same senti- underreported by the Muslim community. up together in hundreds of messages such ganizations and framed up hundreds of ment was found at the family’s house, but But people in the community and as “hoodie or hijab — this must stop.” innocent Muslims in the U.S. on false and Alawadi had dismissed it as the doings of around the country are raising their The Facebook page “One Million Hijabs manufactured charges. misguided youth. Despite the notes, so far voices to demand justice. Vigils and ral- for Shaima Alawadi” surpassed 10,000 Continued on page 11 workers.org April 12, 2012 Page 9 Strong anti-war message wins at UNAC conference By John Catalinotto Stamford, Conn.

More than 500 progressive political activists attended the United National Antiwar Coalition’s second national con- ference held here March 23-25, convened under the theme, “Say No to the NATO/ G8 Wars & Poverty Agenda.” The confer- ence discussion led to a clear anti-imperi- alist political and action agenda for the an- ti-war movement for the coming months. WW PHOTO: JOHN CATALINOTTO Participation in five plenary panels, Above from left, Clarence Thomas, Larry Holmes, Johnnie Stevens and Nick Camerata at three floor discussions and dozens of afternoon panel on Occupy movement, labor and community collaboration. Lucy Pagoada of Honduras Resistencia translates for Victor Toro of the May 1 Coalition in NYC. workshops was diverse. Those registered included a contingent of more than 100 Muslim Peace Coalition, the Muslim ing the conference involved resolutions part in this important debate, speaking for South Asian and other mostly Muslim Leadership Council of Metropolitan New on if and how UNAC would relate to the or against the resolutions. A strong anti- activists, many of them young people at- York, Council on American Islamic Re- U.S. and NATO threats against Syria and imperialist current, that included Iranians tending their first anti-war conference. lations and DRUM — Desis Rising Up Iran. living in the U.S., explained to conference The participants in general came from Moving — to protest the New York Police On Friday night, at a meeting after participants why they should reject the activity in many different areas, includ- Department’s widespread anti-Muslim the opening session, UNAC’s Coordinat- two resolutions. After an hour, the ques- ing environmental, labor, community, campaign; and protests set at the end of ing Committee had overwhelmingly ap- tion was called. The conference voted to civil rights and justice or anti-repression August and the beginning of September proved a resolution drafted by the UNAC support the resolution opposing all forms groups as well as anti-war and anti-impe- for the Democratic National Convention Administrative Committee headlined: of U.S. war and rejected the two opposing rialist organizations, for this event, which in Charlotte, N.C., and the Republican Na- “U.S/NATO Troops Out Now! No to im- resolutions by a two-to-one vote. was subtitled, “A Conference to Challenge tional Convention in Tampa, Fla. perialist wars, occupations, sanctions, CPRmetro.com livestreamed the con- the War of the 1% Against the 99% at A list of the titles of the plenary panels embargoes! Self-determination for all op- ference, and recordings of the talks and Home and Abroad.” gives an idea of the scope of the confer- pressed peoples.” discussion are available at that website. UNAC had established its credentials ence: “The Shifting Strategies of Empire”; This resolution had strong support More information can be found at www. as a broad anti-war coalition with a con- “The War at Home on the Black Commu- among conference participants. Two oth- unacpeace.org. ference in Albany, N.Y., in the summer of nity: Mass Incarceration, Unemployment, er resolutions were proposed as amend- 2010, where a strong resolution in solidar- Stop and Frisk”; “Islamophobia, the At- ments, but they really contradicted the 483 arrested in Brussels in NATO protest ity with Palestine and to end all U.S. aid tack on Civil Liberties, and the War on above resolution. Meanwhile, the anti-NATO action is to Israel won overwhelming support. This Workers”; a “Victims of Political Repres- One of the opposing resolutions would gaining international support. According was followed by anti-war protests of thou- sion Speakout”; and “Global Economic have UNAC call for support for the in- to a NATO Game Over press release, “On sands in New York and San Francisco in Meltdown, Warming, and War.” ternal opposition against the Iranian April 1 around 2 a.m., 800 peace activists April 2011 that protested not only the oc- Among the groups contributing to the government; the other actually demand- from more than 10 European countries cupations of Iraq and Afghanistan but also firmness of the anti-imperialist position ed “Down with the regimes” in Syria and gathered near NATO headquarters” in the U.S./NATO aggression against Libya. were the International Action Center, Iran. Such stands would have undoubt- Brussels, Belgium, and 500 tried “non- On most political issues and on the ac- BAYAN-USA, the Pan-African News Wire, edly split UNAC on the eve of aggressive violently to enter the NATO compound.” tion program the conference was virtually SI Solidarity with Iran, Virginia Defend- new U.S. war plans. As IAC co-coordina- About 20 succeeded and 483 were arrested. unanimous. There was enthusiastic agree- ers, the International League of Peoples tor and UNAC Administrative Commit- The European delegations’ message to ment to build for the next major anti-war Struggle, Occupy 4 Jobs, Committee to tee member Sara Flounders told Workers the Chicago NATO summit is “We do not action in Chicago on May 20 to coincide Stop FBI Repression, Al-Awda (Pales- World, “We oppose attacking the very want a missile defence shield, We do not with the opening of a NATO summit. tine), the Black Agenda Report and Hon- governments facing U.S./NATO aggres- want NATO soldiers in Libya or Afghani- UNAC also endorsed a May Day ac- duras USA Resistencia. sion, sanctions, destabilization and media stan, We do not want dangerous, useless tion in New York that unites labor, im- demonization.” and illegal nuclear weapons.” migrants and the Occupy movement; a Debate over Iran, Syria Dozens of people lined up during the Abayomi Azikiwe contributed to this June 16 march and rally called by the The most serious internal debate dur- full plenary session on Saturday to take article. Western imperialists, monarchies bankroll Syrian opposition By Joyce Chediac opposition “include the kidnapping and ernment recently charged that terrorism Annan ceasefire plan as “worse than feck- detention of security force members, attacks supported from abroad have been less” and called upon those who would The very crimes and abuses that the individuals identified as members of responsible since December for eight car “help” the Syrian right-wing opposition imperialist governments and the corpo- government-supported militias, and in- bomb attacks, killing 328 people and “to climb metaphorically into the ring and rate press ascribe to the “unspeakable” dividuals identified as government allies wounding 657. dirty themselves.” He added, “What the Bashir al-Assad government are being and supporters. They also include the use situation needs is not high-minded senti- committed by the forces that Western fi- of torture and execution of security force Western capitalists want ments, but effective, lethal aid.” nance capital is bankrolling, organizing members and civilians. Some of the at- one-sided ceasere and abetting in Syria. tacks targeting Shias and Alawites appear Speaking at an anti-Assad “Friends of Who is the Syrian opposition? The Syrian opposition’s actions were to be motivated by sectarianism. … the Syrian People” meeting in Istanbul There are some 100 groups in the Syrian recently documented by Human Rights “Testimony collected also included on April 1, Secretary of State Hillary Rod- opposition, along with individuals. They Watch and have appeared in the back kidnapping, including — old people and ham Clinton said that Assad had “defied” cover a wide political spectrum — from re- Students at UNC-Chapel Hill rally against racism, March 29. pages of major Western publications. children held for ransom — torturing and a ceasefire recently brokered by the Unit- actionary pro-imperialist to progressive, They include bombings, assassinations, killing of civilians. Also kidnapping of Ira- ed Nations, the Arab League and former with very different reasons for their griev- torture and kidnapping civilians. These nian civilians on a religious pilgrimage in U.N. head Kofi Annan. (Associated Press, ances. The corporate media obscure the groups are commandeering neighbor- Syria.” The letter also refers to YouTube April 2) Clinton did not mention that at vast differences among them to hide their hoods, fomenting sectarian strife and videos of the execution of Syrian soldiers, this point the ceasefire does not apply to agenda in Syria and to make sure that the causing populations to flee. who appeared badly beaten. the armed opposition. It demands that most reactionary forces dominate. This Many of the perpetrators are not Syr- The letter continues: “Abuses of this Damascus unilaterally stops fighting has caused confusion among anti-war ian, but have been recruited from abroad. nature, including torture, taking of hos- and unilaterally withdraws from areas progressives here. It’s not only proxy forces that commit tages and executions by armed opposition of heavy infiltration, which would surely Some Syrian groups and individuals, in- these acts of terror: “Western special forc- members have also been documented by give the opposition an edge. spired by protests in Egypt and Tunesia, call es are said to be giving military support the UN-mandated commission of Inquiry Meanwhile, Western finance capital for basic democratic and economic reforms on the ground.” (British Guardian, Feb. 7) in its February 2012 report.” aids and abets right-wing forces every day. such as an end to inflation, reinstatement The goal of Western finance capital is to According to a March 29 report in The U.S had pledged at least $25 million of subsidies and jobs. They have called for break the strategic alliance among Syria, Spiegel Online International, in the Baba in so-called “non-lethal” aid to the Syrian dialogue with the Assad government and Iran and the resistance movements in Leb- Amr neighborhood of Homs, the armed opposition. Clinton announced on April 1 have opposed all foreign intervention, sec- anon and Palestine and to make the whole opposition has formed its own laws, that this included key satellite communi- tarianism and violence. The rightist forces Middle East a satellite of imperialism. courts and death squads. Abu Rami, an cation equipment, vital for waging war. back armed groups, refuse negotiations, opposition commander in Baba Amr, in- What does the U.S. government really call for open imperialist intervention, and Opposition kidnaps & tortures terviewed by Spiegel, said in the city of think of this ceasefire? are terrorizing the population. In a letter published March 20, Hu- Homs alone his group has executed be- Writing in Al Jazeera on March 29, It is undeniable that the Damascus gov- man Rights Watch accused the armed tween 200 and 250 people. Robert Grenier, former director of the ernment used force against Arab Spring Syrian opposition of “kidnappings, the Other forms of terror include car CIA’s Counter-Terrorism Center, pushed protests when they began a year ago and use of torture and executions.” The docu- bombings and blowing up pipelines and the imperialists for more direct interven- that repression and lack of representation mented crimes and abuses by the armed government buildings. The Syrian gov- tion. He described the U.N.-Arab League- Continued on page 10 Page 10 April 12, 2012 workers.org editorial BRICS summit opposes Cuba & the Pope ing their legal and political structure. intervention in Syria, Iran ope Benedict XVI went to Cuba, made a few speeches and left. The Proposals on all the issues were brought By Abayomi Azikiwe supply military assistance to Syrian oppo- visit was a victory for socialist to the people — at their workplaces, P Editor, Pan-African News Wire sition groups that are fighting the govern- Cuba in many ways. their schools, their neighborhoods — for ment in Damascus. What it revealed, once again, was that discussions in which they could criticize, New Delhi, India, was the venue for the the Cuban Revolution and its leaders are accept, reject, amend and improve the fourth BRICS Summit, which convened Character of the BRICS states strong because they have the support of new laws. This is how Cuban democracy on March 29. BRICS stands for Brazil, The BRICS states are playing a greater the masses of people. The turnout for the works — and it is infinitely better than the Russian Federation, India, China role in the areas of manufacturing and Pope was respectable but not overwhelm- the bought-and-paid-for electoral system and South Africa, which together house world trade. All of them, with the excep- ing. As even the U.S. press had to point in capitalist countries that always gives 43 percent of the world’s population and tion of the People’s Republic of China, are out before the visit, Catholicism is not a the same results: the rule of the bankers are playing a greater role within a world thoroughly capitalist. deeply rooted religion in Cuba; Santeria and bosses over the masses of the people. economic system still dominated by the Brazil, the only Latin American BRICS is more popular, especially among Afro- Nevertheless, the State Department capitalist mode of production and social country, has a government led by the Cubans. and White House were hoping to turn relations. Workers Party, but its economy is heavily Cuba’s main problem is not with the Pope’s visit into a propaganda blitz The Republic of South Africa was incor- dominated by private capital. India has Catholicism. It is with U.S. imperialism, against the Cuban Revolution. They porated into the organization in 2010, the made tremendous strides in industrial which has tried — and failed — for more wanted him to call for the freeing of their only African state among the group. Bra- and technological development over the than 50 years to bring down the revolu- paid agent, Alan Gross. They wanted zil is the only country from Latin America. last three decades but remains a capital- tion through an outright invasion, years him to meet with the so-called Ladies in One of the key points of departure for ist society with great extremes of wealth of sabotage and assassination attempts White, a group whose politics echo the the BRICS Summit was its disagreement and poverty. against its leaders, a blockade meant to State Department. And they didn’t want with the United States and NATO over the South Africa, which made a historical destroy the island’s economy, and the him to say anything negative about the resolution of the current situation in Syr- contribution to the global struggle against cultivation of a small dissident group blockade — the U.S. calls it an embargo ia. The New Delhi gathering categorically racism when the masses overthrew the with ties to Miami gangsters and other — that not only prevents U.S. firms from opposed Western military intervention in apartheid system in 1994, has remained remnants of the despised dictatorship of engaging in normal trade relations with Syria and issued statements related to the integrated into the world capitalist sys- Fulgencio Batista — a U.S. puppet if there Cuba but even punishes other countries ongoing threats against the Islamic Re- tem. Nonetheless, the ruling African Na- ever was one. that do so. public of Iran. tional Congress (ANC) maintains strong The biggest problem for the U.S. ruling The Pope had all of Latin America to The New Delhi Declaration said: “We links with the masses organized within class is that the Cuban people understand think about. He knew that Cuba is very express our deep concern at the current the trade union movement and strong all this. They know that their leaders are popular there, and that if he acquiesced situation in Syria and call for an imme- civil society and youth organizations. truly on their side, having sacrificed along to Washington’s demands he would lose diate end to all violence and violation of Although capitalism has been restored with them when the going has been tough. standing in what is in many ways the human rights in that country. Global in- in Russia, there remain serious contradic- The people refuse to be bought with false last bastion of the Catholic Church. So terests would best be served by dealing tions between Moscow and the U.S. as promises of what they would get if they in the end he said nothing about Gross, with the crisis through peaceful means well as the imperialist states in Europe. would only turn against the system that didn’t meet with the Ladies in White, and that encourage broad national dialogues Russia opposed the war against Libya has given them a magnificent educational publicly deplored the embargo — as do that reflect the legitimate aspirations of that began in March of 2011, although it establishment, the best health care in the 99 percent of the countries in the world all sections of Syrian society and respect did not use its veto to stop the U.N. Se- hemisphere, and a bond of solidarity with every year when the U.N. General Assem- Syrian independence, territorial integ- curity Council resolution used by the im- all the struggling peoples of the world. bly votes on this subject. rity and sovereignty.” (Delhi Declaration, perialists to attack Libya. Since the disas- “Vende patria” — someone who sells their We congratulate Cuba for how the March 29) trous conquest of Libya by the U.S. and country — is about the worst thing you Pope’s visit was handled. The leaders In Section 22 of the declaration, the NATO, Russia has vetoed similar efforts can call a Cuban. showed confidence in the political matu- BRICS Summit took up the current to provide a pseudolegal rationale for war The Cubans have just been through a rity of the Cuban people, and the people threats being made by the U.S. and other against Syria and Iran. lengthy process of revising and updat- showed that they deserve that confidence. Western states toward Iran. It said: “The situation concerning Iran cannot be al- Economic agreements of the BRICS summit lowed to escalate into conflict, the disas- The BRICS states have laid out ambi- trous consequences of which will be in tious plans to coordinate economic de- Imperialists, Syrian opposition no one’s interest. Iran has a crucial role velopment strategies that are designed to to play for the peaceful development and lessen dependence upon the imperialist Continued from page 9 right-wing Syrian opposition group since at prosperity of a region of high political and states. There are efforts underway to facil- have been issues in Syria for some time. least 2006. Exiles who received this money economic relevance.” itate trade outside the dollar and the euro. This, however, has nothing to do with why are now part of the Syrian National Coun- BRICS further stressed, “We recognize Section five of the New Delhi Declara- the imperialists have intervened against cil, which has been recognized as the “legit- Iran’s right to peaceful uses of nuclear tion points out that “while the BRICS re- Assad. It is only their pretext. imate representative of the Syrian people” energy consistent with its international covered relatively quickly from the global Western finance capital misused grass- by French and British foreign ministries. obligations, and support resolution of the crisis, the growth prospects worldwide roots protests of the Syrian people as a In an extensive interview in the Dec. 2 issues involved through political and dip- have again got dampened by market in- pretext to build support for the Syrian Wall Street Journal, SNC leader Burhan lomatic means and dialogue between the stability, especially in the eurozone.” right-wing. This right-wing has already Ghalioun said he would open up Syria to parties concerned, including between the The Summit placed the blame for the brokered a deal with imperialism. It has the West, end Syria’s strategic relation- IAEA and Iran and in accordance with the ongoing economic crisis on the Western promised that once in office it will break ship with Iran and with the Lebanese and provisions of the relevant U.N. Security industrialized states. Syria’s strategic alliance with Iran, Hizbol- Palestinian resistance, and realign Syria Council resolutions.” Within the capitalist states themselves, lah and the Palestinian left and bring Syria with the reactionary Arab regimes in the This declaration contrasts with the pro- the workers and youth are becoming securely into the pro-imperialist camp. Gulf and in the Arab League. ceedings of the so-called “Friends of Syr- more class conscious and active. The gen- Washington has funneled money to a ia” meeting in Istanbul on March 31-April eral strikes in Greece, Portugal and Spain, What is the ‘ Free Syrian Army’? 1, when the U.S. and other imperialist along with mass demonstrations and re- SNC is connected to the so-called “Free countries escalated their threats against bellions in Britain and France, illustrate Syrian Army,” which has rear bases in Syria and openly admitted they would that the crisis is not subsiding. Fracking threatens Turkey and is funded by the monarchies of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Some reports Pa. mobile homes have exaggerated the number of deserters from Syria’s army, claiming as many as Continued from page 7 25,000. Yet Aljazeera, which reports fa- General strike shuts down Spain for the full costs of moving or allow them vorably about the opposition, reported on Nov. 16, 2011, that fewer than 1,000 de- tions in the four major cities of the Basque to remain in their homes without disrupt- Continued from page 2 ing their lives with the pumping station. serters from the Syrian Army have joined Country — Bilbao, Pamplona, Vitoria and Nathan Sooy, from the environmen- the FSA. According to the March 2 New cal independence or at least autonomy San Sebastian. tal group Clean Water Action, noted that York Times, the number of Syrian troops from the centralized Spanish state, the Throughout the Spanish state, there Aqua America “will make hundreds of absent without leave is about the normal strike action was especially strong. In the were mass demonstrations backing the thousands of dollars off this deal. They number expected during a war. Basque Country, for example, the Basque strike. And police, in an attempt to break can afford to give just compensation.” There are, however, “hundreds of for- unions say that 90 percent of workers the strike, intervened brutally against Sooy suggested taking residents’ de- eign fighters who have attached them- were out in the industrial sector, with picketing strikers. Reports say 58 strikers mands to the company’s headquarters. selves to the FSA. … The Sunni volunteers Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Mi- were arrested and some injured. Under growing public pressure, the came primarily from Iraq and Lebanon chelin closing completely. The CCOO and UGT leaders are de- company extended the deadline to June 1. with a few from Saudi Arabia,” according Electricity use dropped 36 percent for manding that the government open nego- Some residents said they absolutely can- to a Feb. 15 report in Spiegel Online. These the whole region, a strong sign of a suc- tiations with them to discuss changing the not afford to move and that they won’t forces are proxies for imperialist interests cessful strike. new labor law. If not, they say, there will leave at all. in Syria and in the region. There were also massive demonstra- be another labor action by May 1. workers.org April 12, 2012 Page 11 The struggle in China Capitalist crisis versus planning

By Fred Goldstein cialist values. and the continuation of a pilot project to ment in export-oriented industries was In China today, the concept of planned develop low-carbon cities. collapsing, with a survey conducted by the As contradictions mount in the global guidance of the broad direction of the In the previous period the state had Ministry of Agriculture reporting the loss capitalist economy, they are reflected in economy and its various sectors is a dras- opened 3,100 miles of new railroads and of 20 million jobs in export manufacturing China. The factional struggle in the Chi- tic modification from the direct economic 74,600 miles of highways, completed centers along the southeast coast, notably nese leadership can only be understood planning initiated after the triumph of the 230,000 sports and fitness projects for in Guangdong Province? The relatively as a struggle over which way to go for- great Chinese Revolution in 1949. At the rural residents, and built or renovated strong growth of consumption in 2009 ward and how to contain and resolve the same time, it is an attempt to retain the 891 hospitals and 1,228 health clinics. is explained by several factors. First, the mounting economic and social contradic- planning principle as the fundamental In the realm of social welfare, the broad boom in investment, particularly in con- tions arising out of capitalist development. framework guiding the overall develop- goals are to increase consumption from struction activities, appears to have gener- The Chinese economy has been grow- ment of the Chinese economy. 35 percent of the gross domestic ated additional employment sufficient to ing on a dual basis. First, it is based on cen- Consider just some of the goals PART 2 product to between 50 percent offset a very large portion of the job loss- trally planned guidance designed to devel- and objectives outlined by the 12th and 55 percent by increasing mini- es in the export sector. For the year as a op the productive forces and the material Five Year Plan for 2011-2015, and the mum wages, health care services and so- whole the Chinese economy created 11.02 foundations for a society encompassing antagonism between planning and the cial welfare payments of various kinds. million jobs in urban areas, very nearly 1.3 billion people. However, since the vic- anarchy of the capitalist market becomes Of course, it goes without saying that matching the 11.13 million urban jobs cre- tory of Deng Xiaoping and the “capitalist utterly transparent. This plan was devel- under a genuinely socialist government, ated in 2008. road” faction in 1978, planning has been oped beginning in October 2010 and was workers would have their fundamental “Second, while the growth of employ- increasingly based on the central govern- approved by the National People’s Con- economic rights guaranteed as political ment slowed slightly, wages continued to ment fostering and attempting to manage gress in March 2011. rights. But those rights were largely over- rise. In nominal terms wages in the formal capitalism and the capitalist market as the The government is planning to de- turned by the reforms that developed in sector rose 12 percent, a few percentage means for national development. vote 4 trillion renminbi ($158.7 billion) China after 1978. Instead, in the environ- points below the average of the previous The central government, through con- to the development of seven Strategic ment of the capitalist market — with its five years (National Bureau of Statistics trol of interest rates, credit, taxation and Emerging Industries: biotechnology, new mountains of corruption of government of China 2010f, 131). In real terms the vast state-owned enterprises, both guides energy, high-end manufacturing equip- and party officials — the welfare of the increase was almost 13 percent. Third, the economy toward broad economic and ment, energy conservation and environ- workers and peasants has to be built up the government continued its programs social goals and fosters capitalist develop- mental protection, clean-energy vehicles slowly and painfully through an uphill of increasing payments to those drawing ment. The latter means class exploitation, and next-generation internet technology. battle, which happens only through the pensions and raising transfer payments to inequality and corruption. The present (APCO worldwide, Dec. 10, 2010) intervention of the state. (More on this in China’s lowest-income residents. Month- political struggle is over which side of this An article in the March 4, 2011, New future articles.) ly pension payments for enterprise retir- contradiction to strengthen. York Times detailed the plan’s goals, Whether or not the government ees increased by RMB120, or 10 percent, This complex subject will be discussed including: achieves the precise goals set out is not in January 2009, substantially more than at length in subsequent articles. But suf- • A 19.1 percent cut in the amount of en- the issue. The point is that such sweeping the 5.9 percent increase in consumer pric- fice it to say that the so-called “reform” ergy used per unit of economic growth social and economic goals could not pos- es in 2008. This raised the total payments groupings in China — with the enthusias- and a rapid expansion of the service sibly be handed over to profit-driven capi- to retirees by about RMB75 billion. The tic support of world imperialism and glob- economy. talists and the anarchy of the commodity Ministry of Civil Affairs raised transfer al finance capital — want to move away market. The bosses would seek the high- payments to about 70 million of China’s • Building a national nanotechnology re- from state intervention, planning and cen- est rate of profit. They would never vol- lowest-income citizens by a third, for an search center, 50 engineering centers, tral guidance and go further toward turn- untarily raise wages, improve working increase of RMB20 billion in 2009 (Min- 32 national engineering laboratories ing the fate of China over to the capitalist conditions, build hospitals, clinics, rural istry of Civil Affairs 2010).” (“Sustain- and 56 other labs focusing on technolo- market, both internally and externally. fitness centers or anything that did not ing China’s Economic Growth after the gies like digital television and high- In our last article we covered the fact bring a profit. Global Financial Crisis,” Kindle Locations speed internet. that Bo Xilai was summarily ousted from 664-666, Peterson Institute for Interna- • Laying 621,000 miles of new fiber-optic his post as Chinese Communist Party China’s response to tional Economics) cable and adding 35 million new broad- Secretary of Chongqing. This was a blow 2008-2009 world capitalist crisis The Ministry of Railroads introduced band ports for a total of 223 million. against the growing forces in the CCP and To grasp the seriousness of the propos- eight specific plans, to be completed in throughout China who want to combine • A cap on total energy use, especially als to further limit planning and interven- 2020, to be implemented in the crisis. The the use of the capitalist market with so- limiting the burning of coal. tion by the state, it is only necessary to World Bank called it “perhaps the biggest cial and economic planning and state in- The development of well-equipped sta- consider what happened during the world single planned program of passenger rail tervention in order to deal with growing tistical and monitoring systems to gauge capitalist financial and economic crisis of investment there has ever been in one inequality and who emphasize the needs greenhouse gas emissions. 2008 and 2009, when the global crisis of country.” In addition, ultra-high-voltage of the masses. In Bo’s case, this economic Accelerated construction of sewage capitalist overproduction and the finan- grid projects were undertaken, among orientation was combined with a popular treatment plants, the retrofitting of coal- cial collapse invaded China. other advances. attempt to revive Maoist culture and so- fired power plants with pollution controls, More than 20 million workers lost their The lesson is that while the anarchy of jobs, mainly in manufacturing and pre- production of world capitalism invaded dominantly in coastal provinces such as China, the rational and meticulously de- Guangdong, where special economic zones veloped plans drawn up for social use N.C. mental health workers had been set up so imperialist corpora- overcame the anarchy of the capitalist tions, companies from Taiwan, Hong Kong Continued from page 4 the agency workers were let go. This has market. This not only protected the mass- and South Korea, and other exploiters workers were let go by Central Regional forced us to be severely understaffed.” es from a protracted, massive unemploy- could take advantage of low-wage migrant Hospital. However, they did not hire near- The lack of adequate resources and ment crisis, but it actually continued the labor flooding in from the rural interior. ly enough state workers to replace them. fair standards, as described in the Men- process of raising the standard of living During this period production of world Most units are understaffed by a handful tal Health Workers Bill of Rights, is the during a time when hundreds of millions capitalism dropped more than it had in 70 of workers,” stated Bernell Terry, health- true cause of the serious problems under- of workers throughout the entire capitalist years. Tens of millions of workers world- care technician at Central Regional Hos- mining the efforts by workers to provide world were left helpless and traumatized wide were thrown onto unemployment pital, and UE 150 Chapter Vice President. quality care to mental health patients and by the crisis of capitalist overproduction. lines. Most of them are still there. Bank- “We were already understaffed before all patients with disabilities. The department In Marxist terms the principle of plan- ruptcy followed bankruptcy, and the capi- and the media like to blame the workers. ning, established by the Chinese social- talist system has still not recovered. The letter delivered by UE 150 members ist revolution of 1949 — even though it What happened in China? When the calls on the committee to do the following has been watered down to the practice of crisis hit, China’s central planners went Justice for Iraqi before the beginning of the May legisla- “guidance” — overcame what Marx called into motion. Plans drafted as far back as tive session: 1) recommend passage of the the law of labor value, the very law that 2003 to go into effect in future years were Continued from page 8 Bill of Rights to the standing committees; governs the operation of capitalism itself. pushed forward and implemented. It is within the context of imperialist 2) investigate the number of workers who The Chinese leaders were compelled, and Nicholas Lardy, a bourgeois China wars and occupations, racism and national have been unfairly fired, who quit or who had the capability, to use rational plan- expert from the prestigious Peterson In- oppression, chauvinism and religious big- have retired early over the last two years ning based on satisfying human need to stitute for International Economics, de- otry — all of it cultivated and promoted as a result of poor working conditions overcome the disaster brought about by scribes how consumption in China actu- by the capitalist ruling class, or the 1%, and a hostile work environment; and 3) their own policy of relying on the world ally grew during the crisis of 2008-2009, as those in the Occupy Wall Street move- send delegations of legislators to all state capitalist market. wages went up, and the government cre- ment refer to them — that the killings of mental health facilities to hear directly To be continued. ated enough jobs to compensate for the both Martin and Alawadi must be placed. from the workers, without interference by Goldstein is the author of “Low-Wage layoffs caused by the global crisis: A growing people’s movement against rac- management, about the working condi- Capitalism” (2008) and “Capitalism at “In a year in which GDP expansion [in ism will help unite the 99% to fight back tions they face that make it too difficult to a Dead End” (2012) published by World China] was the slowest in almost a decade, against the capitalist system that is the root provide quality care. View Forum. Both books as well as his how could consumption growth in 2009 of all racism, oppression and exploitation. The workers in the union will be meet- articles and speeches can be found at have been so strong in relative terms? How Justice for Shaima Alawadi! Justice for ing to discuss the next steps to assure lowwagecapitalism.com. could this happen at a time when employ- Trayvon Martin! their voices are heard. [email protected] Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected] LA LUCHA EN CHINA: Crisis capitalista versus planicación

Por Fred Goldstein transparente. Este plan fue desarrollado Que el gobierno logre los objetivos pensar una porción muy grande de las comenzando en octubre del 2010 y apro- precisos que se estableció o no, no es la pérdidas de empleo en el sector de expor- La siguiente es la 2da parte de una bado por la Asamblea Nacional Popular cuestión. El punto es que esos objetivos tación. Para el año en total, la economía serie sobre la lucha por el liderazgo en en marzo del 2011. sociales y económicos radicales no pu- china creó 11,02 millones de empleos en China. El Gobierno planea dedicar 4 billones de eden ser entregados a capitalistas moti- las zonas urbanas, casi empatando los Al acumularse las contradicciones en ‘renminbi’ (158,7 mil millones de dólares) vados por ganancias y a la anarquía del 11,13 millones de empleos urbanos crea- la economía capitalista mundial, estas se para el desarrollo de siete Industrias Es- mercado de productos de consumo. Los dos en 2008. reflejan en China. La lucha entre facciones tratégicas Emergentes: biotecnología, empresarios buscarían la tasa de ganan- “En segundo lugar, aunque el creci- en el liderazgo chino sólo puede entender- nueva energía, equipos de fabricación de cias más alta. Nunca voluntariamente miento del empleo se redujo ligeramente, se como una lucha sobre qué camino a alta calidad, conservación de energía y aumentarían los salarios, mejorarían las los salarios siguieron aumentando. En seguir y cómo contener y resolver las cre- protección del medioambiente, vehículos condiciones de trabajo, construirían hos- términos nominales, los salarios en el cientes contradicciones económicas y so- de energía limpia y tecnología de internet pitales, clínicas, gimnasios rurales o nada sector formal aumentaron 12 por ciento, ciales derivadas del desarrollo capitalista. de próxima generación. (APCO en todo el que no produzca ganancias. unos cuantos puntos porcentuales debajo La economía China ha estado creciendo mundo, 10 de diciembre de 2010) del promedio de los cinco años anteriores de forma dual. Primero, se basa en la ori- Un artículo en la edición del New York Respuesta de China a la crisis capitalista (Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas de Chi- entación de una planificación centralizada Times del 4 de marzo de 2011, detalla los mundial de 2008-09 na 2010f, 131). En términos reales, el au- diseñada para desarrollar las fuerzas pro- objetivos del plan, incluyendo: Para captar la seriedad de las propues- mento fue casi del 13 por ciento. En tercer ductivas y las bases materiales para una • Un recorte del 19.1 por ciento en la can- tas de limitar aún más la planificación y la lugar, el gobierno continuó sus program- sociedad que abarca 1.3 mil millones de tidad de energía utilizada por unidad intervención del Estado, sólo es necesario as de aumento de los pagos a quienes re- personas. Sin embargo, desde la victoria de crecimiento económico y una rápida tener en cuenta lo que sucedió durante la ciben pensiones y de subir los pagos de de Deng Xiaoping y la facción de “el cami- expansión de la economía de servicio. crisis económica capitalista mundial y fi- transferencia a los/as residentes de más no capitalista” en 1978, la planificación se • Construcción de un centro de investig- nanciera de 2008 y 2009, cuando la crisis bajos ingresos en China. La paga mensual ha basado cada vez más en que el Gobier- ación nacional de nanotecnología, 50 mundial de sobreproducción capitalista y de pensión para los/as jubilados/as de no central adopte e intente administrar el centros de ingeniería, 32 laboratorios el colapso financiero invadieron a China. empresas aumentó unos 120 RMB, un 10 capitalismo y el mercado capitalista como nacionales de ingeniería y otros 56 labo- Más de 20 millones de trabajadores/ por ciento, en enero de 2009, sustancial- forma para el desarrollo nacional. ratorios que se enfocarán en tecnologías as perdieron sus empleos, principalmente mente mayor que el incremento del 5,9 El gobierno central, a través del control como televisión digital e internet de alta en el sector manufacturero y predomi- por ciento en los precios de los bienes de de las tasas de interés, del crédito, de los velocidad. nantemente en provincias costeras como consumo. Esto elevó el total de los pagos impuestos y de las grandes empresas es- • Tendido de 621.000 millas de cable de Guangdong, donde se habían establecido a los/as jubilados/as a alrededor de 75 mil tatales, orienta la economía hacia amplias fibra óptica nuevo y la adición de 35 zonas económicas especiales para que millones RMB. El Ministerio de Asuntos metas económicas y sociales, así como millones de puertos de banda ancha corporaciones imperialistas, empresas Civiles subió los pagos de transferencia fomenta el desarrollo capitalista. Esto nuevos para un total de 223 millones. de Taiwán, Hong Kong y Corea del Sur, para alrededor de 70 millones de ciudada- último implica la explotación de clase, • Un límite en la utilización total de y otros explotadores pudieran apro- nos/as de ingresos más bajos en un tercio, la desigualdad y la corrupción. La lucha energía, especialmente limitando la vecharse de la mano de obra barata de para un incremento de 20 mil millones política actual es sobre cuál lado de estas quema de carbón. los/as migrantes que inundaban la pro- RMB en 2009 (Ministerio de Asuntos contradicciones se fortalecerá. • El desarrollo de sistemas estadísticos y vincia llegando desde el interior rural. Civiles de 2010)”. (“Sosteniendo el creci- Este complejo tema se examinará de- de vigilancia equipados para medir las Durante este período la producción del miento económico de China después de la tenidamente en artículos futuros. Pero emisiones de gases de efecto inverna- capitalismo mundial bajó más de lo que crisis financiera global”, Kindle Locations baste decir que las agrupaciones denomi- dero. había bajado en 70 años. Decenas de mil- 664-666, Peterson Institute for Interna- nadas “pro reformas” en China, con el • La construcción acelerada de plantas lones de trabajadores/as en todo el mun- tional Economics) apoyo entusiasta del imperialismo mun- de tratamiento de aguas residuales, la do fueron arrojados/as a las filas del de- El Ministerio de Ferrocarriles presentó dial y el capital financiero global — desean readaptación con controles de contami- sempleo. La mayoría de ellos/as todavía ocho planes específicos para implemen- alejarse de la intervención, la orientación nación de las plantas de energía ali- está allí. Quiebras tras quiebras, y el siste- tarse en la crisis, a completarse en el central y la planificación del Estado y pro- mentadas con carbón y la continuación ma capitalista aún no se ha recuperado. 2020. El Banco Mundial lo llamó “quizás fundizar la entrega del destino de China de un proyecto piloto para desarrollar ¿Qué sucedió en China? Cuando la el programa individual más grande de in- al mercado capitalista tanto interna como ciudades de baja emisión de carbono. crisis llegó, los planificadores centrales versión de ferrocarril de pasajeros jamás externamente. En el período anterior el Estado había de China entraron en acción. Los planes implementado en un país”. Además, se En nuestro último artículo cubrimos abierto 4.989 kilómetros de nuevas vías redactados tan temprano como en 2003 realizaron proyectos de redes de voltaje el hecho de que Bo Xilai fue expulsado férreas y 120.057 kilómetros de carret- para entrar en vigor en el futuro fueron ultra-alto, entre otros avances. sumariamente de su cargo como Secre- eras, completó 230.000 proyectos de- impulsados e implementados. La lección es que mientras que la an- tario del Partido Comunista Chino en portivos y de gimnasio para los/as resi- Nicholas Lardy, un experto burgués arquía de la producción capitalista mun- Chongqing. Este fue un golpe en contra de dentes rurales, y construyó o renovó 891 sobre China del prestigioso Instituto Pe- dial invadió a China, los planes racionales las crecientes fuerzas en el PCC y en toda hospitales y 1.228 clínicas de salud. terson para Economía Internacional, de- y meticulosamente desarrollados para el China que quieren combinar el uso del En el ámbito del bienestar social, los scribe cómo el consumo en China creció uso social, superaron la anarquía del mer- mercado capitalista con la planificación objetivos generales son aumentar el con- durante la crisis de 2008-09. Subieron los cado capitalista. Esto no solamente prote- económica y social y la intervención del sumo de 35 por ciento del producto inter- salarios y el gobierno creó suficientes em- gió a las masas de una crisis de desempleo Estado a fin de lidiar con la creciente no bruto a entre 50 y 55 por ciento medi- pleos para compensar los despidos provo- prolongada y masiva, sino que realmente desigualdad y quienes enfatizan [cubrir] ante el aumento de los salarios mínimos, cados por la crisis global: continuó el proceso de elevar el nivel de las necesidades de las masas. En el caso los servicios de atención médica y los pa- “En un año en que la expansión del PIB vida durante un tiempo en donde cientos de Bo, esta orientación económica se com- gos de bienestar social de diversos tipos. [en China] fue la más lenta en casi una de millones de trabajadores/as en todo el binó con un intento popular de revivir la Por supuesto, huelga decir que bajo un década, ¿cómo el crecimiento del consu- mundo capitalista quedaron indefensos/ cultura maoísta y los valores socialistas. gobierno auténticamente socialista, los/ mo en 2009 pudo haber sido tan fuerte en as y traumatizados/as por la crisis de so- Hoy en China, el concepto de la orien- as trabajadores/as tendrían sus derechos términos relativos? ¿Cómo pudo ocurrir breproducción capitalista. tación planificada de la dirección general económicos fundamentales garantiza- esto en un momento en que el empleo en En términos marxistas, el principio de de la economía y sus distintos sectores, dos como derechos políticos. Pero esos las industrias orientadas a la exportación la planificación establecido por la Revolu- es una modificación drástica de la plani- derechos fueron revocados en gran me- estaba colapsando, con una encuesta re- ción Socialista China de 1949 — aunque ficación económica directa iniciada tras dida por las reformas que se desarrollaron alizada por el Ministerio de Agricultura ha sido diluido a la práctica de “orient- el triunfo de la Gran Revolución China en China después de 1978. En cambio, en que informaba la pérdida de 20 millones ación” — superó lo que Marx llamó la ley de 1949. Al mismo tiempo, es un intento el entorno del mercado capitalista, con sus de empleos en centros de manufactura del valor del trabajo, la misma ley que de mantener el principio de planificación montañas de corrupción de funcionarios para la exportación a lo largo de la costa rige el funcionamiento del propio capi- como el marco fundamental que guía el de gobierno y del Partido, el bienestar de sudeste, en particular en la provincia de talismo. Los dirigentes chinos estuvieron desarrollo global de la economía China. los/as trabajadores/as y el campesinado Guangdong? El crecimiento relativa- obligados, y tuvieron la capacidad, de uti- Si vemos sólo algunas de las metas y tiene que ser construido lenta y doloro- mente fuerte del consumo en 2009 se ex- lizar la planificación racional basada en objetivos trazados en el XII Plan de Cinco samente a través de una dura batalla, que plica por varios factores. Primero, el auge satisfacer las necesidades humanas para Años 2011-2015, el antagonismo entre ocurre sólo a través de la intervención en la inversión, particularmente en las superar la catástrofe provocada por su la planificación y la anarquía del mer- del Estado. (Más sobre esto en próximos actividades de construcción, parece haber propia política de confiar en el marcado cado capitalista se vuelve completamente artículos). generado suficientes empleos para com- capitalista mundial.