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
New York, Dec. 30 (GIN) -- The Togolese parliament yesterday
changed the constitution in a way that will allow President
Gnassingbe Eyadema to seek re-election in next year's June
elections.
As it stood, the 1992 constition required Eyadema to step down after two five-year terms. But now, he will be able to run for re-election as many times as he wishes to.
Opposition groups have called the amendations a constitional coup.
Jean-Pierre Fabre of the opposition party, Union of Forces for Change said, "We call on the Togolese people to mobilize immediately to oppose this 'coup de force' of President Eyadema."
Eyadema, who came to power in a 1967 military coup, is Africa's longest serving head of state. He kept Togo in a single- party system until 1993, when he won the country's first mult- party presidential election. Opposition parties boycotted the poll.
In 1998, Eyadema won the second multparty presidential election, in which he was accused of vote-rigging and other electoral malpractice.
As it stood, the 1992 constition required Eyadema to step down after two five-year terms. But now, he will be able to run for re-election as many times as he wishes to.
Opposition groups have called the amendations a constitional coup.
Jean-Pierre Fabre of the opposition party, Union of Forces for Change said, "We call on the Togolese people to mobilize immediately to oppose this 'coup de force' of President Eyadema."
Eyadema, who came to power in a 1967 military coup, is Africa's longest serving head of state. He kept Togo in a single- party system until 1993, when he won the country's first mult- party presidential election. Opposition parties boycotted the poll.
In 1998, Eyadema won the second multparty presidential election, in which he was accused of vote-rigging and other electoral malpractice.
NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (GIN) - More than 20 years after he was
toppled from power and forced into exile in Saudi Arabia, Idi
Amin wants to return to Uganda - the country where, during his
eight-year dictatorship, at least 300,000 people were massacred.
According to news group Sapa-DPA, Amin - who was once known as the "Butcher of Uganda" - wants to leave Mecca, return to live in his home town of Arua, Uganda, and build up his former house. Amin wants to live there "not as a dictator, but as a retiree," says his son, Hajji Ali.
Amin's family, many of whom have returned from exile to Uganda, have been calling for Amin to be allowed back. In April, Ali said "My father is completely innocent. We should talk about something where there is evidence, but the evidence is just not there."
The evidence, however, is stark, solid and brutal.
In addition to the 300,000 people that Amnesty International say were killed there during his rule, Amin expelled some 50,000 people of Asian decent - giving them just weeks to leave - and distributed their businesses to his friends.
According to news group Sapa-DPA, Amin - who was once known as the "Butcher of Uganda" - wants to leave Mecca, return to live in his home town of Arua, Uganda, and build up his former house. Amin wants to live there "not as a dictator, but as a retiree," says his son, Hajji Ali.
Amin's family, many of whom have returned from exile to Uganda, have been calling for Amin to be allowed back. In April, Ali said "My father is completely innocent. We should talk about something where there is evidence, but the evidence is just not there."
The evidence, however, is stark, solid and brutal.
In addition to the 300,000 people that Amnesty International say were killed there during his rule, Amin expelled some 50,000 people of Asian decent - giving them just weeks to leave - and distributed their businesses to his friends.
ABIDJAN, Jan. 2 (GIN) -- A government attack by helicopter on
a rebel-held village in the center of embattled Ivory Coast was
condemned by the French military detachment which has reportedly
been assigned to preserve a fragile ceasefire in this West
African nation.
The 2,500 French troops insist they are neutral in the fighting which pits the government against three rebel divisions. A rebellion against the government of Laurent Gbagbo was sparked on Sept. 19 with an attempt by the government to lay off hundreds of soldiers they believed supported another political partys losing bid for office.
A French military source said Tuesday's attack - in which 11 civilians are said to have died - was "unacceptable" and would have "inevitable repercussions".
It is the first time the French have criticized either side since agreeing to maintain the fragile truce signed by the government and the main rebel group, the Ivory Coast Patriotic Movement (MPCI).
The statement came as another rebel group on Wednesday opened up a new front in the south-west of the country, close to the Liberian border.
The 2,500 French troops insist they are neutral in the fighting which pits the government against three rebel divisions. A rebellion against the government of Laurent Gbagbo was sparked on Sept. 19 with an attempt by the government to lay off hundreds of soldiers they believed supported another political partys losing bid for office.
A French military source said Tuesday's attack - in which 11 civilians are said to have died - was "unacceptable" and would have "inevitable repercussions".
It is the first time the French have criticized either side since agreeing to maintain the fragile truce signed by the government and the main rebel group, the Ivory Coast Patriotic Movement (MPCI).
The statement came as another rebel group on Wednesday opened up a new front in the south-west of the country, close to the Liberian border.
LAGOS, Jan. 1 (GIN) - At a meeting of local Christian groups,
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo publicly apologised for the
killing of more than 200 unarmed civilians by the army in Benue
State in October 2001.
The army has been accused of several mass killings since civilian rule was restored in Nigeria in 1999. Mr Obasanjo is seeking re-election in April and this Sunday faces a former minister from Benue State in primaries for the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).
The killing of ethnic Tivs was apparently in retaliation for the abduction and murder of 19 soldiers sent to quash fighting between Tivs and Jukuns, the biggest group in neighbouring Taraba State.
Human Rights Watch, a New York based rights group, has strongly condemned the Nigerian government for first encouraging, then failing to condemn, the military action.
"I am sorry, it should never have happened," Mr Obasanjo said.
Over a three-day period, soldiers entered a series of towns and villages, including Zaki Bam, in Benue State and opened fire on unarmed residents.
The army has been accused of several mass killings since civilian rule was restored in Nigeria in 1999. Mr Obasanjo is seeking re-election in April and this Sunday faces a former minister from Benue State in primaries for the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).
The killing of ethnic Tivs was apparently in retaliation for the abduction and murder of 19 soldiers sent to quash fighting between Tivs and Jukuns, the biggest group in neighbouring Taraba State.
Human Rights Watch, a New York based rights group, has strongly condemned the Nigerian government for first encouraging, then failing to condemn, the military action.
"I am sorry, it should never have happened," Mr Obasanjo said.
Over a three-day period, soldiers entered a series of towns and villages, including Zaki Bam, in Benue State and opened fire on unarmed residents.
JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 1 (GIN) - Initial reports that the South
African Broadcasting Corporation would drop CNN for Al-Jazeera,
the Qatar-based Persian Gulf news network well known for
broadcasting videotaped messages from Osama bin Laden, have been
denied by the SABC.
However, Al-Jazeera could be added to the line-up.
SABC spokesperson Ihron Rensburg said the broadcaster was looking at a range of options.
"The main objective is to provide viewers with the widest range of news as it happens." Under review, said Rensburg, was CNN, BBC, Al-Jazeera and Sky News.
However, Al-Jazeera could be added to the line-up.
SABC spokesperson Ihron Rensburg said the broadcaster was looking at a range of options.
"The main objective is to provide viewers with the widest range of news as it happens." Under review, said Rensburg, was CNN, BBC, Al-Jazeera and Sky News.
HEBRON—At least fifteen people are dead and fifteen more wounded after a shooting attack Friday evening, November 15th, at 7:15pm. Palestinian gunmen opened fire and threw grenades at a group of Israeli settlers and soldiers walking to the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba after Shabbat services at the synagogue in the Tomb of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque complex. The dead include nine Israeli soldiers and border policemen, three armed Israeli settler security, and three Palestinians believed to have perpetrated the attack. Colonel Dror Weinberg, commander of the Israeli forces in Hebron, was one of the victims. At least five of the wounded are soldiers in serious condition according to reports received by the team. The Palestinian militia Islamic Jihad has confirmed responsibility for the attack, claiming retribution for the Israeli military assassination of its leader Iyad Sawalha in Jenin late last week.
Dear friends,
I've been in the West Bank town of Hebron for one month now and will return to Columbus in mid January. I'm working with Christian Peacemaker Teams. We have many ties with ISM. Since I've been here, our team has been shot at by settlers while helping Palestinians harvest their olives; I witnessed 2000 Palestinian school kids being tear gased,;I've been cursed to Satan by fanatic settlers, and I have recorded many sad stories. I'll be visiting sites of the most recent home demolitions and interviewing families...
First it was all about drugs - or so
we were told. Sen. Mike DeWine helped craft Plan Colombia for the Clinton Administration, and $1.3 billion flowed to Colombia's declared drug war. Two years later President Bush demands more dollars and weapons - having broadened US objectives to fighting terror and insurgency - and DeWine cheers him on.
The U.S. insists its intervention in Colombia is protecting democracy and the rule of law. But our policy there violates both of those principles, as well as the human rights which depend upon them. And the violation - of rights and logic - is extreme.
For starters, many drug policy and human rights organizations refute the Drug War rationale for supporting the Colombian military. Even the relatively conservative Rand Corporation has concluded that drug treatment for U.S. cocaine users is 10 times more cost-effective than drug interdiction, and 23 times more cost-effective than coca eradication!
The U.S. insists its intervention in Colombia is protecting democracy and the rule of law. But our policy there violates both of those principles, as well as the human rights which depend upon them. And the violation - of rights and logic - is extreme.
For starters, many drug policy and human rights organizations refute the Drug War rationale for supporting the Colombian military. Even the relatively conservative Rand Corporation has concluded that drug treatment for U.S. cocaine users is 10 times more cost-effective than drug interdiction, and 23 times more cost-effective than coca eradication!
U.S. tax dollars kill in Colombia but
Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio
doesn't care. His Columbus staff delivered this message on April 30 when they ordered myself and 9 other concerned constituents arrested for requesting a face-to-face meeting with the Senator.
For years students, teachers, faith-based activists, and workers of all sorts have met with DeWine's staff in their Washington and Ohio offices to call for a more humane policy toward Latin America. As U.S. involvement and the death toll in Colombia have escalated in recent years, concerned taxpayers from throughout the state have called, written and visited DeWine's staff, pleading with them to persuade the Senator to rethink his approach to America's drug problem. Despite our persistent efforts, the Senator has remained seemingly oblivious to our concerns, leading us to conclude that meeting with him in person is the only solution.
For years students, teachers, faith-based activists, and workers of all sorts have met with DeWine's staff in their Washington and Ohio offices to call for a more humane policy toward Latin America. As U.S. involvement and the death toll in Colombia have escalated in recent years, concerned taxpayers from throughout the state have called, written and visited DeWine's staff, pleading with them to persuade the Senator to rethink his approach to America's drug problem. Despite our persistent efforts, the Senator has remained seemingly oblivious to our concerns, leading us to conclude that meeting with him in person is the only solution.
In contemplating the failed coup of
April 11-14 in Venezuela, only one fact
presents itself as indisputable: there are so many different versions of "the truth" circulating, that it is doubtful anyone really knows what exactly happened, and what will happen next. The media has played a significant role in the propagation of any one of the various "truths". US press, most notably the New York Times, printed an editorial on April 13 calling ousted Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez "a ruinous demagogue" whose removal from office was a victory for Venezuelan democracy as it would "no longer be threatened by a would-be dictator." The Times reported on April 13, that the forced resignation of Chavez was an end to the "turbulent three-year reign of a mercurial strongman" and "firebrand populist".