December 2008 archive

On December 10, 1948, five days prior to my birth:

The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and “to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories.”

Since 1950 the anniversary of the declaration has been known as Human Rights Day.

Yakety Yak Please Talk Back

Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode live

This Pony Party is an Open Thread.  Chat away, but please do not rec!

Original article, by Paul Le Blanc, via Socialist Worker (UK):

The acclaimed Marxist historian Paul Le Blanc explains why Lenin’s political ideas are vitally important for anyone who wants to understand capitalism and struggle against it.

Update again:  Looks even closer:

Leah Fried, a spokeswoman for the union representing the workers, said Tuesday that it was too soon to know whether the sit-in will be called off. She said that workers would have to vote to end the action but that negotiations among the bank, the company and union representative continued.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28…

The media appears to have jumped the gun.  UE says talks continuing.  Sorry.  Victory is close, but not yet here.

Talks that began at 1:00 pm today in Chicago are continuing. No settlement has reached at this time.

Yesterday, Bank of America issued a statement that it was willing to provide a “limited amount” of additional loans to Republic Windows and Doors to help resolve the plant occupation.

Late this afternoon some news organizations published stories, based on the bank’s statement yesterday, that are factually incorrect (an accurate account appears on the Chicago-Sun Times website).

We will provide updated information as it becomes available.

http://www.ueunion.org/uenewsu…

“Bank of America is prepared to make these additional loans despite the fact that Bank of America is not obligated to pay Republic’s employees or make additional loans to Republic,” the bank¹s statement said.

Republic, its worker representatives and others are meeting this afternoon to try to resolve the standoff. The Bank of America spokeswoman said she did not know whether the bank¹s offer would be discussed at the meeting.

http://www.suntimes.com/busine…

This just means we keep up the pressure.  Victory is close!!

Agressive struggle!

Earlier report:

CHICAGO – Bank of America says it will extend credit to a Chicago window and door maker whose workers have occupied the factory for five days.

The bank said Tuesday that it’s willing to give the Republic Windows and Doors factory “a limited amount of additional loans.” That’s so it can resolve claims of employees who have staged a sit-in since Friday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…

Direct action works!  There’s a lesson here.  No more just taking it.  No more keeping our powder dry.  

We need more unions like UE:

The Preamble of the UE Constitution, unchanged since its adoption in 1936, articulates the principles that built our union and which make possible the kind of creative, bold action that has captured the attention of the nation and the world at Republic. “We…form an organization which unites all workers… and pursue(s) at all times a policy of aggressive struggle to improve our conditions.”

http://www.ueunion.org/uenewsu…

Agressive struggle.  Yes!!!  Don’t you wish the so-called Progressive netroots followed that strategy?  

More, after the fold.  

1. The CS Monitor reports the Supreme Court to decide who’s at fault for harsh antiterror tactics.

   The US Supreme Court this week takes up a case examining whether cabinet-level officials in the Bush White House can be held legally accountable for the administration’s controversial tactics in the war on terror.

   At issue is an attempt to force former Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI director Robert Mueller to stand trial with federal agents, prison guards, and their supervisors. They are all named in a lawsuit filed by a Pakistani man who was held as a terror suspect for five months in solitary confinement in a US prison although there was no evidence connecting him to terrorism.

   A ruling is expected by June.

2. The Guardian presents Climate change: The carbon atlas. “New figures published today confirm that China has overtaken the US as the largest emitter of CO2. This interactive emissions map shows how the rest of the world compares. Global C02 emissions totalled 29,195m tonnes in 2006 – up 2.4% on 2005.”

   Click on the graphic for the interactive carbon map.

Four at Four continues with Minnesota moose dying because of climate change and tracing the path of nuclear weapon proliferation.

Alabama’s Two Senators Are Trying To Kill The Auto Bailout Because?

They Don’t Like Unions Or Is There Some Secret Reason?  

Washington Takes Risks With Its Auto Bailout Plans



By DAVID E. SANGER

Published: December 8, 2008

WASHINGTON – When President-elect Barack Obama talked on Sunday about realigning the American automobile industry he was quick to offer a caution, lest he sound more like the incoming leader of France, or perhaps Japan.

“We don’t want government to run companies,” Mr. Obama told Tom Brokaw on “Meet the Press.” “Generally, government historically hasn’t done that very well.”

But what Mr. Obama went on to describe was a long-term bailout that would be conditioned on federal oversight. It could mean that the government would mandate, or at least heavily influence, what kind of cars companies make, what mileage and environmental standards they must meet and what large investments they are permitted to make – to recreate an industry that Mr. Obama said “actually works, that actually functions.”

Mexico gang killings more than double in 2008

Drug cartels are fighting increasingly bloody battles among themselves

Associated Press

MEXICO CITY – Organized-crime slayings in Mexico more than doubled in the first 11 months of 2008, as powerful drug cartels fought increasingly bloody battles for control of trafficking routes and territory, the government said Monday.

Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora said gangland killings rose by 117 percent to 5,376 as compared to the first 11 months of 2007, when there were 2,477 slayings. The government had previously not provided a total number for such killings and the figure came days after Washington began releasing funds from an anti-drug aid package.

Underscoring the brutality of the conflict, authorities on Monday reported that at least 18 people were killed in a single day in southern Guerrero state and two human heads were left in buckets outside the governor’s office.

USA

Internal Warnings Sounded on Loans At Fannie, Freddie

Executives Were Told of Subprime Risk

By Zachary A. Goldfarb

Washington Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, December 9, 2008; Page D01



Internal Freddie Mac documents show that senior executives at the company were warned years ago that they were offering mortgages that could pose dangers to the firm, hurt borrowers and generate more risky loans throughout the industry.

At Fannie Mae, top executives were told it was necessary to develop “underground” efforts to buy subprime mortgages because of competitive pressures, although there were growing risks and borrowers often didn’t understand the terms of the loans, documents show.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which has the documents, is holding a hearing today to discuss Fannie and Freddie’s downfall.