1• PEOPLE’S VOICE • JULY 1-31, 2017 Prolétaires de tous les pays, unissez-vous! Otatoskewak ota kitaskinahk mamawentotan Workers of all lands, unite!
JULY Indigenous 1-31, 2017 people's Action: July 1 VOL. 25 Page 5 #12 Printed by union labour in Canada $1.50 Canada Post Publications Mail VOICE Agreement #40011632 Do working class lives matter? Grenfell Fire tragedy: capitalist austerity kills Page 6 "An injury to one is an C-59C-59C-59 injury to all" New Liberal security Pride 2017 Bill C-59 is yet another Greetings threat to democracy Page 7 See page 2
3 INSIDE 12 Cuba's adjustment World Youth Festival 9 Since 1947, the youth of the world Hanging by a thread Cuba's National Assembly met last have gathered every few years to month, as the island's elected celebrate friendship and anti- The political future of UK Prime representatives debated strategies imperialist solidarity. The 18th World Minister Theresa May is in doubt, after to preserve the gains of socialism Festival of Youth & Students will take big gains by Labour deprived her Tory and to fend off the latest escalation place this October in Sochi, Russia. party of a majority in Parliament. of US imperialist aggression. 2• PEOPLE’S VOICE • JULY 1-31, 2017 Bill C-59: a new threat to democracy
By Liz Rowley, leader of the Intelligence Review Committee. UN charter, but that hasn’t stopped that undermines the security of integrity of a person is not allowed. Communist Party of Canada Bill C-59 combines national the US or its NATO allies, Canada.” Torture is not allowed. Causing security and oversight into one including Canada. So much for the Charter of death or bodily harm intentionally Bill C-59, the Liberals’ new conglomerate organization, so that Bill C-59 also makes clear that Rights and Freedoms, and the right or by negligence –not allowed. national security legislation, is a the spies and spooks will now be the government’s domestic policy to protest and dissent. Neither are obstructing, perverting cleaned up continuation of the self-regulating under a new “super- is to pick up where the RCMP left C-51 allowed for arbitrary arrest or defeating the course of justice Tories’ infamous and draconian SIRC”. Stream-lined it is, but very off in the 1970s, and for the same and detention on suspicion of or democracy. (This last one is Bill C-51 - which the Liberals voted dangerous to democracy at home reasons: protests by the labour and future wrong-doing. C-59 also rich, and the first three are not for despite mass country-wide and abroad. Furthermore, much democratic movements are seen allows for preventative arrest and believable given Canada’s role in protests. Their 2015 campaign hinges on the political views of the as a threat to corporate profits, and detention, but requires a bit better Afghanistan and elsewhere.) promise to amend C-51 if elected government of the day, since “the to the policies of the governments explanation regarding the C-59 also gives broad pro- were widely understood to mean Minister” has the power to approve that serve them. Opposition to likelihood of future wrong-doing. tections to agents involved in they would rewrite it to expunge resource extraction and pipeline The new Bill also allows for spying, disruption, and other covert the dangerously authoritarian, projects, to austerity policies, and widespread disruption inside and activities. While the Bill says the repressive and anti-democratic to legislation like Bill C-51 are outside Canada, including security and intelligence forces core of the legislation. Two years recent examples. intercepting and interference with must obey the law and the Charter, later, the Liberals have produced But the Liberals will do the job communications, financial they then set out the exceptions, C-59, the twin brother of C-51, of tightening up Canada’s security transactions, and the movement of which include … national security. cleaned-up, but no less dangerous state with a bit morefinesse, and a individuals. It allows for Bill C-59 was introduced June to our civil, labour and democratic nicer veil of justification than the widespread spying and covert 20 and has just passed first reading. rights. Harper government could ever activity aimed at information The Tories have panned the Much attention in this Bill is produce. gathering and sharing with other legislation as not going far enough. given to oversight, and with good This Bill defines activity that government agencies. (Revenue The corporate owned media says reason. In 1984, following the undermines the security of Canada Canada? Health Canada?) it’s just fine. The Trudeau McDonald Commission Report as “any activity that undermines C-59 will continue to gather government has indicated it will into RCMP wrong-doing, CSIS the sovereignty, security or names and other information of seek public input – let’s give it to was set up to separate policing territorial integrity of Canada …. individuals to add to the no- them loud and clear. from intelligence gathering, and (including) interference with the fly list, which arbitrarily prevents The Communist Party will steps were taken to establish capability of the government of access to air transport; but does oppose this legislation with all of oversight to keep the RCMP law- Canada in relation to intelligence, allows the Minister to inform the tools at hand, including briefs, abiding, and to end its extensive CPC leader Liz Rowley defence, border operations or parents if their child is not on the protests, public speaking, articles, illegal activities, which included public safety.” no-fly list. and a campaign to expose and extensive spying and ‘dirty tricks’ all of the agency’s activities. A This includes: “significant or C-51 allowed CSIS agents defeat the Bill. We call on the aimed at the labour and democratic Tory government would say “yes” widespread interference with broad powers to act, but Bill C-59 labour and democratic movements movements, political parties and to whole lot of things that critical infrastructure; significant gives them new powers to break to also use all their tools to stop movements in Quebec, and left- Canadians would find or widespread interference with the law. The Bill repeatedly and this Bill from becoming law. A wing political parties and unacceptable. What would the the global information solemnly affirms that security mass opposition across the individuals (including the Liberals do? We’re getting a taste infrastructure as defined in … the forces, including CSIS, CSE, country, that includes protests, Communist Party). The dirty tricks of that now. National Defence Act; and conduct CBSA, and their agents must obey petitions, demonstrations, letters included break-ins, forgeries, a With the new Liberal foreign that takes place in Canada and that the law, and especially the Charter to the editor, calls to talk shows, barn-burning in Quebec, wiretaps, and “defence” policies of actively undermines the security of another of Rights and Freedoms, before motions and resolutions, are all and many other illegal acts. This participating in US and NATO state.” going on to explain extensive ways to stop this Bill its tracks, was the RCMP’s modus operandi. wars of aggression around the And this: “For the purposes of exceptions to the rule. If someone’s before it is used to attack civil, The McDonald Commission globe, and increasing military this Act, advocacy, protest, dissent life is in danger, or if time is an social, labour, and democratic concluded that oversight by a spending by 70% to pay for it, it’s or artistic expression is not an issue, the rules can be thrown out rights. separate new organization was clear the government’s policy is activity that undermines the the window almost anytime, if the Along with this, we demand the essential. That was to be the not peace-keeping, but regime security of Canada unless carried higher ups agree. The only repeal of Bill C-51, should it function of SIRC – the Security change. This is illegal under the on in conjunction with an activity requirement to ignore the Charter survive this session of Parliament. rights of an individual or We call for an end to legislation organization, is to secure a secret and political action by the Liberals warrant from a judge. The and Tories that threaten peace and More PV fundraisers this summer justification? National security. security, including their support The agents involved will all be for state terrorism and regime immune to prosecution for their change by NATO and the US, and The 25th annual People’s Voice a film, music and speaker, at 526 press on Vancouver Island can illegal acts. In fact, illegal acts is their moves to undermine Banquet returned on June 17th to Main Street, 2 blocks north of look forward to the Moncada Day the name of the game. democracy and civil, labour and its origins in Vancouver’s Strath- Main Station. The rain date for Salmon BBQ in Nanaimo, on What is prohibited, without democratic rights in Canada. cona neighbourhood, where the this event is Monday, July 3; call Sunday, July 30, from 4 to 7 pm. exception? Violating the sexual The time to act is right now.Q historic Russian Hall has finished 647-994-4976 for details. This event features music, dinner, its renovations, and is once again That will be followed a week and door prizes, all at 819 Nanaimo an important community cultural later by the annual Davenport Club Lakes Road. For details, call Joe hub. Thanks to all who attended BBQ, Saturday, July 8, rain or (250-753-9785) or Gilberto (250- the Banquet, which helped bring shine, from 2 to 6 pm, at 58 Albany 754-4277). our British Columbia supporters Ave., Toronto. Tickets are $20 We now have a date for the closer to our west coast quota! ($10 for students, low and un- annual People’s Voice Walk-A- Two fundraisers are planned waged, kids free), with meat and Thon: Sunday, September 10. Held for Toronto in early July. On Sun- vegetarian dishes. Please let the every year at Surrey’s Bear Creek day, July 2, starting 2 pm, the East organizers know if you plan to Park, the Walk-A-Thon is the Toronto Club welcomes readers attend - send an email to biggest annual fundraiser for our to “Celebrate the Life of Che
By Adrien Welsh activists of the anti-colonial the difficulties of the Special important contribution to the historic leader of the POLISARIO movements who eventually Period, to mobilise efforts to strengthening of the anti- front and of the Government of Between October 14–22, became leaders of the newly revitalise the Festival movement. imperialist character of the Western Sahara, Africa’s last Canada’s progressive youth will independent states of Viet-Nam, The rise of these new anti- Festival. colony. As such, he led the have a unique opportunity to gather Algeria, Angola, etc. imperialist forces paved the way This year’s edition will also be resistance of the Sahrawi people in Sochi, Russia, for the 19th World The World Festival of Youth for a new future to the WFYS. special because the programme of against Moroccan occupation for Festival of Youth and Students. and Students also has a proud Since 1997, four editions of the the Festival will count a celebration over 40 years. They will gather along with tens of history of defending civil and Festival were organized in Algeria, of the Great October Revolution As a member organization of thousands of progressive youth democratic rights, whether it be in Venezuela, South Africa and as one of its main items. This will the World Federation of from across the world, united under the US – for instance, in 1973, Ecuador. All of these mobilized be the occasion to reiterate the Democratic Youth, the main the slogan “for peace, solidarity Angela Davis participated to the between 5,000 and 10,000 young importance of this event, which political force behind this Festival, and social justice, we fight against Festival in Berlin – or in South anti-imperialist and progressive imperialism – honouring our past, Africa where the ANC Youth activists, who clearly stood against we build the future!” League always provided a high NATO-US imperialism, for peace The WFYS is the biggest youth participation. and social justice, but also in anti-imperialist forum, with a After the counter-revolution in solidarity with all the people history going back to 1947. Its the USSR and in the Eastern Bloc, struggling against imperialism and first edition was held in Prague, a the Festival movement suffered a colonialism such as Western highly symbolic place, where on crisis, and so did the anti- Sahara, Palestine and Cuba. The November 17, 1939, nine imperialist movement in general. most recent 18th Festival, university students were However, in 1997, with support organized in Quito in December assassinated and 1200 anti-fascist from Socialist Cuba (even with 2013, was the occasion for the students were sent to concentration the personal help of Fidel), Cuban youth of the world to see the camps by the nazi occupation Youth stepped up and organised Citizen’s Revolution and honour forces. Organized mainly by the the 14th Festival in Havana, in a the legacies of Kwame Nkrumah World Federation of Democratic difficult period characterised by and Hugo Chávez Fías. Youth and the former International the dogma of the ‘End of History’ This year’s edition will take Union of Students, this first festival and by the brutal dismantling of place in an international context launched a strong movement Yugoslavia, the only country where imperialism’s aggress- aimed to unite the youth of the consequently resisting the iveness in search of new markets, world on the basis of the struggle European Union’s ‘Drang nach new access to resources and cheap Poster display for the 19th World Festival of Youth & Students and mobilisation for peace and Osten’. workforce to fulfill its never- against imperialism. Two years after the Festival in ending appetite, is leading the literally changed the world, and to the YCL-LJC Canada is currently In its 70 years history, the Havana, NATO was bombing world to the verge of a globalised show that the October Revolution constituting and organising a Festival movement has been a key Yugoslavia, but this same year, war, to the destruction of our remains an example for tens of strong and diverse Pan-Canadian player in bringing awareness to Hugo Chávez overthrew the pro- environment and to the rise of thousands of young activists from delegation to which “all young the youth and student movement US government of Venezuela and misogyny, homophobia, Islamo- across the world. people struggling for a better world across the world on the need to engaged his country into a phobia, racism and the ultra-right The Festival will also be the of peace, solidarity and social mobilise in the anti-colonial socialistic project of development, as it dangerously plays with occasion to honour the justice” are welcome to join. To struggle. In fact, Festivals were showing that another path is fascism as a foil to safeguard its commitment of three anti- this date, the mobilization to the the occasion for youth from possible in Latin America. interests. As a result, attacks on imperialist and freedom fighter 19th WFYS has been endorsed by African, Asian or other colonies in Eventually, Venezuela’s example the youth are reaching a point never who continue to inspire millions organizations such as the the 1950s to be recognised as paved the way to the election of seen since 1945. of youth in their struggle: Fidel Communist Party of Canada, the representatives of their countries progressive governments in Latin As mentioned in the Pan- Castro, Ernesto Che Guevara and Canadian Network on Cuba and rather than ‘their’ metropolis, America. This all shows that the Canadian Call for Participation in Mohammed Abdelaziz. Fidel and the Canadian Peace Congress. allowing them to meet with young Cuban youth were right, despite the 19th World Festival of Youth Che led the Cuban Socialist Young communists and allies and Students, approved by the Revolution and liberated this will take this summer’s opportunity Central Committee of the YCL- Caribbean island from US to organize fundraising and LJC last March, “Globally, the domination. Their internationalist promotional activities to current system offers lives of commitment them both figures for popularize the Festival movement poverty, precarious employment, the youth of the world. A and raise awareness of the dangers unemployment, migration, commemoration of the 50 years of war and the crimes of criminalization, imperialist war since Che’s assassination will also imperialism, and about the need to and little access to education.” be part of the programme. organize, unite and fight against The youth, however, are Mohammed Abdelaziz, who this main enemy of the peoples resisting. Here, against tuition fees, passed away a year ago, is the and of the youth.Q for fair wages, for sustainable development, for full gendered Nanaimo, BC equality, against racism and islamophobia, for national equality and for peace. In Syria, the youth Moncada Day fight to live in a sovereign country and to stop a war that has forced Salmon BBQ millions to flee the country. In Fundraiser for People's Voice Palestine, the youth is struggling Sunday, July 30, 4-7 pm against Israeli apartheid and colonization. In Cuba, the youth Music, dinner, door prizes! fights to maintain the gains 819 Nanaimo Lakes Road obtained through the socialist Contact: Joe, 250-753-9785 revolution and resist the criminal blockade imposed by the US for or Gilberto, 250-754-4277 over half a century. In Greece, the youth resist the successive memoranda imposed by the New location for Metro Van Labour Day Syriza-ANEL government. In India, the youth are at the forefront By Peter Marcus of the actions against the fascistic Modi government, as illustrated The first guest speakers at the Vancouver and District Labour by the student actions at Jawaharlal Council’s monthly meeting on June 20 were Joulene Parent and Bill Nehru University. Hoadley of the International Longshore Workers’ Union, who told This is the youth that will the history of the Battle of Ballantyne Pier in 1935, where the police participate in the WFYS. To them, and security attacked locked out longshore workers struggling for Canada’s youth will be bringing a union recognition and rights. strong message of solidarity, The next speaker was James Richardson of CUPE 1816, showing that Justin Trudeau and representing 600 Pacific Blue Cross workers on escalating job action his pro-corporate government does after a 98% vote to strike. The issues include employer demands for not speak on our behalf. This concessions on retirement and health benefits, and a lump sum message will be more than just payment in lieu of wage increases. The Council later passed an words. As mentioned in the Call emergency resolution to send a letter to Pacific Blue Cross board for Participation to the Festival, members, which include retired union leaders, calling for negotiating we will “bring our struggles against a fair contract for CUPE 1816 workers. imperialism at home to those Joey Hartman, President of the VDLC, announced that this year’s struggling around the world” as Labour Day will be held on Monday, September 4 at Holland Park we believe that the youth’s struggle in Surrey, opposite the King George Skytrain station.Q experience in Canada is an 4• PEOPLE’S VOICE • JULY 1-31, 2017 EDITORIALS 150 years:no reason to party The 150th birthday of Canada on July 1 will be marked by official taxpayer-funded celebrations across the country, and by varying degrees of anger and disappointment at the grassroots level. Despite years of efforts to whip up enthusiasm for Canada’s supposedly nation-defining military feats, most people place far more importance on the need for decent jobs, a strong network of social and health services, a good public school system, improving pensions and universal, public Medicare, and so forth. All these human needs are under relentless attack by profit-hungry corporations and right-wing politicians - the same forces which want us to “celebrate” the heroes of Vimy Ridge, slaughtered with millions of their fellow workers in the imperialist struggle known as the First World War. No reason to celebrate here - especially since the militarist flag-waving is intended to distract attention from the federal government’s recent decision to spend $60 billion extra on the miliary over the next 20 years. We particularly object to the sickening propaganda trumpeting the contributions of indigenous peoples to the building of Canada. Here, the level of hypocrisy is stunning. The same Prime Minister who promised to reset Canada’s relationship with indigenous peoples has been a bitter disappointment. Justin Trudeau’s record includes efforts to ram tar sands pipelines across indigenous territories, the painfully slow rollout of the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women inquiry, failure to tackle the lack of clean drinking water on over 100 reserves, the appalling foot-dragging on court orders to ensure equality for First Nations children, and much, much more. The truth is that the Canadian state was constructed on the theft of indigenous lands, imperial conquest and oppression of the French-Canadians, and the brutal exploitation of generations of immigrant workers. None of this is a reason to party, let alone to make us pay for the celebrations. Cubans reject latest US threats Donald Trump, the shill who speaks for the big energy monopolies and a wide range of racist and fascist movements, has issued another Tudeh Party slams Washington’s aggression verbal assault against Cuba, which has seen many US presidents utter similar words since 1959. Speaking in Miami, surrounded by Soaring tensions across the Rex Tillerson has voiced oppose US intervention and back- terrorists and brutal thugs, Trump announced steps to expand the Middle East are part of support for regime change. room deals and unite “in defence blockade, to stop “people-to-people” exchanges, and to rescind Washington’s aggression The statement highlighted three of peace in the Middle East and Barack Obama’s October 2016 Presidential Directive, which towards Tehran, the Tudeh Party recent US air strikes on the national sovereignty of Iran.” recognized the independence and sovereignty of Cuba. of Iran warned in a June 25 “paramilitary forces backed by the Iran’s Quds Force, the IRGC- Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez spoke about the statement. The TPI stressed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard backed Iraqi Popular Mobilisation situation at a recent news conference in Austria, pointed out that escalation of conflicts since US Corps (IRGC) of Iran” in Syria’s Units (PMU) and Iranian ally countless voices within and outside of the United States believe that President Donald Trump’s visit south-eastern deserts. It said Hezbollah of Lebanon are fighting Trump’s speech marks a step back in bilateral relations. These new to the Arab summit in Saudi Trump had reneged on his promise alongside Syrian troops. It was the measures ignore overwhelming support for the lifting of the blockade Arabia during May could to end US foreign interventions IRGC — not President Hassan and normalization of US-Cuba relations, not just among progressives, “further destabilise the safety and stabilise the region in co- Rouhani — which ordered ballistic but by members of the U.S. Congress (including Republicans); the and security of the region.” operation with Russia. missile attacks on ISIS targets in business sector; civil society organizations; and even the majority Since then, Qatar has been The Tudeh Party said US Syria in revenge for the death cult’s of the Cuban emigré community. In fact, during the November 2016 blockaded, new Saudi Crown aggression was also a threat to attacks in Tehran. election, Trump backed the aging, extremist minority of hostile Prince Mohammed bin Sultan those in Iran who rejected the PMU forces recently took emigres, but lost the vote of Cubans in the Florida counties with the has vowed to “take the fight to theocratic regime, and it called on control of the border with Syria highest concentration of Cuban residents. Iran” and US Secretary of State progressive and patriotic forces to south of where US and British The Foreign Minister added that the announced measures will special forces are operating “restrict the freedoms of U.S. citizens, cost taxpayers more money, illegally inside the country. reduce the opportunities of companies and business people against On June 23, US presidential their competition, lose income and jobs.” These policies will inflict envoy to the Operation Inherent further human harm and deprivation upon Cuban families, including Letters to the Resolve coalition Brett McGurk those involved in cooperatives, and self-employed or private workers. said Washington would not “allow Rodriguez concluded that these attacks will reinforce the patriotism Editor Iran to jeopardise our gains and and dignity of the Cuban people, and their determination to defend fuel instability in ISIS’s wake, by national independence by all means, in the spirit of José Martí, placing foreign proxies anywhere Antonio Maceo and Fidel Castro Ruz. His words ring true, and we near the border regions with Jordan express our solidarity with the people and government of Cuba. What is a socialist? and Israel.” Your June 16-30, 2017 issue quotes when mentioning Israel’s The next day CIA director editorial “New Hope for Working human rights violations. I think air Mike Pompeo called Iran the PEOPLE'S VOICE People” says Jeremy Corbyn quotes should be reserved for any world’s largest state sponsor of Q ISSN number 1198-8657 Published by New Labour Press Ltd. “campaigned as a socialist” and suggestion that politicians like terrorism. Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement #40011632 notes the “continuing popularity these are “socialist”. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept., of Bernie Sanders”. Closer to home, the BC Greens People's Voice, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1 I went through the Labour Party have already told the BC NDP that Renew Tel: 604.255.2041 Email: [email protected] Manifesto for 2017 and found, card-check union recognition will though it has many good things, it “never happen”. Volunteers and contributors for this issue: has no socialism. They promised The myth that “working people today! Dave Arland, Domenic Bellissimo, Ed Bil, Jane Bouey, Wally to reverse some privatization. The reject the concept of socialism”, Check your label Brooker, Chris Frazer, Peter Marcus, T.J. Petrowski, Liz Rowley, investment bank they proposed is which your editorial said was Adrien Welsh, and our mailers in Vancouver & Toronto. based on private capital. They “decisively disproven” by the Please check the Editor: Kimball Cariou Business Manager: Hassan Azimikor promised promoting cooperatives Labour Party’s performance (though address label on the Editorial Advisory Board: and worker buy-outs, which are it was a loss) in the UK election, and front page to see if short of ownership by the working perhaps also by the NDP-Green Jane Bouey, Kimball Cariou, Drew Garvie, it’s time to renew. class as a class i.e. through the Party accord (though the Liberals Dave McKee, Pierre Fontaine, Elizabeth Rowley Subscribers who find state. Even the Communist Party won the most votes), was disproved "2017/07/01" on their of Britain, which I think would be much earlier by veritable socialist LETTERS in the thick of it, has not said revolutions in Russia and Cuba, label, for example, People's Voice welcomes your letters. We reserve the Corbyn campaigned as a socialist. among other places, and the popular will have their right to edit for length and clarity, and to refuse to print As for Bernie Sanders’ support they enjoy. However, though subscriptions expire letters which may be libellous or which contain personal popularity, alas Donald Trump it was disproved long ago, I think we with this issue, attacks. Send your views to: "Letters to the Editor" enjoys continuing popularity as will find this myth still has some life July 1-31, 2017 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1 or well. Bernie Sanders has endorsed left, despite Corbyn, Sanders, and [email protected] Donald Trump’s policy on North the BC NDP-Green accord. Don’t miss a single copy - People's Voice articles may be reprinted without Korea, has demonized the elected leaders of Venezuela and Syria as Saleh Waziruddin, renew today! permission provided the source is credited. “vicious dictators”, and uses air St. Catharines, Ontario 5• PEOPLE’S VOICE • JULY 1-31, 2017 Indigenous movements and allies call: July 1 - National Day of Action In the spirit of Arthur Manuel, anything, it has accelerated under in the United Nations Declaration On July 1, 2017, wherever you we want to make July 1 a National the current government. Prime on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. How to get involved are in Canada, take to social media Day of Action. This day of action Minister Trudeau has been This is a grassroots movement We ask that you, your Tag us @IdleNoMore4 & the is to celebrate our Indigenous and approving pipeline projects and that will never accept any behind- community, and your organization Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau human rights to self-determination, continues to bank on the exploitation the-scenes attempts to weaken our join us to send a loud and clear and any other government official our lands, territories, and of our resources. He does not want rights, like the closed door message to Canada and the world or agency related to your issue resources. It is also to educate to recognize Indigenous land rights. meetings of the Cabinet and a that we will no longer accept the Use hashtags: #Resist150 Canadians about how their The National Inquiry into Missing Ministerial Working-Group now colonial system of dispossession, #UNDRIPInCanada constitutional framework, first and Murdered Indigenous Women underway with the three National dependency and oppression that #FPICInCanada established 150 years ago in the and Girls continues to fall short and Aboriginal Organizations Canada has imposed on us for the #UNsettleCanada150 British North America Act (1867), fail many families. We will be (Assembly of First Nations, Inuit past 150 years. #SupportIndigenousSelfDetermination illegally confiscated our lands, demanding that the Trudeau Tapiriit Kanatami, Metis National Join a national action - find Change your Facebook banner territories, and resources, spawned government respect our Council), led by Justice Minister one near you. Take Local Action. to promote this campaign and your the post-confederation Indian Act internationally recognized right of Jody Wilson-Raybould. Host an event, such as a rally, or a activism (see attached banner)— and attempted to write Indigenous land and body self-determination, Instead of backroom manip- public forum. Email us to let us keep it up as long as you like! jurisdiction — and Indigenous including our absolute right to Free, ulations, we demand: know what you are planning. Use Wear Indigenous Rights red & Peoples — out of existence. Prior, Informed Consent to any - a new open truly Nation-to- the subject “National Day of post a picture of yourself taking This assault has not stopped. If activities in our territories, as set out Nation recognition process that Action Event.” We’ll promote it action to the Idle No More begins by fully recognizing on our Idle No More events Facebook page. (use the symbol collective Indigenous rights and calendar and post your pictures on @ before typing Idle No More to Title, and our decision-making social media on July 1, 2017. tag our page)Q power throughout our territories. - full implementation of the Truth The National Day of Action (July 1, 2017) is endorsed by: Family of and Reconciliation Calls for Arthur Manuel; Defenders of the Land Network; Idle No More Network; Action, including rejecting the Indigenous Network on Economies and Trade; Seventh Generation colonial doctrines of discovery and Fund for Indigenous Peoples; Indigenous Climate Action; Unist’ot’en recognizing Indigenous self- Camp; Secwepemc Women Warrior Society; No More Silence; Shuswap determination. Lake Coalition; No One Is Illegal-Toronto; No One Is Illegal -Vancouver - full implementation of the United Coast Salish territories; Rising Tide North America; Immigration Legal Nations Declaration of the Rights Committee-Law Union of Ontario; Algonquins of Barriere Lake First of Indigenous Peoples on the Nation; Wolastoq Grand Council; Dr Lynn Gehl; Barriere Lake ground. Solidarity; Mining Injustice Solidarity Network; Naomi Klein; Red We recognize and affirm that Nation (Albuquerque)Eagle and Condor Community Center; Decolonize jurisdiction over our lands, this Place; NYC Stands with Standing Rock Collective; The Latinx, territories, and resources is Afro-Latin-America Abya Yala Education Network (LAEN); The inseparable from the issue of self- Great Lakes Commons; Fossil Free Guelph; Radio-BED; Native Land determination over our peoples. 150; Critical Race Relations Consulting; Aamjiwnaang and Sarnia Violence against women, trans, Against Pipelines (ASAP); Mi’kmaq Warrior Society, Mi’kmaq territory; and two-spirit Indigenous people Indigenous Women’s Association of the Maliseet and Mi’kmaq is connected to the loss of authority Territories Inc.; Justice for Migrant Workers; Women’s Coordinating over our lands. It is worsened by Committee for a Free Wallmapu and Mining Injustice (WCCC); ALBA extraction industries that attempt Canada; Tonatierra; The Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity to claim ownership to our lands Network; Silence No More; Metis Empowered; Together In Solidarity; and our people through acts of The LEAP Organizing Team; KAIROS; Between The Lines; The violence. Council of Canadians; International Human Rights Association of American Minorities (IHRAAM); Jean Arnold – The Analog Forestry Network; Punch Up Collective; Canadian Dimension magazine; In Solidarity with all Land Defenders; We Love This Coast.com; Graphic History Collective; Toronto Network of Engaged Buddhists; Buddhist The people who get up Civil Liberties Association; Toronto Buddhist Peace Fellowship; Divest Mount Allison University on Mik’maq territory; Climate Justice Montreal; IPSMO (Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement-Ottawa); early in the morning Water is Life: Coalition for Water Justice. Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/ 193248851194723/ Q By Tommy McKearney, Then there was the contemp- It would be unwise to treat these Socialist Voice (newspaper tuous treatment meted out to Bus comments and proposals as mere of the Communist Party of Éireann workers as they struggled electioneering. Varadkar is Ireland) to retain hard-won terms and responding to the demands of a Annual Davenport conditions. And then we, the powerful section of Ireland’s The citizens of many European people, had our queries brushed capitalist class. They are an elite countries are being confronted with aside when we demanded to know group within society determined People’s Voice BBQ the invidious option of choosing how the Irish delegation had voted to take every possible advantage between aggressive neo-liberalism on Saudi Arabia’s membership of from the confusion and demoral- on the one hand and fascism on the the United Nations Commission isation created by the financial Fundraiser other. Nowhere was this clearer on the Status of Women. crisis of 2010—a group that at the than during the recent presidential We could continue, but lack of same time is fearful of the power Saturday, July 8 election in France, when voters space prevents us. displayed by working-class were asked to decide between the Just as we were beginning to communities when they united 2 – 6 pm, Rain or Shine! right-wing financier Emmanuel think that things couldn’t get much around the anti-water tax Macron and the National Front worse, we are now faced with the campaign. leader Marine Le Pen. nasty prospect of Leo “people who To meet the demands of this 58 Albany Avenue, The dilemma may not be quite get up early in the morning” elite cabal, Enda Kenny’s probable so obvious everywhere, but the Varadkar becoming Taoiseach. successor is setting out his agenda, Toronto trend is nevertheless all too During a pitch for the leadership of and it is frankly anti-working class. evident. Fine Gael, he made his right-wing Varadkar may well bob and Come out for a great afternoon in support of Nor should we in Ireland be credentials crystal-clear, claiming weave in order to obfuscate his complacent. There is not, at the that “unfortunately there are a group real intentions as he offers so- PV, the newspaper that fights for working moment, a significant ultra-right of people, very often supporters of called clarifications. He now says, people, peace, equality, the environment, movement in this state, but we are the far left, that believe they for example, that his reference to certainly seeing the emergence of shouldn’t pay anything and that people who get up early in the social justice and socialism an increasingly authoritarian neo- Apple, bondholders or billionaires morning should be understood to liberal government. should pay . . .” Adding to this recognise those with long journeys Tickets $20; $10 for students, low and There is no shortage of evidence crude piece of neo-liberal dogma, to work, and that his proposal to unwaged. Children under 12 free. of this imperiousness in action. he stated that if selected as party curb strikes is merely an initiative We have the Jobstown trial, with boss he would curb the right to to improve the Labour Court. Both meat and vegetarian dishes available. its vindictive attempt to punish strike in certain circumstances, by In spite of this cynical play- people in a working-class area who introducing binding arbitration on acting, Varadkar’s aggressive neo- confronted the state; and equally trade unions—the thin end of a liberalism is ingrained and is as To help us prepare better, please let us know if ominous is the blatant attempt to wedge designed to emasculate you will be coming. [email protected] curtail the right to protest. organised labour. see PEOPLE, page 11 6• PEOPLE’S VOICE • JULY 1-31, 2017 Do working class lives matter?
Commentary from the helping fellow Londoners who had technical details. The greatest panels to the block exterior? Theresa May’s chief of staff Morning Star lost their belongings. conundrum, unlikely to be Would it recommend that, if fire Gavin Barwell should tell us why, But heartwarming as it is to see answered is whether those who breaks out, tenants lock themselves as housing minister until last week, Avoidable tragedy has again hit once more a multiracial, multi- hold the reins of power value in their rooms to await rescue? he failed to honour the four-year- a working-class community, with cultural community unite before a working-class lives too cheaply. Would it regard having a 27- old government commitment to the Grenfell Tower inferno bring- monstrous disaster, other emotions One of the main driving forces story block without a building-wide publish the report on updating ing out the best in our multicultural – anger and frustration – come to of London property values in alarm or water sprinkler system as building fire regulations following society and our overstretched the fore. recent years has been the acceptable? Would it ignore eight the Lakanal inquiry. emergency services. Questions arise as to why death- construction of tower blocks fire safety warnings by tenants over Tory MPs’ rejection last year Fire, ambulance, and police scarred tragedies in homes, offering luxury flats as investments a three-year period? Would it of the Corbyn team’s amendment services reacted without delay, workplaces, schools, and transport or future refuges for wealthy disregard the need for a 24-hour to the government’s Housing and risking their well-being in the west – places where people are entitled overseas citizens. concierge service even though Planning Bill – namely that private London tower block to rescue sur- to feel safe – continue to strike A comparison between the fire tenants had requested it to enhance landlords should be required to vivors and minimize loss of life. after the usual recitations by those precautions and emergency block security? make their properties safe and “fit Local mosques, churches, and in authority about “never again,” provisions laid down for these and Jeremy Corbyn is right to recall for human habitation” – provides community halls offered emerg- “hearts going out,” “in our thoughts the tower blocks owned by local that Harriet Harman’s call for a clue. ency accommodation and gave and prayers,” “lessons learned,” councils* and operated by arm’s sprinklers to be installed in high- It’s not simply that many of them food, drinks, and clothing to those and so on. length management organisations rise buildings after the 2009 fatal are landlords themselves. Even who escaped the blaze. Experts will need time to or sold into the private rented fire at Lakanal House in south those who aren’t regardit as People of all backgrounds discover the precise cause of the sector might be instructive. London was ignored. axiomatic that private profit takes across the capital responded to Grenfell Tower inferno, but their Would the luxury apartment Cash-squeezed local councils precedence over working people’s appeals for material assistance, concentration will focus on sector affix flammable polystyrene have to make desperate decisions right to feel safe in their own homes. about spending priorities when Their actions are more eloquent faced by a government intent on than their words. In their view, axing public spending so as to working-class lives don’t matter. afford cuts in taxation for the (* Council housing refers, in richest five percent and hand Britain, to public or social housing subsidies to big business through units built by local municipal reduced corporate tax levels. governments.)Q ”Seize all Grenfell Tower documents” The Labour MP who represents the area of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire has demanded that the Prime Minister and Metropolitan Police immediately seize all relevant documents on the building to prevent a cover-up in any coming public inquiry. Tottenham MP David Lammy is calling for preservation of all records, including emails, minutes of meetings, correspondence with contractors, safety assessments, specifications and reports. He said on June 17, “When the truth comes out about this tragedy we may find that there is blood on the hands of a number of organisations. At this stage, it is my grave concern that the families of Grenfell Tower will not get justice if documents are being quietly destroyed and shredded and emails are being deleted. Within the community, trust in the authorities is falling through the floor and a suspicion of a cover-up is rising.” Although police have the powers to seize all documents, the destruction of documents is not considered a criminal offence if a chairperson has not yet been appointed or the terms of reference set, under Section 35 of the Public Inquiry Act.Q The Grenfell Fire: Austerity is Terrorism
By T.J. Petrowski portable firefighting equipment blog with “defamatory behaviour” even had the word “condemned” and “harassment” if they continued On June 14, the 220 ft. tall written on the side. posting concerns about the safety Grenfell Tower went up in flames The building’s residents’ of the building online. in a matter of minutes, as if it were organization, the Grenfell Action Central austerity budgets, tissue paper, witnesses reported. Committee (GAC), expressed moreover, ensured that when a did The world watched in horror as concern about the existence of only fire occur, it would cause terrible residents desperately tried to flee one escape route and the lack of a human suffering. Budget cuts of the fire, with one mother even building-wide sprinkler or alarm up to 80% in some communities dropping her baby out of a window. system. In November 2016, the have drastically reduced frontline The BBC has reported that the GAC warned of “dangerous living services, “visible to all in total number of those killed could conditions,” but after years of being unrepaired roads, uncollected bins be as high as 70. ignored, concluded that “only a and closed libraries, gyms and The fire was no accident; it was catastrophic event will expose the children’s centres,” writes George an attack on the poor by the ineptitude and incompetence of our Eaton. Cuts to legal aid made it capitalist system and its political landlord, the KCTMO.” more difficult for Grenfell’s mostly supporters. When the building was under low-income residents to obtain As far back as 2004 concerns renovations in 2016, The Guardian legal advice, Eaton argues, while were raised about the safety of the reported, the owners requested the Londoners, black and white, responsible for the Grenfell fire the loss of 7,000 firefighters in the building. The EMB Property more flammable exterior cladding Muslim and Christian, Hindu and were motivated by their own last five years, resulting in longer Management Committee found to save £2 (a little over $3 CAD) a Jew, young and old.” political agendas. The owner’s of response times and less fire that the lighting system was in square foot. Cladding of a similar Weren’t the victims of the Grenfell Tower, the Kensington prevention visits, all but such poor condition it would fail material is banned in Germany Grenfell fire also victims of such and Chelsea TMO (KCTMO), guaranteed a major disaster. in an emergency situation, with and the U.S. indiscriminate mass slaughter? despite stockpiling £270 million “The terrible Grenfell Tower two-thirds of the batteries dead. A In the aftermath of the July 7th, Like the London Bombings, the in reserve, chose to disregard the fire in North Kensington was 2012 fire risk assessment report 2005, London Bombings, Ken victims of the Grenfell fire were safety of its Grenfell residents in entirely avoidable,” Deon found that some portable Livingston, the then-Mayor of working-class, mostly low- favour of cutting costs. Even when Lombard, an architect, wrote. firefighting equipment hadn’t been London, said the attacks were income, Londoners from all walks a similar disaster was only Austerity kills. Capitalism kills. inspected or tested in years. Some “aimed at ordinary, working-class of life. And if the BBC is correct, narrowly averted in 2013, the The only difference between those more working-class Londoners KCTMO continued to downplay responsible for the London The only difference between those responsible for the have died as a result of the Grenfell the seriousness of its residents’ Bombings and the Grenfell Tower London Bombings and the Grenfell Tower fire is that fire than were killed in the London concerns. The Conservative- fire is that the perpetrators of the the perpetrators of the latter were mostly white men Bombings. controlled Kensington and Chelsea latter were mostly white men wearing expensive suits and sitting in plush offices. And like the men responsible Council even went so far as to wearing expensive suits and sitting for the London Bombings, those threaten the publisher of the GAC’s in plush offices. Q 7• PEOPLE’S VOICE • JULY 1-31, 2017 An Injury to One is an Injury to All!
and social movement to put Pride 2017 Statement from the Communist Party people’s needs before corporate of Canada & the Young Communist League greed, austerity and war. Our LGBTQ2SIA community must be a key player in efforts to build a In 2017, Pride events across terms ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender “People’s Coalition” of labour, Canada take place in a much expression.” It would also extend Indigenous peoples, youth and different context than one short hate speech laws to include the students, women, seniors, farmers, year ago. The election of Donald two terms. Criminal laws now need immigrant and racialized Trump has encouraged fascists and to be updated to make it a hate communities, environmentalists, other reactionaries to emerge from crime when someone is targeted peace activists and many other their dark corners and to openly because of their gender identity or allies. promote hatred in the form of gender expression, meaning judges Mass resistance in our homophobia and transphobia, as would have to consider it as an communities and workplaces, in well as Islamophobia, racism, aggravating factor in deciding what the streets and at the ballot box, misogyny and sexism – all of which sentence to impose. can defeat the parties of big are intended to roll-back the hard- On the other hand, the Trudeau business and open the door to a Black Lives Matter at Pride 2016 in Toronto won rights of oppressed peoples, Liberal government continues to “people not profits” government. including the LGBTQ2SIA pursue a corporate-driven austerity The goal of the Communist Party community. Signs of this appeared agenda, most recently with the is to win genuine people’s power The Communist Party and the who identify as LGBTQ2SIA; last summer, when the shootings announcement that it will increase in a socialist Canada, where our Young Communist League fight - End the Federal and Provincial at the Pulse gay club in Florida military spending by 70 percent economy and resources will be to: governments’ drive towards seemed to galvanize the Pride over the next ten years. This, and socially owned and democratically - Strengthen and enforce hate crime austerity, and big business’ move season, and focused attention on the continuing refusal to make controlled. Homophobia and legislation, no to all forms of towards precarious part-time the backlash against the gains made corporations and the rich pay their transphobia seek to entrench the transphobia, homophobia, sexism, employment, which dispropor- by the LGBTQ2SIA movement share of taxes, means that working heterosexual, patriarchal family, Islamophobia, racism, and tionately affect LGBTQ2SIA in the USA, where reactionary class and poor Canadians will face which is necessary for capitalism xenophobia; peoples who are amongst the forces have been resisting the increasing exploitation and to police and maintain the gendered - Strengthen solidarity with trans hardest hit by social program extension of civil rights for people in North Carolina and cutbacks. LGBTQ2SIA people, and actively elsewhere in North America - Stop imperialism’s pinkwashing attempting to roll-back rights against new transphobic in support of reactionary forces already won. In this context, it is legislation; around the world. No to the coup necessary to remember that Pride - Struggle to expand trans rights in Brazil and interventions in is not only a celebration of the including the explicit protection Venezuela, no to the pro-fascist rainbow community, but also a from discrimination on the basis government in Ukraine. Withdraw reminder that our gains are the of gender identity and expression Canadian troops from Iraq and result of a political defense of our in all Provincial and Territorial Syria, support the Boycott, community and a political struggle laws and human rights codes; Disinvestment and Sanctions for our rights. - Make “conversion therapy”, a movement against Israeli apart- In that spirit, we salute the pseudo-psychiatric or religious heid, end the supply of arms to actions and spirit of Black Lives practice that tries to change a Saudi Arabia by Canada. Jobs not Matter, and in particular their person’s sexual orientation or bombs - cut military spending by action during Toronto Pride 2016, gender identity, illegal in all 75%. which reminded everyone that the provinces; (Note: In this statement, the commercialization of Pride, the oppression, including attacks on division of labour, and increase - Expand the rights of acronym “LGBTQA2SI” refers to role of corporations, and the labour, civil and democratic rights the rate of profits. The historic LGBTQ2SIA youth: end the two- lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, institutional presence of police had such as the security state laws (Bill advance to socialism will make it tiered age of consent laws for gender variant, two-spirited, queer, whitewashed the ongoing C-51), introduced by previous possible to eradicate the LGBTQ2SIA youth and protect questioning, intersex, asexual and marginalization and oppression, Liberal and Tory governments. In interweaving forms of exploitation Intersex minors from non- others.)Q even within the rainbow comm- fact, the Liberals are a party of big and oppression which threaten our consensual surgery respecting Central Executive unity, of Black LGBTQ2SIA business and continue to follow world today. We urge you to join bodily diversity; Committee and the Pride people, other LGBTQ2SIA people policies(from pipeline expansion the Communist Party and the - End the homophobic and Commission of the of colour, of Indigenous Two- to military spending) that Young Communist League to unscientific blood ban for gay men Communist Party of Canada; Spirit people, and of LGBTQ2SIA negatively impact LGBTQ2SIA achieve a liberated society in donating blood; people who suffer from income people, women, Indigenous which, as Karl Marx said, “the - Increase social services and Central Executive Committee insecurity and poverty. Black Lives peoples, and racialized groups, and freedom of each is the condition housing support to meet the needs of the Young Communist Matter reminded us that Pride was undercut equality gains. Similar for the freedom of all.” of the 25-40% of homeless youth League of Canada born in activism and struggle. austerity measures are on the table However, that action also elicited in every province and territory. a backlash from the corporate LGBTQ2SIA youth are media and in some quarters of the particularly affected by persistent The evolution of a social movement LGBTQ2SIA community who and resurgent homophobia and wish to deny or dismiss the transphobia combined with struggle for LGBTQ rights have also been shaped by experience of racism, sexism and austerity measures, precarious Queer Progress: from Homophobia to Homonationalism, by Tim McCaskell, the economic reality of the time period being examined misogyny, transphobia, poverty employment, unemployment and in Canada. The book takes us on a journey through the and exploitation, and Islamo- growing barriers to education. This Between The Lines (2016), 520 pages, Paperback $39.95. Reviewed by Domenic Keynesian dominated ‘70s and ‘80s, which provided phobia in our very own community. is demonstrated by the fact that as somewhat of a social safety net for early lesbian and The reality is that the commer- many as 25-40% of Canada’s Bellissimo gay activists who risked careers and family support by cialization of Pride, and the homeless youth are LGBTQ2SIA How did a social movement evolve from a small coming out. It also critiques the struggles for equality institutional participation of identified. group of young radicals to the incorporation of LGBTQ in the dominant Neo-liberal economy of the new uniformed police, have made Pride The world is becoming an communities into full citizenship on the model of millennium. less, not more inclusive. increasingly dangerous place; for Canadian multiculturalism? The conclusion, “Looking Back, Looking The social and political climate the LGBTQ2SIA community, the That is the key question that Tim McCaskell Forward,” is brilliant. It rewards the reader with a for Pride in 2017 is one of growing urgent imperative of the day is to struggles to explain through his forty-year saga of gay, summary of the process Canada has undertaken in 50 polarization based on class, social unite against a corporate agenda queer and AIDS political activism. Queer Progress is short years. The transformation of a primarily position and identity. This is that has increasingly fascist both a personal and political journey stretching from homophobic society to one which values certain reflected in election of Andrew overtones. Homophobia, 1974 to 2014. Those 40 years of intimate involvement sections of the LGBTQ community similar to a national Scheer as leader of the Con- transphobia, and other forms of allow McCaskell to use a first person narrative in “ethnic” group. servative Party; Scheer represents hate only serve to divide people telling a most fascinating and meticulously referenced As the publisher notes, “Queer Progress tries to the continuity of Harperite and to undermine resistance to the history of the gay rights and gay liberation movements. make sense of a political transformation by narrating homophobia and transphobia, corporate agenda of “trade deals,” The book feels like both a memoir and a social the complexities and contradictions of forty years of racism, sexism, and Islamophobia. raw materials extraction and movement history, with political theory relevant to queer politics.” McCaskell himself acknowledges, Unfortunately, the Trudeau exports, and militarism. virtually all struggles for equality today. “that in the process of transforming laws, we also Liberals talk a feminist and pro- We believe that “an injury to McCaskell uses first-hand accounts, as he says, “not transformed ourselves. Quoting a famous South African activist and friend, the author says that history LGBTQ2SIA position, but have one is an injury to all.” Adopting to inflate his own importance, but to make the account will judge our communities not by how many friends done little or nothing to actually full legal and political protections more vivid and accessible.” In fact his gift includes a sharp analysis when deconstructing events in a respectful we had in high places, but by what we did to support improve the lives of most in our for sexual orientation and gender manner, along with a witty sense of humour. social justice for all.” community. After decades of expression, and gender identity, Despite its length, the book is accessible and a McCaskell is a former OSSTF/FEESO member in struggle led by trans activists and and respect for the bodily diversity pleasure to read. Broken up into four parts and four the District 12, Toronto PSSP unit, and the author of communities, Bill C-16 was just of intersex people, is urgently very different decades, it employs a Materialist analysis Race to Equity: Disrupting Educational Inequality. passed, which updates the needed to strengthen working class to explain that individuals’ ideas, thoughts and beliefs Bellissimo is the Director of Communications/Political Canadian Human Rights Act and unity. This unity is a vital element are shaped by the experiences they have in society. The Action at the OSSTF/FEESO Provincial Office.Q the Criminal Code to include the of the broad labour, democratic 8• PEOPLE’S VOICE • JULY 1-31, 2017 Global class struggle
working at the Sodastream factory 2015 strike. Initial negotiations percent pay increase over two up pressure on workers. On March General strike in have reported that managers at the spilled onto the streets because the years, as well as better work 6, 2015, management dismissed Uruguay plant have approached their Ministry of Education claimed not conditions and longer lunch 51 workers, many of them CDT husbands and asked them to order to have enough funds to deliver on breaks. Slovak Prime Minister members. This provoked a strike, Trade unions in Uruguay began their wives not to go on strike. In the previous agreement. Robert Fico supported the action, which continues to this day. a general strike on June 21, with a one instance, an employee claimed One point of contention is pay, saying Volkswagen’s Slovak The company hired 500 new massive mobilization bringing that a Sodastream manager told with teachers demanding the same workers deserve the same pay as workers and sought punitive together organizations from her husband that the strike would salary level as other state workers. workers in western Europe for financial damages against active different sectors of society to involve her having to sleep in a But Fecode president Carlos Rivas doing the same work. union members, including a claim pressure the government as it stresses that the protests “are not VW produced 388,687 cars in for MAD 3 million (EUR 278,000) discusses a new budget law. only a salary issue; we are Slovakia in 2016. It makes in damages from union leader The strikers demanded “respect demanding food, transportation Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7, Rahmoun Abdellah. In response for the collective contracts in the and infrastructure for the children. Volkswagen up!, Seat Mii, Skoda to international pressure and the public and private sector, public We are fighting for the quality of Citigo, and bodies for the Porsche strong national campaign of the investment, 6 percent of the GDP education in Colombia.” Cayenne. The company pays an CDT, DOHA dropped the charges allocated for education and 1 Specifically, the teachers are average wage of 1,800 euros a in February, but the struggle for percent for research, the still fighting for a reformed month including bonuses, higher reinstatement of the 540 workers regularization of auxiliary services educational policy, a unified than the national average, but lower and for union rights and and better security in the charter to regulate career paths, than in western countries. recognition continues. workplace.” economic sustainability and Education, health and state improved health care services. workers maintained a 24-hour Tensions flared on June 5 when Moroccan workers Portugal airport strike, while workers from other President Santos insisted “the fight union-busting workers struggle sectors joined for a half-day work teachers must make up the classes stoppage. Their unions have in order to receive their salary for Over 500 workers in the Airport security workers in demanded that 6 percent of the tent with other men. the days they didn’t work.” Fecode Moroccan city of Agadir have been Portugal have threatened new Gross Domestic Product to be Negotiations over a collective also denounced the heavy handed on strike since March 2015 at strike actions to win their demands. allocated to the National bargaining agreement fell apart in riot police response at recent DOHA, part of the wealthy BICHA Employees of private security Administration of Public recent months. Management has demonstrations, which were Group. DOHA workers, nearly companies, Securitas and Education (ANEP), and the filed a lawsuit against the forcefully dispersed with high 95% of whom are women, produce Prosecur, who are employed at Universidad of the Republic Histadrut’s Negev Region chair, pressure water tanks. tinned fish and other products for national airports to carry out (UDELAR). after he was recording saying that Meanwhile, weeks of protests worldwide export. The company, security checks, are fighting for Early in the morning, thousands the workers should harm the value in Chocó and Buenaventura ended with the help of compliant legal better working conditions. gathered in Montevideo near the of Sodastream shares. after agreements with both and political authorities, has sought The airport workers’ union office of President Tabare The controversy comes just a communities. The Chocó deal was to dissolve the union, dismiss its SITAVA, said that a 48 Vazquez. Demonstrators criticized year after Sodastream shut down announced on May 27 after 18days members, criminalize and punish consecutive hour strike would the government’s decision to send its factory in the West Bank, after of civil disobedience. It includes the strikers and confiscate the begin on June 24 at all national its unfinished budget reform to the global “Boycott, Disinvestment commitments to improve the union leader’s home. airports, including in the Azores Congress over a week ahead of the and Sanctions” movement pushed quality of life for residents, Workers at the Agadir DOHA and Madeira. The union said that deadline, without speaking with the company out of the occupied including investment in transport plant formed a branch of the despite dramatic passenger growth unions or maintaining pre-electoral territories and into Israel. The and health infrastructure. national trade union center CDT which has increased profits for commitments. move led to the dismissal of 500 On June 5 leaders in Buena- in 2011. After a 20-day strike, airport management firms such as Economy Minister Danilo Palestinian workers. Although 74 ventura reached an unprecedented local authorities under pressure Vinci, Prosegur and Securitas, Astori said the government would workers moved to the town of COP$1.5 billion agreement with from the popular movement those companies are taking establish a US$172 million Lehavim where the factory the government. Fighting for basic sweeping the region urged the advantage of their workers. increase in public spending over relocated, the Israeli government infrastructure, healthcare and company to recognize the union. In May, SITAVA issued a the previous budget, and that refused to renew the work permits water rights, residents of the port Beginning in 2014, however, refusal on overtime work between US$62 million would go to of the Palestinians who remained city effectively shut down the management moved to have the June 3 and October 1, after an education. with the company. country’s biggest port, leading to union dissolved, imposed its own “unsatisfactory” meeting with the an estimated COP$300 billion in workplace delegates and stepped companies to discuss salary levels. economic losses. Sodastream Strike movement Complete access to potable workers lawsuit in Colombia water has been promised to the community in the next two years. People's Voice 2017 Israel’s major worker’s Halfway through the year, Other citizen demands that will be federation has filed a major lawsuit Colombia has seen a significant funded include improved access Fund Drive for $50,000 against Sodastream, claiming that number of civil and union strikes to healthcare and a seven-year the company has attempted to across the country. On the Pacific education plan to guarantee disrupt workers’ attempts to coast, civilian strikes in Chocó coverage and quality education to Contribute online today at organize. The story hit the Israeli and Buenaventura led to 100% of the population. peoplesvoice.ca/donate press on June 23 after a news disruptions in commerce and trade, While residents will await for website published a string of while ongoing teacher strikes in the promises to be fulfilled before testimonies on the case. the capital and other major cities declaring victory, they called the According to the 15 million- have caused transportation and deal a historic moment not only Join the Communist shekel suit, filed by the Histadrut mobility disruptions. for the people in Buenaventura federation of trade unions, The Colombian Federation for but for the black movement and Party of Canada Sodastream workers who tried to Educational Workers (Fecode) and people in Colombia. The Communist Party of Canada, formed in 1921, has a proud history of unionize were harassed, and have its 350,000 members declared a fighting for jobs, equality, peace, Canadian independence, and socialism. accused management repre- general strike on May 11, leaving VW workers The CPC does much more than run candidates in elections. We think the sentatives of racism and exploiting over 8 million public school fight against big business and its parties is a year-round job, so our the occupation of Palestine. students out of the classroom. down tools members are active across the country, to build our party and to help One example came from a While negotiations have made strengthen people’s movements on a wide range of issues. All our policies Palestinian resident of East some progress, the strike action A strike at Volkswagen’s and leadership are set democratically by our members. To find out more Jerusalem and a Sodastream shows no signs of abating. Fecode Slovak unit continued after talks about Canada’s party of socialism, contact the nearest CPC office. employee, whose wife is a West have announced that the strike will on wage deal failed on June 22. Bank resident and whose children continue until they are able to meet Union leaders said they would look Central Committee CPC have severe medical problems. directly with the president and into options to intensify the strike 290A Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON, M4K 1N6 According to the man’s court present their demands. that has hit production at the 416-469-2446
By Jenny Farrell, Socialist repeated twelve times, with a Shostakovich begins with the Voice (Ireland) growing number of instruments, timpani roll that concluded the slow By Wally Brooker growing ever louder and shriller, third movement and gradually adds The cold war against Russia— creating a profound sense of other voices. Slowly the music and previously the Soviet Union— unease. Military drums punctuate moves towards its conclusion, with Captain Ska scores with “Liar Liar GE2017” continues. This includes the this section, which ends in an brass fanfares and cymbal crashes. removal from public memory of outcry of pain and horror. A quieter It forces its way into bright C major— On the eve of last month’s U.K. general election, Captain Ska, a the many atrocities committed by passage follows—a solo flute, then the upbeat key of victory. Yet the group of session musicians who came together in 2010 to record Nazi Germany on the Soviet a bassoon, grieving the dead. final chords in this most magnificent “Liar Liar” - a protest song against tuition-fee hikes - released a re- population and the latter’s heroic Accompaniment is fragmented, so of keys contain a sorrowful sound. worked and updated version of the same song. “Liar Liar GE2017” role in the defeat of fascism. In full recognition of the realities, was launched on May 26, just two weeks before the election. Within On June 22, 1941, Germany the unimaginable suffering of war, a week, it reached #4 on U.K. single charts, and #1 in Amazon & invaded the Soviet Union. This the symphonycannot end in simple iTunes download purchases. Such is the influence of social media resulted in a slaughter of holocaust triumph. today, especially among the younger generation, that this was proportions: 25 million Russians Shostakovich composed most achieved despite the refusal of radio stations to play the song. “Liar perished, more than half the dead of the symphony while under siege Liar GE2017” accuses Tory Prime Minister, Theresa May, of being of the Second World War. in Leningrad. Several months into a liar who cannot be trusted. Its lyric video slams her government’s One of the most horrendous the blockade, and despite his cuts to education, health, welfare and disability benefits, and calls acts of barbarity was the German objections, the Soviet government her out on her u-turns on Brexit, the so-called “dementia tax”, and the blockade of Leningrad. For almost evacuated the Shostakovich betrayal of her promise not to call a snap election. It also challenges 900 days, from September 1941 to family, along with other artists. Tory positions on war - especially nuclear war. Proceeds from sales January 1944, all supplies were The Leningrad Symphony was will be donated to U.K. food banks. “Liar Liar GE2017” was cut off, and the people of Leningrad performed on August 9, 1942, in produced in association with the People’s Assembly Against Austerity systematically starved. More than his besieged home city. The score (www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk). a million Leningraders died. expressing the broken people it was airlifted in across Nazi lines. Fast forward to April 2017 and bewails. Dissonances dominate. The orchestra had only fifteen Indonesian women’s choir Dialita a fatal terrorist attack (by groups In the second movement, musicians left, but more were rather than states) takes place in “Memories,” the mood changes to recalled from the front. In Indonesia talking honestly about a crime against humanity St. Petersburg (Leningrad). After happier times, some dance A clarinet-player at this historic committed in the mid-sixties has long been a taboo topic. In 1965, similar attacks in Western melodies, although a note of performance, Galina Lelyukhina, President Sukarno, a leading figure in the non-aligned movement, European cities, the national flag sadness is also present. recalled rehearsals: “They said on was overthrown in a military coup. The new regime, headed by of that country has been projected The music of the third move- the radio that all living musicians General Suharto, banned the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI). onto Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate ment, “Wide Expanses of Our were invited. It was hard to walk. Over the next year, 500,000-1,000,000 communists and leftists were as an expression of solidarity— Land,” affirms the heroism of the I was sick with scurvy, and my legs massacred, with many more sentenced to long prison terms. It’s well- but not this time, because St people, their humanism, and were very painful. At first there known that American diplomats in Jakarta provided the dictatorship Petersburg has no “special Russia’s great natural beauty. The were nine of us, but then more with the names of thousands of communists. One hopeful sign that relationship” with Berlin, movement is a dialogue between people arrived. The con-ductor the taboo is lifting is Dialita, a choir made up of women over 50 years according to the mayor––a native chorale, the solace given by the was brought on a sledge, because of age who are either ex-prisoners, or whose parents, relatives and of West Berlin. Perhaps the splendour of the homeland, and the hunger had made him so weak.” friends were captured, tortured and exiled during the pogrom. Dialita airbrushing of history meant he solo voice, the violins, the The hall was packed, and the performs songs composed in prison during these years, and other had never heard of Leningrad. individual in torment. Both the music was broadcast on the streets songs that had been erased from the nation’s memory for decades. On The Siege of Leningrad was second and the third movement and to the fronts to inspire the August 17, 2016, Indonesia’s independence day, Dialita released its recorded not only in books but in express Shostakovich’s conviction whole nation. The Red Army pre- first album. “Dunia Milik Kita” (“The World is Ours”) is a beautiful music. A resident in Leningrad at that “war doesn’t necessarily empted German plans to disrupt listening experience that transcends language. Download it for free the time was the composer Dmitri destroy cultural values.” the performance by shelling the at www.yesnowave.com. Shostakovich. He began work on About the final movement, enemy beforehand to ensure a symphony immediately the attack “Victory,” Shostakovich silence for the concert. AFM President calls for unity began, expressing his thoughts on commented: “My idea of victory A survivor of the blockade, Irina Soviet life and the ability of his isn’t something brutal; it’s better Skripacheva, remembers: “This The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and people to defeat the fascists. This, explained as the victory of light symphony had a huge impact on Canada (AFM/CFM) has represented musicians since 1896. Its his Seventh Symphony, is known over darkness, of humanity over us. The rhythm incited a feeling of 80,000 members negotiate collective agreements, protect ownership as the Leningrad. barbarism, of reason over elevation, flight . . . At the same of recorded music, and fight for health care benefits and pensions. It has four movements. The first reaction.” The movement begins time we could feel the scary rhythm While it’s sometimes dismissed as a business union, the AFM/CFM is entitled “War” and begins with by describing, musically, people of the German hordes. It was has become more militant and politically active since the election of lyrical music describing a peaceful at work in peacetime, full of hope unforgettable and overwhelming.” International President Ray Hair in 2010. The union’s house organ, life in the USSR before the fascist and happiness, as the drums and Seventy-five years later, along International Musician, provides evidence of numerous collective invasion. A solo violin is guns of war overcome them. The Russia’s western border, NATO bargaining struggles, grassroots organizing campaigns (aimed at interrupted by a distant drum and music marches, fights, and resists. (including German) tanks and freelance musicians), and solidarity actions. Hair was in Montreal on the “invasion theme,” which is Victory does not come easily. troops prepare for war.Q May 12, where he spoke to the International Orchestra Conference about the challenge of satellite and web radio (Sirius, Pandora), and on-demand streaming (Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Amazon, Netflix). Passionate case for environment action Noting that the merger of digital, production, and transmission technology has blurred the lines between broadcasting, streaming, and social media, Hair called for musicians everywhere to unite in Confessions of a Recovering environmentalists has been with a feeling of hopelessness. reduced to advocating cutting But Kingsnorth offers ways to bargaining with giant media corporations. “If we surrender complete Environmentalist by Paul control over media production and distribution,” Hair said, “we lose Kingsnorth (Faber and Faber, carbon to address climate change fight back. Having moved to Ireland or, as he succinctly puts it, “the and bought a bungalow with 2.5 our leverage and stake in the content, and we cede higher economic £14.99), Morning Star review ground to management,middlemen, agents, and others in the food by Paul Donovan business of sustainability.” acres, he now seeks to live with The argument has become one nature, using traditional methods chain.” Read Hair’s speech at www.internationalmusician.org. This fascinating book raises of wind farms vs. wave machines, like the scythe to cut grass and fundamental questions about our with no effort being made to make hay and there is a vivid Jimmy LaFave: 1955-2017 relationship with the environment. address the issue of consumption. description of the creation of a Made up of a series of articles Kingsnorth looks at the idea of compost toilet. He has got rid of American singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimmy LaFave died at his that Paul Kingsnorth wrote in progress, which he concludes has much technology from his life such home in Austin, Texas, on May 21, just three days after appearing at publications between 2009 and brought humanity to the point of as smart phones and television and a tribute in his honour at the city’s Paramount Theatre. LaFave, 2016, the result is an account of a self-destruction. He cites the there is a sense of a turning back of brought to the stage in a wheelchair, picked up a guitar and led the man plotting his own path through palaeolithic period between “progress” in the conventional house in a moving singalong of “Goodnight Irene”. In April, he’d life, while trying to make sense of 30,000 and 9,000 BC, when people sense to reclaim some of the simpler, announced that he had spindle cell sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. the world in which he lives. lived the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. more eco-friendly ways of living. Born in Wills Point, Texas, LaFave moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma Realisation dawns as the author Even taller and healthier than Kingsnorth’s embracing as a child, where he became the centre of a music scene that came to moves from the early years of late-20th century Americans, their narrative covers much ground and be called “Red Dirt Music” - a mixture of rock, folk, rockabilly, and walking with his father in the wilds wellbeing was due to a healthy poses questions demanding deeper country, grounded in the landscape of Texas and Oklahoma. LaFave of Cumbria through the road lifestyle but palaeolithic man answers both of the environmental was a fine singer, with a high keening voice that conveyed intense protests of Twyford Down and on became too good at hunting, killing movement as well as politicians emotion, whether delivering his own songs or interpreting lyrics of to the environmental movement off the food supply while the who are simply managing natural artists like Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. He gained wide exposure today. It’s a path that leads to a population swelled, thereby decline — ironically, often in the after a 1996 appearance on the PBS music series “Austin City certain disillusion with much of sowing the seeds of demise. name of progress. Limits”, closing his set with a powerful rendition of Guthrie’s “This that movement, which he sees as This type of cycle has continued The hope in the book comes Land Is Your Land”. LaFave was close to the Guthrie family, which being consumption obsessed. with agrarianism and the green from the power within us to make has its roots in Oklahoma. In 2007, at Nora Guthrie’s invitation, he Kingsnorth criticises the lack revolution of recent times. The a difference by changing lifestyles spoke and performed at Woody’s induction into the Oklahoma Hall of concern over the mass extinction “progress” question, a troubling to a more compatible and of Fame. LaFave released many excellent albums, including of species that has gone on over one that is somewhat unresolved complementary way of living with Cimmaron Manifesto and Road Novel. recent decades, when the focus of in the book, might leave the reader our environment.Q 11 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JULY 1-31, 2017 The people who get up early.... What'sWhat's LeftLeft continued from page 5 Ever since the Lehman Brothers fiscal control will be decided by crash of 2008, capitalism’s elite has French and German financiers via Victoria, BC Annual Davenport Club PV BBQ Fundraiser, Sat., July 8, calculated as his headline-grabbing sought to protect its position by Brussels and thereafter Oh! Decolonize Canada, Sat., 2-6 pm, rain or shine, at 58 stunt ostensibly designed to forcing the working class to pay for implemented through regional July 1, 4-11 pm, BC Legislature, Albany Ave. Tickets $20 ($10 counteract welfare fraud. Worth the financial crisis through what is parliaments performing the task hosted by Indigenous Solidarity for students, low and unwaged; noting in this context is the absence euphemistically called austerity. of emasculating organised labour. Working Group and others. of any suggestion of preventing Therefore, so long as Ireland is Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach would children under 12 free. Both white-collar crime, or replacing governed by free-marketeers we will be one of those peripheral satraps Vancouver, BC meat and vegetarian dishes are the discredited ODCE. available. Please Let us know have to endure the consequences of entrusted with the latter chore— Moncada Day Celebration, The minister for social being forced to live by the rules laid presumably a labour of love for if you are coming: protection (an oxymoronic title if Sunday, July 23, 2 pm, rain or [email protected]. down by those forces and elements him. shine, Chilean Co-op, 3390 ever there was one) is mouldedin Moncada Anniversary, mark controlling the market. What, therefore, is to be done? School Ave. Sponsored by the Fine Gael forge and will seek Cuba’s revolution on Sat., July In the first instance, this will From the outset, it’s important to Canadian-Cuban Friendship to ruthlessly protect the interests 22, Noon-6 pm, at Christie Pits mean making Ireland conform to recognise that we have entered an Association-Vancouver. Phone of capital. There can be little doubt (Christie Station) Picnic area directives emanating from those era in which old-style social Marilyn, 604-321-0651. that the next leader of the original vested interests that manage the democracy has become irrelevant #1 - Shelter. Sponsored by corporatist party will ensure that it European Union. It is useful, and redundant, or sometimes even Nanaimo, BC Canadian-Cuban Friendship stays true to the ethos of its blue- therefore, to bear this in mind and worse. The programmes being Association Toronto and Latin shirted founding fathers. consider the programme now advocated by those parties that Moncada Day Salmon BBQ, American and Caribbean Under these circumstances, advocated by Germany and believe it possible to engage with Sunday, July 30, 4-7 pm. Music, Solidarity Network, with BBQ, however, it is important to recognise France—the core powers within and moderate neo-liberalism are dinner, door prizes, fundraiser music and historic tributes. See that Leo Varadkar is not so much a the union. The ruling class in both offering a dangerous illusion. They for People’s Voice, at 819 www.ccfatoronto.ca Nanaimo Lakes Road. Contact personality as a product of his class. states is determined to intensify have failed spectacularly Salsa in the City Square, 22nd Joe, 250-753-9785 or Gilberto, He may display certain irrelevant integration, reinforce the currency everywhere and, just as has Annual Toronto-Cuba Friend- 250-754-4277. idiosyncrasies that set him apart, but zone, and accelerate what they like happened to the Labour Party, they ship Day Nathan Phillips Square in reality any other contender for the to describe as liberalisation of the are distrusted by a majority of Burnaby, BC (City Hall), Sat., August 19, 4:30 party leadership would follow a labour market. working people and have been left – 7:30 pm. Cuban band, salsa similar political and economic path. In a nutshell, this means that floundering. Celebration of Life for Betty lessons, Cuban food, Official Nor is this a matter of Griffin, Tues., July 11, 2-4 pm, Cuban Flag raising with Cuban appearances and presentation, Riverway Golf Course Club- and Canadian dignitaries. People's Voice deadlines where the application of a slick house, 9001 Bill Fox Way. Sponsored by: Canadian- marketing campaign coupled with Cuban Friendship Association clever spin-doctoring will facilitate Toronto, ON August 1-31 issue: Thursday, July 20 Toronto and Juan Gualberto their return to power. Neo-liberal Celebrate the life of Che Association of Cubans. Call September 1-15 issue: Thursday, August 17 capitalism has left little space for Guevara, Sunday, July 2 (rain 416.654.7105 placating a compliant working date July 3), 2 pm, at 526 Main Send submissions to PV Editorial Office, class and has therefore rendered St. (two blocks north of Main Surrey, BC 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, V5L 3J1 social democracy redundant. Subway). 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