THE G-20 IN PITTSBURGH
by Tom Over 9-23-09
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On Tuesday, Sept 22, activists from Philadelphia, New York City, Pittsburgh and other cities held a mock funeral procession to demand better policies for addressing the AIDS pandemic, a day ahead of the arrival of delegates for the G-20.
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The approximately 50 participants in the New Orleans-style funeral march drew a mix of interest, irritation, and amusement from onlookers in the business district of downtown Pittsburgh.
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At the head of the funeral march where pallbearers carried a cardboard coffin, a man shouted into a microphone while someone else carried a portable amplifier, “when people with AIDS are under attack, what do we do ?” and marchers shouted in unison, “fight back!”
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Amidst the early afternoon bustle of an weekday, the demonstrators repeated this call-and-answer and similar chants as the funeral march made its way around the perimeter of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the site of the G-20 Summit later this week.
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Erica Goldberg works with ACT UP Philadelphia. She said global health is not on the agenda of the G-20 Summit.
“One of the things that some of the G-20 nations have promised us is funding for the global fund to fight, TB, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. This is all really important, especially if we want to meet the United Nations’ Millennium goal of eradicating these diseases by 2015. As of right now, this won’t be met. We have to hold our leaders accountable. They are the ones making decisions for the poorer countries,” Goldberg said.
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She commented on the timing of the demonstration. “We wanted this to be the first thing they (the G-20 delegates) see. They’re coming here tomorrow. We’re holding them accountable. This needs to be on the agenda.”
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She said AIDS activists chose Sept 22, two days before the official start of the G-20 Summit, and one day before the arrival of the delegates, so as to not have to compete with other protests. Also, she said the AIDS activists figured there would be less of a chance of conflict with police if they staged their protest earlier in the week.
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“We hope that this will hit the papers tomorrow, that it’s the first thing they see when they walk in, that they have this on their conscience and know we’re not going away,” Goldberg said. She urges people to contact legislators about supporting the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
“President Obama, as much as I love him, went back on his promise to fulfill the funding,” Goldberg said.
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She commented on how drug companies factor into all of this. “ Medication does not need to be this expensive. They can definitely lower their prices. We have big drug interests lobbying to prevent AIDS medication from getting” to developing nations.
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Goldberg said debt cancellation for developing nations is a factor that comes into play.
“When you don’t cancel debts of nations and they have to pay back loans to the IMF and the World Bank, they won’t have the funds necessary for getting AIDS medication, or they might get the medication but can’t pay the health professional because of their debt.
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She said vested interested motivated by huge profits stand in the way of doing a better job of addressing tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. “We have the power, the ability, and the medication.”
World News
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The horror of 78 Muslim men who were forcibly tied up, laid out like logs in army trucks, crushed until their eyes bled and they suffocated to death, has not been forgotten despite the coup regime's apology.
Ethnic Malay Islamist insurgents continue to unleash fresh attacks against Thailand's Buddhist establishment, pro-government Muslim collaborators, and innocent people.
More than 1,700 people have been killed on all sides since 2004.
Southern Thailand's Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani provinces suffer one of the world's bloodiest Islamist rebel wars outside of Iraq.
America gave helicopters, weapons, technical assistance, and training to Thailand's confused military to kill Muslim rebels in the south.
But some U.S. weaponry, including M-16 assault rifles and Humvees, were used by a Thai army faction when they staged a bloodless coup in Bangkok on Sept. 19.
Now the worried coup leaders are enforcing nationwide martial law, stifling free speech, blocking political activity, and installing a pliant government and constitution to defend themselves.
Ethnic Malay Islamist insurgents continue to unleash fresh attacks against Thailand's Buddhist establishment, pro-government Muslim collaborators, and innocent people.
More than 1,700 people have been killed on all sides since 2004.
Southern Thailand's Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani provinces suffer one of the world's bloodiest Islamist rebel wars outside of Iraq.
America gave helicopters, weapons, technical assistance, and training to Thailand's confused military to kill Muslim rebels in the south.
But some U.S. weaponry, including M-16 assault rifles and Humvees, were used by a Thai army faction when they staged a bloodless coup in Bangkok on Sept. 19.
Now the worried coup leaders are enforcing nationwide martial law, stifling free speech, blocking political activity, and installing a pliant government and constitution to defend themselves.
In spring 2007, Timor-Leste will hold its first national elections as an independent nation. Join ETAN in supporting free, fair election in Timor-Leste!
Voters across the country will choose their parliament and president. Given the tensions and violence that have plagued Timor-Leste this year, many worry that the election may not be free or fair. As we did for the crucial referendum in 1999, the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) will send nonpartisan, international observers — and we need you!
Please consider volunteering with ETAN’s Observer Project (ETAN-OP). We especially need you if you have election monitoring experience; are familiar with Timorese history and culture; or speak Tetum, Indonesian or Portuguese. ETAN will provide training, so please apply even if you don’t have experience.
Voters across the country will choose their parliament and president. Given the tensions and violence that have plagued Timor-Leste this year, many worry that the election may not be free or fair. As we did for the crucial referendum in 1999, the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) will send nonpartisan, international observers — and we need you!
Please consider volunteering with ETAN’s Observer Project (ETAN-OP). We especially need you if you have election monitoring experience; are familiar with Timorese history and culture; or speak Tetum, Indonesian or Portuguese. ETAN will provide training, so please apply even if you don’t have experience.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Six weeks after a
bloodless military coup destroyed Thailand's
democracy, squabbling has erupted among
supporters of the putsch, amid worries that
corrupt politicians are hiding illegal loot while
the ruling junta dithers without direction.
"It could all turn into a political farce," warned Campaign for Popular Democracy member Suwit Watnoo, after rifts among the coup's collaborators spilled into the public arena.
"So far, corruption allegations are just that -- unfounded allegations. This makes society uneasy," complained Ongart Klampaiboon, spokesman for the Democrat Party, which benefited from sudden toppling of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government on Sept. 19.
The popular coup also did not stop Islamist separatists fighting in southern Thailand, where more than 1,700 people have died since January 2004, despite the junta's promise to listen to minority ethnic Malay Muslims' demands for justice, equality, autonomy and multiculturalism.
"It could all turn into a political farce," warned Campaign for Popular Democracy member Suwit Watnoo, after rifts among the coup's collaborators spilled into the public arena.
"So far, corruption allegations are just that -- unfounded allegations. This makes society uneasy," complained Ongart Klampaiboon, spokesman for the Democrat Party, which benefited from sudden toppling of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government on Sept. 19.
The popular coup also did not stop Islamist separatists fighting in southern Thailand, where more than 1,700 people have died since January 2004, despite the junta's promise to listen to minority ethnic Malay Muslims' demands for justice, equality, autonomy and multiculturalism.
SALTILLO, MEXICO -- Author’s Note: It’s two o’clock in morning; I’m writing from the Free Press Mexico remote office (i.e. the motel bathroom). Although this is a day of strong historical import, many days in the field (i.e. too many beers) may result in somewhat off-kilter coverage, and for that I am, as always, very sorry.
After a frustrating day of coping with my logistics team’s emotions, I was searching for cervescas on Saltillo’s Plaza Centro. I was storming down the sidewalk elbowing Mexicans and snarling gibberish to myself when I turned into what I thought was a bar and looked down the barrel of twenty Mexicans wearing black bandito-style masks, who stared at me as I stood in the doorway, looking around. I walked back outside, noticed the large red star stenciled next to the door. I rushed back inside the Saltillo chapter of the EZLN.
"Ustedes Zapatistas?" I asked. They all looked at each other’s masks and then at the various posters depicting Subcommandante Marcos, then back at me, back at each other, and then nodded.
After a frustrating day of coping with my logistics team’s emotions, I was searching for cervescas on Saltillo’s Plaza Centro. I was storming down the sidewalk elbowing Mexicans and snarling gibberish to myself when I turned into what I thought was a bar and looked down the barrel of twenty Mexicans wearing black bandito-style masks, who stared at me as I stood in the doorway, looking around. I walked back outside, noticed the large red star stenciled next to the door. I rushed back inside the Saltillo chapter of the EZLN.
"Ustedes Zapatistas?" I asked. They all looked at each other’s masks and then at the various posters depicting Subcommandante Marcos, then back at me, back at each other, and then nodded.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's new constitution should boost the right to strike and form unions, end discrimination against politicians without Bachelor's degrees, nationalize public and security infrastructure, and allow people to vote from any ballot box in the country, reformists said.
After crushing free speech, banning political activity, detaining former elected officials, and clamping Thailand under military rule, Bangkok's new coup leaders promised to install an interim prime minister within two weeks, write a new constitution to replace the now-trashed 1997 charter, and stage a nationwide election in one year.
The coup leaders cited alleged "loopholes" in the previous constitution, written with idealism and expectations for democracy after a brutal 1991 military coup ended in a bloody, popular insurrection.
The new coup leaders ordered people to call the junta, The Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM), giving people fresh hope the constitution would be reformed to benefit the masses.
After crushing free speech, banning political activity, detaining former elected officials, and clamping Thailand under military rule, Bangkok's new coup leaders promised to install an interim prime minister within two weeks, write a new constitution to replace the now-trashed 1997 charter, and stage a nationwide election in one year.
The coup leaders cited alleged "loopholes" in the previous constitution, written with idealism and expectations for democracy after a brutal 1991 military coup ended in a bloody, popular insurrection.
The new coup leaders ordered people to call the junta, The Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM), giving people fresh hope the constitution would be reformed to benefit the masses.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The U.S. military in South Korea warned its troops not to travel to Thailand because the aftermath of Bangkok's coup could turn anti-American, but about 60 Thais defied martial law on Monday (September 25) and denounced the new military junta as "demented and ridiculous."
"U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is warning its personnel to avoid traveling to Thailand 'until further notice' following the Sept. 19 military coup," the Stars and Stripes newspaper reported on Monday (September 25).
"Although there has been neither violence nor indications of direct threats to American citizens, civil disturbances could occur in Thailand resulting in anti-foreign sentiments or activities," said the "force-protection warning" issued by the USFK to its troops, civilian employees, contractors and family members.
"U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is warning its personnel to avoid traveling to Thailand 'until further notice' following the Sept. 19 military coup," the Stars and Stripes newspaper reported on Monday (September 25).
"Although there has been neither violence nor indications of direct threats to American citizens, civil disturbances could occur in Thailand resulting in anti-foreign sentiments or activities," said the "force-protection warning" issued by the USFK to its troops, civilian employees, contractors and family members.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The six highest-ranking, U.S.-trained, military and police officers in this Southeast Asian nation presented themselves on Wednesday (September 20) as Thailand's new self-appointed coup leaders, warning people not to destabilize their junta, and promising to install a civilian interim prime minister within two weeks, so elections could be staged in one year.
They censored the media -- including blackouts of CNN and BBC satellite TV news broadcasts -- and banned public political gatherings.
Security forces reportedly arrested a handful of anti-coup demonstrators who unfurled a banner on Wednesday (September 20) which said: "Fasting in Protest Against the Destroyer of Democracy," but released them within hours, according to Thai media. They could suffer six months in jail and a 260 U.S. dollar fine.
Students calling themselves the "News Center for Student Activities" urged people not to cooperate with the "military junta" and to wear black to mourn the death of democracy, the Nation newspaper said.
Thailand remained calm.
They censored the media -- including blackouts of CNN and BBC satellite TV news broadcasts -- and banned public political gatherings.
Security forces reportedly arrested a handful of anti-coup demonstrators who unfurled a banner on Wednesday (September 20) which said: "Fasting in Protest Against the Destroyer of Democracy," but released them within hours, according to Thai media. They could suffer six months in jail and a 260 U.S. dollar fine.
Students calling themselves the "News Center for Student Activities" urged people not to cooperate with the "military junta" and to wear black to mourn the death of democracy, the Nation newspaper said.
Thailand remained calm.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Mystical twin boys, reputedly born with black tongues and bullet-proof animist powers, no longer lead a deadly God's Army of 200 guerrillas along the violent Burma-Thailand border.
Johnny Htoo, one of the sensational twins, surrendered with nine other God's Army rebels to the military in Burma, mainland Southeast Asia's biggest country, which is also known as Myanmar.
Eighteen-year-old Johnny Htoo's brother, Luther, was not mentioned in Wednesday's (July 26) announcement in Burma's government-produced New Light Of Myanmar newspaper.
The "ten-member armed group of God's Army, led by Johnny Tu [Htoo]," surrendered to soldiers in Burma's southeast Coastal Region Command camp.
The 10 men abandoned a "base in the other country," it said, referring to Thailand.
Johnny Htoo, and nine others, also gave up some assault rifles, ammunition, and a hand grenade.
They "returned to the legal fold" on July 17, the report said without elaborating, an indication they received amnesty.
Johnny Htoo, one of the sensational twins, surrendered with nine other God's Army rebels to the military in Burma, mainland Southeast Asia's biggest country, which is also known as Myanmar.
Eighteen-year-old Johnny Htoo's brother, Luther, was not mentioned in Wednesday's (July 26) announcement in Burma's government-produced New Light Of Myanmar newspaper.
The "ten-member armed group of God's Army, led by Johnny Tu [Htoo]," surrendered to soldiers in Burma's southeast Coastal Region Command camp.
The 10 men abandoned a "base in the other country," it said, referring to Thailand.
Johnny Htoo, and nine others, also gave up some assault rifles, ammunition, and a hand grenade.
They "returned to the legal fold" on July 17, the report said without elaborating, an indication they received amnesty.
As I write, Israelis troops are massing on the Lebanon border. I feel a deep sense of deja vu, not to mention about equal measures of frustration and exasperation. I suspect that many Americans share similar feelings. There is nothing new, here, after all. We’ve seen it all, before. Is there no end to the conflict?
Still, it’s important to realize that this war did not need to happen. There was nothing inevitable about it. There could have been peace. Few Americans probably remember, but in 2002 Saudi Arabia offered Israel a full peace treaty.
“What?!” You are probably reacting. “You must be joking!”
No, I am not joking. Back in 2002 Saudi Arabia offered Israel a full peace treaty. The offer was extraordinary in that it went much further than any previous Arab peace initiative had, before. The Saudis offered not only to recognize Israel, they offered normalized relations, including full trade, economic ties, cultural exchanges: in short, an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The only condition was that Israel must abide by UN Security Council resolutions on Palestine.
Still, it’s important to realize that this war did not need to happen. There was nothing inevitable about it. There could have been peace. Few Americans probably remember, but in 2002 Saudi Arabia offered Israel a full peace treaty.
“What?!” You are probably reacting. “You must be joking!”
No, I am not joking. Back in 2002 Saudi Arabia offered Israel a full peace treaty. The offer was extraordinary in that it went much further than any previous Arab peace initiative had, before. The Saudis offered not only to recognize Israel, they offered normalized relations, including full trade, economic ties, cultural exchanges: in short, an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The only condition was that Israel must abide by UN Security Council resolutions on Palestine.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The CIA's saturation bombing of Laos killed thousands of people and reduced the tiny country to ruin three decades ago, but 4,500 men, women and children now hope America's failed "secret war" will result in free air tickets to the United States.
The communist regime in Laos, the pro-American government in Thailand, and US officials are investigating the group's problem, but cannot agree who is responsible for their crisis.
Thailand's Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) spent Thursday (July 20) preparing to send the 4,500 people to Laos, after Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ordered the ISOC to quickly solve the problem.
The communist government in Laos, however, said it suspects some in the group did not originate in Laos, or might be faking their CIA-linked role to get to America.
The 4,500 people claim they, or their relatives, supported a CIA-backed Lao general, Vang Pao, during America's so-called "secret war" in Laos from 1961 to 1975.
The communist regime in Laos, the pro-American government in Thailand, and US officials are investigating the group's problem, but cannot agree who is responsible for their crisis.
Thailand's Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) spent Thursday (July 20) preparing to send the 4,500 people to Laos, after Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ordered the ISOC to quickly solve the problem.
The communist government in Laos, however, said it suspects some in the group did not originate in Laos, or might be faking their CIA-linked role to get to America.
The 4,500 people claim they, or their relatives, supported a CIA-backed Lao general, Vang Pao, during America's so-called "secret war" in Laos from 1961 to 1975.