INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-SOUTH AFRICA:

UNION BUSTING AT WOOLWORTHS SOUTH AFRICA:

The following appeal for solidarity comes from the online labour solidarity site Labour Start.

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Act NOW!

South Africa: Woolworths engages in union-busting:

More than 5,000 workers at Woolworths had been on strike since 17 September 2008 over an organisational rights dispute. Their union, SACCAWU, has for the last ten months tried to negotiate a relationship agreement with Woolworths. Woolworths in Wal-mart union-bashing style had steadfastly refused to meet with the union and made unsubstantiated claims that the union has fewer than 6% members in the company. All attempts to challenge this have been frustrated by the company. At the beginning of August SACCAWU decided to strike. Workers demands are:

1. A verification process of SACCAWU membership,

2. Negotiation of a relationship agreement,

3. Stop order facilities

4. Access to company premises by union officials to conduct union work

Instead the company has turned to labour brokers to supply scab labour and tried frustrating the strikers right to picket and while continuously placing new demands on SACCAWU including the deliberate manipulation of the labour legislation to cause further delays. Most recently, just as it appeared that a settlement could be reached the company indicated its refusal to recognise any members who have joined the union more than three months ago and further insist to individually check all members to establish whether they have been intimidated into joining SACCAWU.

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THE LETTER:

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter.

I have learned that Woolworths has been involved in a systematic campaign to undermine worker rights and the right of workers to join a union of their choice. I am aware that the workers have been on strike since 17 September 2008 for the right to recognise SACCAWU and despite all attempts by the union to resolve the dispute your company has continuously refused to meet with SACCAWU. Instead you have turned to intimidate workers who are engaged in a protected strike action in terms of the labour legislation.

I call on you to desist from intimidating workers on the picket line, to stop interfering with workers right to picket, to recognise the right of workers to join the union of their choice, to respect trade union rights and to negotiate with SACCAWU in good faith.

CANADIAN ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-WINNIPEG/SUDBURY/MISSISSAUGA:

MORE PROTESTS AGAINST THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS:

The 'Olympic Spirit Train' continues to chug its way across the country, drawing tiny crowds (there is already talk of "trying again" in 2009), but in practically every place it stops it meets with protests, most as low key as the PR that the train itself is gathering. One wonders how many millions of taxpayer dollars are being blown on this stunt. The train arrived in Winnipeg last Saturday and set up shop near to a north end community club. The crowd at the field never exceeded 200 people, and the protesters were on hand (though this was unreported by the local press). Over the course of a couple of hours there were about 200 leaflets handed out opposing the 2010 Olympics, according to one participant.

The train later stopped in Thunder bay to yet another underwhelming reception. It's hard to say if there were protests there as the Thunder Bay media hardly reported the train itself. the big stories were a streptococcus outbreak and a stabbed dog found in the streets. Today the train is in Sudbury, no doubt greeted by its usual tiny crowds. But there will be protests there. Here is the callout for Sudbury. Molly hopes to report what happened there in the next few days. also keep checking the No Olympics on Stolen Native Land website for further updates.

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Sudbury, Ont. to Protest 'Spirit Train' on Oct. 11, 2008:
*No Olympics on Stolen Land!*
Resistance to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver has been building under the banner of NO OLYMPICS ON STOLEN LAND. At the cross Americas indigenous conference in Vicam, Mexico last October an Indigenous intercontinental anti-2010 movement was established. And in December a grassroots Indigenous group - Native Anti-2010 Resistance - came together in "BC" to organize Native opposition to the 2010 Winter Games. Many anti-poverty, environmental, anti-capitalist groups, among others, are working together as well across Turtle Island under the Olympics Resistance Network.

Please see http://www.no2010.com/ for more information.

On October 11, the Olympics promotional train of The CP/Vancouver Olympics Organising Committee (VANOC) will be arriving in Sudbury. It is a monstrous publicity endeavour based in corporate cooptation of indigenous traditional practices. And it has a full day of activities from 2pm to 8pm planned.

Native Anti-2010 Resistance has issued a statement opposing this misuse of traditional culture. It states: "The knowledge of these traditional ceremonies is a privilege and should not be mocked or commercialized in exchange for money; if not respected, these ceremonies will be useless and meaningless."

Sudbury Against War and Occupation (SAWO) is aiming to build awareness around resistance to the 2010 Olympics. Folks are invited to join us in front of Market Square at 1pm on the 11th for a festive informational gathering. We are also looking for cultural performers and producers who might want to participate in this event.

For more details, please contact Gary Kinsman:

gkinsman@laurentian.ca or at 523-2205.
Sudbury Against War and Occupation

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Here is the full statement of the Sudbury Against War and Occupation on the train stop that is happening in their community as we speak.

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Sudbury No Olympics on Stolen Land Educational Protest & Media Conference :
Media Advisory - For Immediate Release - Oct. 8, 2008Media contact - Gary Kinsman at 523-2205 or try 688-6224 (no messages).

Sudbury No Olympics on Stolen Land Educational Protest This Saturday

This Saturday, Oct. 11th, the Canadian Pacific Olympic Games promotional “Spirit” Train will be in Sudbury. As Clarissa Lassaline of Sudbury Against War and Occupation (SAWO) puts it: “The 2010 Olympics are taking place on unceeded indigenous land. Indigenous people of the unceeded Coast Salish territories have asked people in Sudbury to educate ourselves and to protest the Olympic “Spirit” train. While we are supportive of the athletes and performers who will be here on Saturday the 2010 Winter Olympics are taking place on stolen land and the organizing around them in the Vancouver area has seen major displays of corporate greed, the displacement of homeless and poor people and further assaults on the land rights of indigenous people.” This Thursday at 10am SAWO is holding a media conference to talk about why we are organizing the No Olympics on Stolen Land educational protest to be held this Saturday and to hear First nations elder, Barb Riley (non-colonized name Waubauno Kwe, professor emeritus Laurentian University Native Human Services) speak about the problems of holding the Olympics on Stolen Land and the dangers of the misuse of indigenous cultures and spirituality by the Olympic organizing committee.

The Saturday No Olympics on Stolen Land educational protest initiated by SAWO but involving other groups in the community will be opened by First Nations elder Winnie Pitawanakwet. It will include speakers, performers and music. It will start at 1pm at the north end of Market Square.

The organizing for the 2010 Winter Olympics has already led to:

** - the expansion of sport tourism and resource extraction on indigenous lands. There are over $5 billion worth of new resort and resort expansion plans around BC since the Olympic bid was granted. At Sun Peaks Resort alone, there have been over 50 arrests of indigenous people who have been opposing the $295 million expansion of the resort on their traditional territories. Elders and single mothers have been arrested, while Sun Peaks continues its expansion, destroying vital mountain ecosystems, and over-consuming water to produce artificial snow.

**- increasing homelessness and the gentrification of poor neighbourhoods especially in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. It is projected that the number of homeless in Vancouver will triple from 1000 homeless people in 2003 to over 3200 people by 2010. At present, over 1200 low income housing units have been lost in the Downtown Eastside alone since the Olympic bid in 2003. Meanwhile, real estate speculation and gentrification has led to a projected 1500 new market housing units, primarily condominiums for the wealthy, being built in the Downtown Eastside. The Vancouver Olympics Organizing Committee has set aside $500,000 for an emergency homelessness shelter "warehouse" that will only be open during the Games.

**- more privatization of public services

**- union busting through imposed contracts and vulnerable working conditions especially for migrant labour. There are an estimated 3,000-5,000 temporary migrant and undocumented workers in the Olympics-fueled and speculation driven construction industry. These workers are extremely vulnerable to exploitation, often get paid less than minimum wage, and are always living under the threat of deportation.

**- increased funding for the police, military and border control agents in the name of so-called national security. The 2010 Olympics security & policing budget is still climbing & currently estimated at $200 million. Sociologist David Lyon of Queen's University, has dubbed Vancouver 2010 "the Surveillance Games" since security operations will include over 13,000 RCMP, military & other security personnel as well as joint US-Canada military & North American Aerospace Defence Command operations.

**- ballooning public spending and public debt. The overall cost of the 2010 Games are currently budgeted at $6 billion. This budget is likely a gross underestimate as all the costs from facilities to policing keep going "over-budget". Costs for the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre alone have skyrocketed to almost $900 million.

**- unprecedented destruction of the environment. The corporate sponsors of the Olympic Games have some of the worst environmental and social practices on record. Petro-Canada is one of the most environmentally destructive of oil and gas companies; Hudson Bay Company has been responsible for the colonization of Indigenous land, Canadian Pacific played a central role in the colonization of Indigenous Land, General Electric is one of the world’s top three producers of military aircraft engines and a major producer of nuclear power plants, and Dow Chemical is the world’s second largest chemical manufacturer & cause of the Bhopal gas disaster in India. There is more background information attached.

For more information contact Gary Kinsman at 523-2205, 688-6224 (no messages) or at gkinsman@laurentian.ca

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Statimc Native Youth Movement International Statement: No 2010 Olympics on Native Land!:

Statimc Native Youth Movement Warrior Society

St’at’imc Nation, Tsalalh Territory

To Whom It May Concern:

Please accept this letter as a declaration of opposition to the upcoming Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Winter Olympics set to take place within traditional St’at’imc Borders. Many members of our Nation, including children, youth, elders and land users do not support the Olympics taking place in Whistler for many reasons.

First being that Whistler and many other towns, cities and municipalities are illegally occupied by foreigners and run by fraudulent government systems that oppress the original inhabitants, the St’at’imc People. These government systems are built to hold lands illegally and destroy entire ecosystems in order to gain profit for the already wealthy corporations.

In turn, the St’at’imc People are pushed aside while traditional hunting and fishing grounds; once used freely at will, then become Privatized, and/or “Crown Land.” Our people depend on migration of animals for basic survival and the teachings we pass onto our next generations. The people visiting our territory are tourists and do not depend on fish and deer for long hard winters. Many people who are impoverished depend solely on these animals to feed their families and the more people disrupt the delicate balance between the environment, animals and humans, the worse off surrounding tribes will be. This includes major health concerns including cancer, diabetes, substance abuse and spiritual well-being.

We, as Indian people of this territory need the balance of our Mother Earth in order to maintain strong ties to who we are as Original People.

The second issue at stake with the upcoming Olympics is the misuse of traditional cultural practices such as ceremony and song. Many of these practices by our people are meant to only be shared within the territory, and therefore to only be used by the original People of the St’at’imc Nation. Out of respect for all ancestors who carried these songs and ceremonies thus far, we need to keep the traditions strong by teaching them to our younger generations, instead of foreigners first. The knowledge of these traditional ceremonies is a privilege and should not be mocked or commercialized in exchange for money. If not respected, these ceremonies will be useless and meaningless.

The funding of the Olympics before the funding of the suffering, homeless and impoverished people of these Indian territories shows only that the government in B.C. is only interested in economic gain and not the well-being of the people who lived here prior to the Olympics. These groups of people include young mothers, single parents, people of color, and drug dependant people who have nowhere to turn, except the streets or worse off, death. The Indian people of the streets in Vancouver need to return to the traditional ways of living, including feeling pride to be Indian.

Further impoverishment will conclude in complete loss of culture, language and ways of living on our land. More money is sure to cause more problems for our people in the sense that our systems are not based on economic gain, but spiritual, physical, and mental well being, this includes a sense of belonging to where we come from. If our Land is destroyed, there is no hope to regain our knowledge as traditional St’at’imc People, but as a product of foreign rule and fraudulent systematic genocide.

To those who are supportive of the Olympics, there are many reasons for you to reconsider your support including the future of your children and the continuation of our ways as Original People. Selling our land, means selling our rights to the land, this includes hunting, fishing and building traditional homes for food preservation and recreational uses.

Once these agreements are made, they are forever, thus leaving our upcoming generations with no option but to abide by the foreign rule, and not to maintain ownership held for thousands of years by our ancestors.

In conclusion, man has no power over the Earth, we must care for this Land as though our lives depend on it, as it does. We depend on our Earth for water, food, homes, and spiritual well-being. There is no one to protect it but us, therefore we must take our proper place in defending the land as Original People.

In one way or the other, each of our tribes hold names that represent Original People. Our tribe, are Ucwalmicw, People of the Land, we will defend our land by all means necessary.

Sincerely,

Tsalalhmec

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Two days from now the Olympic Spirit Train is due to arrive in Mississauga, Ontario. Here is the callout for the protests in that city.

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Mississauga Mobilizes to Mob on 'Spirit Train' Oct. 13:
"DERAIL" THE SPIRIT TRAIN!
The Canadian Pacific Railway's (CP) "Spirit Train" is an Olympic propaganda machine spreading the ideals of capitalist colonialism across Turtle Island. The 2010 Winter Olympics are occurring onunceded First Nations land in British Columbia where they are causing widespread environmental damages, and are resulting in a massive social housing expropriation in Vancouver.

The train was launched Sunday Sept. 21, 2008, in Port Moody, B.C. where it was successfully disrupted by activists from the Olympic Resistance Network (ORN). Embarrassingly for the sponsors, the Spirit Train is still rolling across the country and the ORN and local counterparts are calling for protests and actions to disrupt the Spirit Train as it stops at locations across 'Canada'.
What: Decentralized Rally & Demonstrations
When: Monday October 13, 1-8pm
Where: Cooksville Go Transit Station, 3210 Hurontario St, Mississauga

The Spirit Train will be leaving Sudbury after Saturday the 11th, and arriving in Mississauga sometime Monday morning. VANOC (the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee) and CP have a full days worth of propaganda and entertainment planned on a stage from 1-8pm. Protests and demonstrations need to occur throughout the day in order to disrupt the event. If VANOC plans to spread its "Olympic Spirit" in our community, we will be there to show people what the Olympics really stands for; capitalism and colonialism, and we will be there to show our Spirit of Resistance. As we get even closer to the date, an announcement will be made about a rally point (and time), likely at Union Station in Toronto.

Email any questions or concerns to No2010@peaceculture.org

For more information about Olympic Resistance check out:

http://No2010.com
For more information about the spirit train check out:

http://www.cpspirittrain.com/

CANADIAN LABOUR-HALIFAX:

LET'S GO PREMIER:

In Winnipeg and in Halifax flight attendants continue to agitate against Air Canada's planned closure of their flight attendant bases. Down East the Premier of Nova Scotia has "made an offer", and flight attendants want to see if he will carry through on his promise. Here's the story from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

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Halifax flight attendants want to take Premier up on his offer:
(Halifax) – The union representing almost 200 Air Canada flight attendants based in Halifax wants to take Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald up on his offer from earlier this week.

CUPE Local 4090 President Lisa Vivian Anthony says, “The premier’s Communications Director said MacDonald supports retention of a base in Halifax and would be prepared to quote ‘jump on a plane’ and lead a delegation to Air Canada headquarters in Montreal.

“We’re saying to the premier, let’s go! Just name the date and the flight attendants will be there. With almost 200 jobs on the line, and the future of air travel in Atlantic Canada hanging in the balance, we fully support the idea of a business and all-party group, led by the premier, going to Air Canada to make the case for Atlantic Canada,” says Vivian Anthony.

CUPE Nova Scotia President Danny Cavanagh says, “We need to see some decisive leadership from the premier on this issue. It’s time Nova Scotia stood up to the corporate decision-makers and bean counters at Air Canada and reminded them that dependable air travel in Atlantic Canada is not a luxury – it’s a basic right.”

Says Cavanagh, “Without these highly trained individuals based out of Halifax, there is no doubt that Halifax flights will be more vulnerable to disruption by storms in Central Canada.”
“On behalf of the 187 workers and their families who will have their lives turned upside down by this decision, we anxiously await the premier’s reply,” says Cavanagh.

For information: Danny Cavanagh, CUPE N.S. President -(902) 957-0822 (Cell); Lisa Vivian Anthony, President, CUPE Local 4090 - 873-2307 (o); John McCracken, CUPE Communications Rep.- (902) 455-4180

MOUVEMENT ANARCHISTE DU CANADA/CANADIAN ANARCHIST MOVEMENT:


MANIFESTATION DEMAIN À MONTRÉAL- NORD/DEMONSTRATION TOMORROW IN MONTRÉAL-NORD:

! Douze raisons de descendre dans les rues de Montreal-Nord samedi prochain‏ :
[Veuillez publier et distribuer largement; encouragez TOUT LE MONDE à venir au Parc Pilon (coin Henri Bourassa & Pie IX) à Montréal-Nord, ce samedi (11octobre) à 14 h! Plus de renseignements à http://montrealnordrepublik.blogspot.com/ ]


[English version at:http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2008/10/12-reasons.html ]



[La version française avec des hyperliens :http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2008/10/12-raisons.html ]
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Ce samedi à 14 h, une foule diversifiée, représentant plusieurs segments de la population et des groupes populaires de Montréal, se rassemblera au ParcPilon de Montréal-Nord pour dénoncer la brutalité policière, et ce, dans le cadre d'une manifestation à caractère familial.



Cette manifestation revêt une très grande importance pour tous ceux et toutes celles qui luttent au quotidien CONTRE la pauvreté, le racisme et la brutalité policière, et POUR l'autonomie, l'organisation populaire, la justice et la dignité. Cette mobilisation survient seulement deux mois après le meurtre de Fredy Villanueva à Montréal-Nord, un an après la mort partaser de Quilem Registre à Saint-Michel, et un peu moins de trois ans aprèsla mort (toujours inexpliquée) d'Anas Bennis à Côte-des-Neiges. Ellesurvient par ailleurs dans un contexte où 43 personnes ont été tuées, parballe, électrocution ou bastonnade, par la police de Montréal au cours des 21 dernières années.


Les groupes et individus qui organisent la manifestation de samedi portent trois revendications principales: 1) une enquête publique et indépendante sur la mort de Fredy Villanueva; 2) la fin du profilage racial, des abus et de l'impunité policière; et 3) la reconnaissance du principe selon lequel tant qu'il y aura des inégalités économiques, il y aura de l'insécurité sociale.


Voici douze raisons de plus de descendre dans la rue ce samedi pour manifester. Veuillez publier ce texte et le distribuer largement, et faites tout ce que vous pouvez, AUJOURD'HUI (vendredi), pour encourager le plus grand nombre possible de vos parents, amies et connaissances à participer à la manifestation de samedi à Montréal-Nord.
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Douze raisons de descendre dans les rues de Montréal-Nord samedi prochain par jbswire@gmail.com
1) Briser la peur et l'isolement; 2) Confronter la politique de « diviserpour mieux régner » – 1è partie; 3) Dénoncer et contester les enquêtes policières… sur la police!; 4) Dénoncer les tentatives de la police d'entraver la transparence publique; 5) Dénonçons la diffamation des victimes par la police et les médias; 6) "Les 43 raisons"; 7) Les émeutes deMontréal-Nord étaient justifiées; 8) Accommode donc ça!; 9) Confronter la politique de « diviser pour mieux régner » – 2è partie; 10) Dénoncer les «gardiens communautaires » vendus; 11) Soutenons les efforts d'organisationde la base; 12) Pour un pouvoir populaire


[La version française avec des hyperliens :
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2008/10/12-raisons.html ]


Première raison :
Briser la peur et l'isolement Il n'est ni simple ni facile de confronter la brutalité et l'impunité policières. En tant que bras armé de l'État, la police dispose d'un énorme pouvoir. Chacun de leur côté, les individus vivent quotidiennement les abus policiers, la brutalité et le profilage racial, mais ont souvent peur des'exprimer contre les abus de pouvoir. Quand nous choisissons de le faire,nous ne disposons pas des ressources nécessaires pour affronter efficacement la police et le gouvernement, et nous nous retrouvons marginalisés autant par les groupes dominants que par les « faux jetons » communautaires payés par le gouvernement. La manifestation de samedi est une occasion exceptionnelle de nous rassembler, de défaire collectivement les barrières invisibles entre nous, de briser la peur et l'isolement qui nous étouffent trop souvent, et de nous tenir debout ensemble pour porter des revendications justes et légitimes.
Deuxième raison : Confronter la politique de « diviser pour mieux régner » –1è partie
Jeudi dernier (le 9 octobre), le Journal de Montréal titrait en manchette «Les agitateurs s'en mêlent ». Cette sortie constitue une tentative à peinevoilée, de la part de la police et de leurs alliés au sein des médias capitalistes, de créer une division entre les différents groupes qui se sont unis pour dénoncer la brutalité policière. Le fait est que la police et les représentants du gouvernement craignent l'émergence d'une véritable unité entre les groupes luttant pour la justice sociale sur le terrain et les divers mouvements populaires et communautaires qui se sont réunis pour soutenir les revendications de la manifestation de samedi. Montrons aux bobardiers jaunes du Journal de Montréal, et à leurs amis de la police, quenous refusons d'être divisés. Troisième raison : Dénoncer et contester les enquêtes policières… sur lapolice!
Le maire Tremblay, ainsi qu'un assortiment de politiciens et de soi-disant leaders, invite constamment la population à retenir son jugement sur l'affaire Villanueva jusqu'à ce que les résultats de l'enquête soient rendus publics. Mais les enquêtes portant sur des meurtres commis par des policiers sont toujours menées par un autre corps policier. Nous sommes censés faire confiance à la Sûreté de Québec (SQ) pour enquêter de façon impartiale sur la police de Montréal. Il s'agit de la même SQ qui, à plusieurs reprises, hier comme aujourd'hui, s'est avérée corrompue et déloyale : de l'Affaire Matticks, où les policiers furent impliqués dans des activités illégales, aux récentes manifestations à Montebello, où la SQ avait infiltré des agents provocateurs pour ensuite mentir publiquement sur la nature de leur opération. C'est la même SQ qui, il y a quelques jours à peine, n'a pas hésité à employer des gaz lacrymogènes et du poivre de Cayenne pour violemment réprimer une manifestation légitime de quelques dizaines d'Algonquins (y compris des enfants!) à Lac Barrière, dans le Parc de la Vérendrye. Il existe entre les policiers un esprit de « fraternité »,similaire à l'omerta qui règne dans la mafia, qui les empêche de traiter et punir justement les méfaits commis par leurs confrères et les incite à se protéger les uns les autres.
Quatrième raison : Dénoncer les tentatives de la police d'entraver la transparence publique

Lorsque des enquêtes un tant soit peu indépendantes sont menées pour faire la lumière sur des meurtres policiers, les flics font tout ce qu'ils peuvent pour les saboter. Près de trois ans après le meurtre de Mohamed Anas Bennis,et après une longue campagne de pression menée par la famille Bennis, une enquête de coroner a finalement été commandée pour éclaircir les circonstances entourant la mort du jeune homme. Cependant, la Fraternité des policiers et policières de Montréal a décidé de poursuivre en justice le coroner et la famille Bennis pour empêcher que l'enquête n'ait lieu. Les policiers, avec leurs avocats grassement payés, ont toujours systématiquement cherché à saboter tous les efforts, même les plus modestes,visant à combattre l'impunité et à les rendre responsables de leurs méfaits.
Cinquième raison : Dénonçons la diffamation des victimes par la police etles médias
Récemment, l'avocat de Giovanni Stante, un agent de la police de Montréal impliqué dans le meurtre de Jean-Pierre Lizotte en 1999, a fait paraître une lettre dans la Presse et la Gazette, dans laquelle il écrivait que Lizotte n'a pas été victime de brutalité policière. L'essentiel de la lettre visait manifestement à salir la réputation de ce dernier. Lizotte n'est plus làpour se défendre, mais cela n'empêche pas les avocats des flics (et les médias) de diffamer des personnes qui ont été tuées par la police. Desqu'en-dira-t-on et des rumeurs ont aussi été utilisés contre d'autres victimes de brutalité policière. La manifestation de samedi est l'occasion de montrer notre solidarité avec ceux qui ont été abattus, puis diffamés par la police.
Sixième raison : "Les 43 raisons"
Anthony Griffin, Jose Carlos Garcia, Yvon Lafrance, Leslie Presley, Paul McKinnon, Jorge Chavarria-Reyes, Fabien Quienty, Yvan Dugas, Marcellus François, Armand Fernandez, Osmond Fletcher, Trevor Kelly, Yvon Asselin,Richard Barnabé, Paolo Romanelli, Martin Suazo, Philippe Ferraro, Nelson Perreault, Daniel Bélair, Michel Mathurin, Richard Whaley, Yvan Fond-Rouge,Jean-Pierre Lizotte, Luc Aubert, Sébastien McNicoll, Michael Kibbe, Michel Morin, Michel Berniquez, Rohan Wilson, Benoît Richer, Mohamed Anas Bennis,Quilem Registre, Fredy Villaneuva ... et dix autres personnes dont le nom de meure inconnu. Ensemble, ce sont les 43 personnes tuées par la police de Montréal au cours des 21 dernières années. La marche de samedi est dédiée àtoutes les victimes et survivantes de la brutalité policière.
Septième raison : Les émeutes de Montréal-Nord étaient justifiées
La manifestation de samedi sera à caractère familial. Elle permettra à toute sorte de personnes, issues de plusieurs segments de la communauté, de se rassembler pour dénoncer la brutalité policière. Mais cela ne signifie pasque nous devrions éviter de répéter que le soulèvement de la communauté quia eu lieu suite au meurtre de Fredy Villanueva, en août dernier, était parfaitement justifié. Les politiciens et les médias ont vraiment travaillé fort pour essayer de marquer une division entre les « bons manifestants »(les « gardiens communautaires » qui restent dociles et inoffensifs) et les« mauvais manifestants » (celles et ceux qui passent à l'action directe). La manifestation de samedi est une façon de démontrer clairement notre solidarité avec tous les résidents de Montréal-Nord, y compris les émeutes qui furent une expression justifiée de notre colère et de notre rage collective contre la brutalité policière.
Huitième raison : Accommode donc ça!
Pendant les « débats » xénophobes sur les prétendus accommodements raisonnables au Québec, on a plus ou moins demandé aux immigrants de justifier leur présence au Québec. Un policier de Montréal à même eu l'audace d'en registrer une chanson (qu'on a pu entendre sur YouTube)invitant les personnes issues de groupes minoritaires à « crisser leur camp» et à « retourner chez eux ». Le soi-disant débat sur les accommodements raisonnables n'a servi qu'à obscurcir les vrais enjeux et à défaire l'unité et la solidarité que nous partageons, en tant que travailleurs et travailleuses, pauvres, immigrants et immigrantes, personnes queer et trans et autres groupes minoritaires, dans la lutte pour une véritable justicesociale. Ce faux débat nous a écarté de la lutte unifiée contre la pauvreté, la précarité, le racisme et le profilage racial. La manifestation de samedi est aussi l'occasion de dire aux éléments racistes et xénophobes de la société québécoise, parfaitement représentés par les flics : Accommodez doncça! (c.-à-d., allez donc vous faire foutre!)
Neuvième raison: Confronter la politique de « diviser pour mieux régner » –2è partie
Dans leurs tactiques sales visant à diviser pour régner, les flics ont visité plusieurs organismes communautaires pour leur demander s'ils sont impliqués dans l'organisation de la manifestation. Plusieurs organismes dela communauté se sont clairement positionnés contre les abus policiers, et la réponse du SPVM a été de recourir à l'intimidation et de répandre des ragots pour diaboliser certains manifestants prétendument radicaux. Nous devons dénoncer de telles tactiques policières visant à marginaliser les groupes et individus qui, par principe, s'opposent à l'impunité policière.
Dixième raison : Dénoncer les « gardiens communautaires » vendus
Tous les paliers de gouvernement fournissent des sommes substantielles d'argent à des organismes soi-disant communautaires pour qu'ils soient en mesure d'offrir certains services de base. L'un des principaux « services »de ces organismes est d'agir à titre de « gardiens » de la communauté pour empêcher ou saboter toute forme d'organisation de la base en faveur de la justice. Les soi-disant « tables de concertation » présentes dans plusieurs quartiers de la ville (financées par la Ville de Montréal), ou les coalitions bidon comme « Solidarité Montréal-Nord » (également mise sur pied par la Ville) n'existent en fait que pour noyer le poisson et atténuer le sens des revendications très claires énoncées par les membres de la communauté pour refléter leurs réalités. Ces « gardiens » dociles se refusent à dénoncer clairement le racisme, le profilage racial et la brutalité policière. Ils ont pris un rôle d'avant plan, après la mort de Fredy Villanueva, en dénonçant la « violence » sans jamais, pourtant, dénoncer clairement la violence policière. Ces groupes n'ont aucun problème à s'afficher avec des politiciens comme Marcel Parent, Gérard Tremblay ou Denis Coderre. Ces groupes sont en fait des terreaux fertiles pour les futurs politiciens, tous partis confondus, qui vont poursuivre leur carrière en ce sens et continuer à nous fourrer d'une façon ou d'une autre. La manifestation de samedi est hors de la portée des dociles « gardiens communautaires », et c'est précisément ce qui dérange tellement les flics et les politiciens! Énervons-les encore plus en nous mobilisant en grands nombres!
Onzième raison : Soutenons les efforts d'organisation de la base
Contrairement aux organismes communautaires bidon (financés par le gouvernement) et leurs petits amis politiciens, plusieurs individus et collectifs sont engagés dans divers efforts d'organisation communautaire autonomes, fondés sur les revendications qui ressortent des réalités vécues dans les communautés pauvres et marginalisées. Ce type d'organisation est loin d'être facile. Nous avons peu de ressources et, à travers nos efforts quotidiens pour survivre, il est parfois difficile de trouver le temps nécessaire à la mobilisation. Pourtant, plusieurs réseaux de base,particulièrement Montréal-Nord Républik et Mères et Grand-mères pour la vie et la justice, ont courageusement pris la parole pour dénoncer clairement et ouvertement l'impunité policière.
Douzième raison : Pour un pouvoir populaire
Notre véritable pouvoir réside dans notre capacité à nous unir, à rompre la peur et l'isolement, à nommer notre ennemi commun et à le confronter, unis dans nos convictions pour la justice sociale et la dignité. La manifestation de samedi est vraiment autonome, au-delà de la portée des faux jetons communautaires et des politiciens. Cette manifestation répond directe mentaux revendications que nous portons et sentons en nous au jour le jour. Cette initiative est un modèle que nous devrions suivre pour continuer à nous organiser ensemble, dans nos communautés et dans l'union de nos diverses communautés. Ce n'est qu'un début ...
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RAPPEL :
Rassemblons-nous au Parc Pilon, au coin d' Henri-Bourassa et Pie-IX, avant 14 h, ce samedi 11 octobre; beau temps, mauvais temps. Soyez-y! Amenez vosenfants et amies!


Pour se rendre au lieu de départ de la manifestation (parc Pilon), vous pouvez:
-> vous rendre au métro Pie-IX et prendre l'autobus 139 nord jusqu'à la rue d'Amos, qui est face au parc Pilon;
-> vous rendre au métro Henri-Bourassa et prendre l'autobus 69 est jusqu'à la rue Gariépy, qui est l'arrêt tout juste avant le boul. Pie-IX, en face duparc Pilon.
written and distributed by jbswire@gmail.com
traduction par patcad. merci sofia. a guru collaboration.
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! 12 Reasons to take to the streets of Montreal-Nord this Saturday‏:
[Please post and forward widely; encourage EVERYONE you know to be at ParcPilon (Henri Bourassa & Pie-IX) in Montreal-Nord this Saturday at 2pm! More info at http://montrealnordrepublik.blogspot.com ]



[La version française:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2008/10/12-raisons.html ]


[English version with hyperlinks:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2008/10/12-reasons.html ]
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This coming Saturday at 2pm at Parc Pilon in Montreal-Nord, a diverse cross-section of Montreal groups and individuals are coming together to denounce police brutality as part of a child-friendly demonstration.


This is a crucial protest for all those who oppose poverty, racism and police brutality, as well as support autonomous, grassroots organizing for real justice and dignity. It comes just two months after the killing of Fredy Villaneuva in Montreal-Nord, one year after the tasering death of Quilem Registre in St-Michel, and more than two years after the unexplained shooting death of Anas Bennis in Côte-des-neiges. It comes in a context where 43 people have been killed by the bullets or electric shocks of the Montreal police in just 21 years.



There are three main demands for this Saturday's demonstration: 1) a public and independent inquiry into the death of Fredy Villaneuva; 2) an end to racial profiling and to police abuses and impunity; 3) the recognition of the principle that as long as there is economic inequality there will be social insecurity.


Below are 12 more reasons to get out and demonstrate this Saturday. Please post and forward widely, and do make a final effort TODAY (Friday) to encourage your networks and contacts to attend this Saturday.


Police partout, justice nulle part! No justice, no peace!
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12 Reasons to take to the streets of Montreal-Nord this Saturdayby jbswire@gmail.com
1) Breaking down fear and isolation; 2) Oppose "divide and rule" – Part 1;3) Oppose police investigating other police; 4) Oppose police attempts to shut down public transparency; 5) Oppose police and media smears of police killing victims; 6) "The 43 Reasons"; 7) The Montreal-Nord riots were justified; 8) Accommodate This!; 9) Oppose "divide and rule" – Part 2: 10)Oppose sellout "community" gatekeepers: 11) Support grassroots community organizing; 12) For People Power
[English version with hyperlinks:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2008/10/12-reasons.html ]
1) Breaking down fear and isolation
It's not easy to confront police brutality and impunity. The police have tremendous power, as the armed force of the state. Individuals experience police abuses, brutality, and racial profiling on a daily basis, but are often too afraid to speak out. When we do speak out, we lack the resources to effectively take on the cops and government, and are marginalized by both mainstream groups as well as government-paid community hacks. This Saturday's demonstration is one clear way that we can all, collectively, come together to break down the fear and isolation we so often feel, and instead stand united behind clear demands for justice.
2) Oppose "divide and rule" – Part 1
This past Thursday's cover story in Le Journal -- "Les Agitateurs s'enmêlent" -- is a transparent attempt by the police and their media allies to create divisions between the diverse groups that have come together to denounce police brutality. The police and government officials fear the emerging unity between grassroots, on-the-ground social justice groups and movements that have converged in support of the clear and powerful demands of this Saturday's demonstration. Let's show the hacks at Le Journal, and their cop friends, that we refuse to be divided.
3) Oppose police investigating other police
Mayor Tremblay and all kinds of other politicians and so-called community leaders have constantly urged the public to refrain from judgment in the killing of Fredy Villanueva until the "investigation" has been completed. But, all the so-called investigations into police killings involve one squad of police investigating another. We are now supposed to trust the Surête de Québec (SQ) to fairly investigate the Montreal police. This is the same SQ that has it own corrupt and deceitful past and present – from the "Matticks Affair" where police officers were involved in illegal activities, to the recent Montebello protests where SQ officers acted as agent-provocateurs and tried to lie about it afterwards. Most recently, this past Monday, the SQ riot squad attacked members of the Lac Barrière Algonquin Community, using tear gas and pepper spray even against children. There is a mafia-like"brotherhood" between cops that prevents them from ever honestly bringing any of their members to true justice, and gives them an incentive tocover-up each other's abuses.
4) Oppose police attempts to shut down public transparency
When there are quasi-independent inquiries into police killings, the cops try to shut them down. More than two years after the police killing of Anas Bennis, and after a long public campaign led by the Bennis family, a corner's inquest was called to investigate the reasons for Anas' death. However, as they've done in other cases, the Fraternité des policiers et policières de Montréal have gone to court and sued the coroner and the Bennis family themselves, to try to shut the inquiry down. The police and their expensive lawyers have consistently tried to shut down even the most modest efforts at accountability.
5) Oppose police and media smears of police killing victims
Recently, the lawyer for Montreal police officer Giovanni Stante, who was involved in the killing of homeless man Jean-Pierre Lizotte in 1999, wrote in both the Montreal Gazette and La Presse, claiming that Lizotte was not a victim of police brutality, and proceeding to smear Jean-Pierre Lizotte's reputation. Lizotte is not around to defend himself, but that doesn't stop cop lawyers (and the media) from smearing the people killed by the cops. Innuendo and rumours have been used against other victims of police brutality. This Saturday's demonstration is an occasion to stand in solidarity with, and give voice to, all those who have been shot down and smeared by the cops.
6) "The 43 Reasons"
Anthony Griffin, Jose Carlos Garcia, Yvon Lafrance, Leslie Presley, Paul McKinnon, Jorge Chavarria-Reyes, Fabien Quienty, Yvan Dugas, Marcellus François, Armand Fernandez, Osmond Fletcher, Trevor Kelly, Yvon Asselin, Richard Barnabé, Paolo Romanelli, Martin Suazo, Philippe Ferraro, Nelson Perreault, Daniel Bélair, Michel Mathurin, Richard Whaley, Yvan Fond-Rouge,Jean-Pierre Lizotte, Luc Aubert, Sébastien McNicoll, Michael Kibbe, Michel Morin, Michel Berniquez, Rohan Wilson, Benoît Richer, Mohamed Anas Bennis,Quilem Registre, Fredy Villaneuva ... and 10 more individuals, women and men, whose names remain unknown. Together, they represent the 43 people killed by the Montreal cops in the last 21 years. Saturday's march is for all victims and survivors of police brutality.
7) The Montreal-Nord riots were justified
This Saturday's demonstration is child-friendly. It will allow for all kinds of folks to come together in opposition to police brutality. But, that does not mean we should shy away from defending the justified community uprising that took place in the aftermath of Fredy Villaneuva's death in August. Politicians and media have worked overtime to attempt to divide "good"protesters (the community gatekeepers who stay docile and harmless) from the"bad" protesters" (those who are willing to take direct action). Saturday's demonstration is one way to clearly show solidarity with Montreal-Nord, including the riots that were a justified expression of our collective anger and rage against police brutality.
8) Accommodate This!
During the xenophobic "debates" around reasonable accommodation in Quebec, immigrants were essentially being asked to justify their presence in Quebec.A Montreal cop even recorded a song – played on youtube – telling people from minority groups to "crisser vos camps" and "retournez chez toi". The reasonable accommodation debate clouded and confused the unity and solidarity we share -- as workers, poor, women, queer and trans people,migrants, and others -- fighting together to achieve real justice. It distracted from our unity together in confronting poverty, precarity, racism and racial profiling. This Saturday's protest is another occasion to tell the xenophobic and racist elements of Quebec society – most embodied by the cops – to accommodate this! (ie. "go fuck yourselves").
9) Oppose "divide and rule" – Part 2
As part of their divide and rule tactics, the cops have also been visiting community organizations, asking about their involvement in the demonstration this coming Saturday. Many community groups have taken a clear stance against police abuses, and the police response has been to intimidate behind the scenes, as well as to start a whispering campaign to denounce so-called radical protesters. We must refuse these police tactics to marginalize the groups and individuals that have taken principled stances against police impunity.
10) Oppose sellout "community" gatekeepers
Various levels of government provide substantial money to so-called"community" organizations to provide basic services. One of the primary"services" of these groups is to act as "gatekeepers" preventing and sabotaging grassroots organizing for justice. The so-called "tables de concertation" in various neighborhoods (funded by the City of Montreal), or fake coalitions like "Solidarité Montreal-Nord" (also set-up by the City) basically exist to dilute clear demands that speak to the reality of our communities. These gatekeepers refuse to clearly denounce racism, racial profiling and police brutality, and have taken on a prominent role after the death of Fredy Villaneuva, by denouncing "violence" without ever clearly denouncing police violence. They are groups comfortable marching with politicians like Marcel Parent, Gerard Tremblay and Denis Coderre. These groups are basically breeding grounds for the politicians from all political parties that will go on to screw us over in other ways. This Saturday's demonstration is beyond the grasp of the compliant gatekeepers, which is why it annoys the cops and government so much. Let's annoy them even more with a huge turnout!
11) Support grassroots community organizing
In contrast to the fake community organizations (who are paid by government money) and their politician friends, diverse individuals and groups have engaged in autonomous, grassroots organizing, based on demands that come from our lived realities in poor and marginalized communities. This kind of organizing is not easy. We lack resources, and it's hard to find time to mobilize with our day-to-day grind for survival. But still, various on-the-ground networks, most notably Montréal-Nord Républik and Mères et Grandmères pour la vie et la justice, have courageously spoken out clearly and openly against police impunity.
12) For People Power
Our real power lies in our ability to unify, to break through fear and isolation, to name our enemy, and to confront it, united in our principlesfor social justice and dignity. This Saturday's protest is truly autonomous ,beyond the sway of government-paid community hacks and politicians. It responds to the demands we know and feel daily. This Saturday's protest is one model for how we should continue to organize together, within our communities, and united between communities. Ce n'est qu'un début ...
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Final Reminder:
Get to Parc Pilon, at the corner of Henri-Bourassa & Pie-IX by no later than 2pm this Saturday, October 11. Rain or shine, be there. Bring your kids! Bring your friends!
[To get to Parc Pilon, you can:
-> from Henri-Bourassa metro, take Bus #69 east until rue Gariépy, the stop just before boulevard Pie-IX, in front of Parc Pilon;
-> or, from Pie-IX metro, take Bus #139 north until rue Amos, in front of Parc Pilon.]
written and distributed by jbswire@gmail.com
traduction par patcad. merci sofia. a guru collaboration.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-COLOMBIA:

SUPPORT STRIKING COLOMBIAN SUGAR CANE WORKERS:

The following item is from the international union federation the IUF.

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Support Striking Colombian Sugar Cane Workers!:

Some eighteen thousand Colombian sugar workers in the Cauca river valley region, organized in the National Union of Sugarcane Cutters (SINALCORTEROS) have been on strike since September 15. The IUF is requesting international support for their struggle.

While sugar ethanol production is booming and the mill owners reap super profits fortified by tax exemptions, the condition of the cane cutters continues to worsen steadily. The sugar workers of Valle del Cauca receive poverty wages for a workday stretching to 14 hours a day or more, 7 days a week. The work is debilitating, injuries and occupational diseases are widespread, and the living and working environment and drinking water are heavily polluted by pesticides.

The cane cutters are employed through the bogus "cooperatives" promoted by the Colombian government in order to free the actual employers of any obligations for collective bargaining and health and retirement benefits, which workers must pay out of pocket. These "cooperatives" supply the mills and ethanol plants (located in Free Trade Zones benefiting from additional tax breaks) with a vast army of contracted labour.

On July 14, the union presented a charter of demands to the mill and ethanol plant owners' association ASOCAÑA on July 14, calling for a living wage, reduced hours, an improved living, health and educational environment and the replacement of the fake cooperatives with formal work contracts, union recognition and a collective bargaining agreement.

The demands were ignored for two months, and the union took strike action on September 15. The government and employer response was to use police violence to clear the mills of striking workers.

The striking workers and their union have received strong support and messages of solidarity from IUF affiliates in the region and in the global sugar sector. Through the website of the IUF Latin American regional secretariat, you can add your support by sending a message to the government of Colombia and to the employers' association ASOCAÑA. The message calls on the the government to intervene immediately to bring the employers to the negotiating table to discuss the union demands presented on July 14.

To send a message in English, click here.

To send a message in Spanish, click here.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS:

LISTERIOSIS ROUND 2:

Since September 17th the Maple Leaf Foods plant at the centre of the recent listeriosis outbreak in Canada has been reopened, and it is now processing meats even though the release of the product has still not been authorized. In the meantime, two days ago, the CFIA has also announced a recall of Dunn's Famous brand smoked meats distributed to Costco stores in Québec, Ottawa and the Atlantic provinces.

Today,however, it came to light that intensive testing has shown that foods from the Maple Leaf plant are still occasionally contaminated by Listeria. See the article below from today's Globe and Mail.

Company spokesman Michael McCain rushed to put a positive spin on matters. You can see the basic story of his reply in an article from the Windsor Star today. The main thrust of his argument is that "listeria is everywhere", and that we inevitably consume the bacteria everyday. I guess this means that we shouldn't worry about it if it appears in his plant. The good gentleman made some rather "weaselly" comparisons to the positive rate in the Maple Leaf plant and other surveys in Canada and the USA where sampling was done at the point of sale. In actual fact US law requires that there be no listeria at the point of production, as already pointed out on this blog. Sampling days later after transport and the opportunity for the bacteria to multiply would inevitably lead to a higher positive rate. What McCain is actually saying is that his company should be allowed to slip back into a less intensive regime of testing because somehow Listeria is ubiquitous. Molly would suggest that the opposite is true, that this "trial run" shows that the Maple Leaf plant should remain under permanent high levels of testing and supervision. They have proven, after all, that they cannot achieve the standards required , and achieved,across the border, and this says that the only way to assure the safety of their product is to keep the present testing regime. Perhaps make it even tighter.

The report of McCain's press release on the radio today was even more bizarre than what was reported in the Windsor Star. Molly will try and search down the full text, in the hopes it hasn't been altered by after the fact proof-reading. Really, the proof-reading should have been done before issuing the statement. There were some real howlers there. Is Listeria really "the oldest organism on Earth" ? Cough,cough !. Then there was the Maoesque statement that ""Listeria is benign to the masses". Glad to hear that Chairman McCain, and assuredly it isn't the "primary contradiction". Wellllllll, I guess the "masses" don't include AIDS patients, organ transplant recipients, diabetics, old people, pregnant women, and newborn babies. The fate of such "running dogs" shouldn't impede the great and glorious march to profitability of the 'Peoples' Maple Leaf Party' , relying on Mao TseCain Thought. Wow, I love it.

Anyways, here's the article from the Globe and Mail. Do check in at the Food Safety First website for breaking news on this front as it develops.

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Listeriosis bacteria found at Toronto plant:
Four new positive tests confirmed in samples of meat at reopened Maple Leaf site
BILL CURRY
October 9, 2008
OTTAWA -- Four new positive tests for listeriosis have been confirmed in samples of meat at the Maple Leaf plant at the centre of the outbreak that has left 20 Canadians dead.

The plant was allowed to reopen on Sept. 17, but no product has so far been allowed to enter the market.

Yesterday federal officials from the Prime Minister's Office, the Privy Council Office and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency met to discuss the new findings that the bacteria is still present in the plant.

Since the plant resumed production, there have been 2,700 product samples and four positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes.

Paul Mayers, associate vice-president of the CFIA, confirmed the results in a telephone interview with The Globe and Mail.

"We've just received results related to these four positives," Mr. Mayers said. "The plant is operating. The product isn't reaching the marketplace.

"We will, with Health Canada, conduct an assessment to assess what these findings might mean in terms of the ongoing activities in the plant and whether any additional measures would be necessary in relation to product from that plant. Of course, that assessment has not yet been conducted."

He said CFIA and Health Canada will now do a full assessment and evaluation of the positive findings.

Mr. Mayers confirmed that the CFIA informed both the Privy Council Office and the PMO about the positive findings and said both agencies are regularly in the loop on new developments related to listeria.

The findings, which were posted last night on the CFIA's website in the wake of inquiries from The Globe, come as the public service is under orders not to create waves during the federal election campaign.

Bob Kingston, president of the Agriculture Union representing CFIA inspectors, said he was "flabbergasted" by the positive tests, given the scrutiny the plant is under. "It's mind-boggling. They're cleaning up their place with the whole world watching and they still don't get it right?"
The union leader said the findings underscore his organization's campaign to block efforts to transfer certain food safety responsibilities to industry.

The most recent government announcement related to listeriosis was a recall issued Tuesday by CFIA, warning the public not to eat certain Dunn's Famous brand smoked meat pouches that were distributed to Costco in Quebec, Ottawa and the Atlantic provinces.

To date, there have been 20 deaths where listeriosis was the underlying or contributing cause, another three deaths where listeriosis was present and a further six deaths in Ontario that are still under investigation.

The latest development comes as the outbreak has already become an issue in the federal election campaign. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was forced to apologize earlier in the campaign for joking about the issue during an internal government conference call. In that call, Mr. Ritz reportedly said the government was suffering a death by a thousand cuts, "or should I say cold cuts."

Since the outbreak began, there have also been numerous news media reports based on government documents either leaked to the news media or obtained through access to information requests showing concern had been expressed internally about the quality of food safety in Canada.

On Sept. 6, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced an independent investigation into the listeria outbreak, which traced back to a Maple Leaf meat plant in Toronto. The government has yet to name the head of the investigation, but has released terms of reference.

The investigation will not be allowed to come to conclusions regarding the civil or criminal liability of any person or organization.

AMERICAN LABOUR:

THE GUBERNATOR STRIKES-FARM LABOUR BILL TERMINATED:

The following news item is from the American United Farm Workers. Despite a torrid summer in which six farm workers died in California of heat stroke the governor of that state, Arnold Schwarzenegger, vetoed a bill that would have reformed the union representation elections and given farm workers the tools they need to ensure decent working conditions. The Governor, in his veto, expressed confidence that the state's labour standards were being enforced, but the facts say otherwise. See the story below.

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Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoes AB 2386, secret ballot election reform:
We need to share some very disappointing news with you and then ask you to e-mail Gov. Schwarzenegger and let him know how you feel. Last week, the Governor vetoed AB 2386, a vital bill to reform secret ballot elections for farm workers. With this single stroke of his pen, the governor denied farm workers the tool they need to protect themselves. While we are disappointed with the Governor's veto, sadly we are not surprised.

When the governor vetoed a bill with similar goals last year, his veto message said:

"I am directing my Labor and Workforce Development Agency to work with the proponents of this bill to ensure that all labor laws and regulations are being vigorously enforced, and to make it absolutely clear to all concerned that my veto is premised on an expectation that agricultural workers receive the full protections of the law."

Tragically this has not happened. During the black summer of 2008, as many as six farm workers died due to heat-related causes.

Governor Schwarzenegger's enforcement has not saved lives. And his administration has not "rigorously enforced" the law. In May of this year, 17-year old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez died of heat illness, working for Merced Farm Labor. The Associated Press reported that the state ignored collecting the fine on Merced Farm Labor for not complying with heat regulations back in 2006. Worse, the state also did not perform follow-up inspections.

Consequently, young Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez died while working at a company that provided no shade, did not have adequate water, and had no emergency plan in place. All due to the same type of negligence Cal-OSHA had fined the same company for in 2006. After Maria Isabel's death, the Governor boasted that enforcement was at its highest level. Yet sadly, the lives of five more farm workers were lost this past summer.

In last week's veto message, the Governor says he can enforce the laws. But his words ring hollow. The support of poor farm workers means so much less to him than the support of big money agricultural interests. We also know that had it not been for the Governor's fundraising agenda, or had we been a rich organization the Governor may have been willing to sign a bill for farm workers.
Please e-mail the Governor today!

http://www.ufwaction.org/ct/EpzuCuF19PG_/takeaction

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THE LETTER:

Please click on one of links above to send the following letter to Governor Schwarzenegger:

You're no different than Gov. Pete Wilson when it comes to Latinos. I'm very disappointed in you.

After the death of 17-year old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez you said, "Maria's death should have been prevented, and all Californians must do everything in their power to ensure no other worker suffers the same fate." You promised to "work together in California to prevent this from happening to anyone else."

Instead you vetoed the very bill that could give farm workers a voice to protect themselves.

Just like when you vetoed a bill with similar goals last year, you said you would step up regulatory enforcement.

However, since you made your original promise last year, as many as six farm workers died due to heat-related causes during the black summer of 2008.

Your enforcement has not saved lives. And your administration has not "rigorously enforced" the law. In May of this year, 17-year old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez died of heat illness, working for Merced Farm Labor. The Associated Press reported that the state ignored collecting the fine on Merced Farm Labor for not complying with heat regulations back in 2006. Worse, the state also did not perform follow-up inspections.

Consequently, young Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez died while working at a company that provided no shade, did not have adequate water, and had no emergency plan in place. All due to the same type of negligence Cal-OSHA had fined the same company for in 2006. After Maria Isabel's death, you boasted that enforcement was at its highest level. Yet sadly, the lives of five more farm workers were lost this past summer.

Your words ring hollow. The support of poor farm workers means so much less to you than the support of big money agricultural interests. I believe if had it not been for your fundraising agenda, or if the UFW was a rich organization you may have been willing to sign a bill for farm workers instead of again putting their lives in jeopardy.

I'm disappointed in you. I expected better.

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-ECUADOR:

ANARCHISTS IN ECUADOR:

The following interview with the Anarcho-communist group "15 de November" was conducted by Jose Antonio Gutiérrez D. and was recently published at the Anarkismo site. As the international anarchist movement continues to expand, becoming in essense the only far left opposition to neo-liberalism the anarchist movement is being reborn in country after country. Ecuador is one of these.

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The revolutionary struggle and social reform in Ecuador:
by José Antonio Gutiérrez D.
An interview with a comrade from the Grupo Anarco-Comunista "15 de Noviembre"
The following interview was made in July and August 2008 with a member of the "15th November" Anarchist Communist Group, a recently-formed libertarian group in Ecuador, which among other things publishes the magazine "Chasqui Anarquista" with other anarchists, of which two issues have so far come out. In this interview, we tried to find out a little about the origins of the libertarian movement in Ecuador and understand how anarchist communists feel about the social reforms being carried out by Rafael Correa's government. [Castellano]

The revolutionary struggle and social reform in Ecuador:
An interview with a comrade from the Grupo Anarco-Comunista "15 de Noviembre"

Q.To begin with, comrades, can you tell us about the 15th November Group and how it was formed?

Hi, comrades! The "15th November" Anarchist Communist Group is a specific organization which was set up about two years ago. It came about as a result of a process involving groups like RxL (Reincidiendo por la Libertad), ACL (Autonomía Cultural Libertaria), the Biblioteca Popular de la Casa del Obrero "Ateneo Libertario", and from a process of political maturity that went beyond the notion of a synthesis. We have been strongly influenced by the great work carried on by the comrades of the Platform of Russian Anarchists, Georges Fontenis' Libertarian Communist Manifesto and also Mikhail Bakunin. Our vision was of Revolutionary, Class-Struggle, Materialist and Dialectic Anarchism. But we also believe that it is essential to study the values and practices of our ancestors, as much of this had an explicitly libertarian basis. We seek to bring Anarchism back to the people, who have forgotten it over the past 60 years or more. We involve ourselves among the working-class and on various fronts where we can make a difference, struggle, organize and bring new militants together in some way.

Q.Why did you choose your name?

The name was chosen in honour of all those workers who were killed during the general strike on 15 November 1922 in the city of Guayaquil, due to the rise in the dollar and the drop in cacao prices, on which the country's economy was based at the time. The strike was called by the FTRE (Federación de Trabajadores Regional del Ecuador)[1], an anarcho-syndicalist organization whose origins go back to the early years of the century, with a membership of about 30,000 workers in various sectors.

Our idea is to rescue this struggle from a large sector of the left, that denies or hides its revolutionary, anarchist origin. Also because it was one of greatest demonstrations in history of what the Ecuadorian working people can do and the best demonstration of anarchist combativeness. And with that great example and the valour of so many workers, to continue this wonderful task, so that their lives will not have been in vain.

Q.Can you tell us a little about anarchism in Ecuador?

Anarchism in Ecuador has a history much like that of most Latin American countries, where it arrived at the end of the 19th and early 20th century. The ideas mostly arrived together with European immigration to the continent and the seeds were fertilized in the country's ports, though were put into action in an original way, suited to the conditions of our people.

With the triumph of the Liberal Revolution the power of the church in the coastal areas was lessened, something that was not so evident in the mountainous regions, and this was an important factor in the appearance of socialist tendencies in our country. The first signs of a libertarian press were among the railway workers of Jamaican origin at the end of 19th century. In the early 20th century our history really begins. Various groups were founded: Luz y Acción [2], Verbo y Acción [3], Ricardo Flores Magón, the Centro de Estudios Sociales Libertarios (linked to the IWA)[4], and others. The newspapers at the time were "Alba Roja"[5], "Bandera Roja"[6], "El Proletario"[7], "El Hambriento"[8]. And there were trade unions such as the FTRE, the AGA (Asociación Gremial del Astillero)[9], the Asociación de Cacahueros "Thomas Briones"[10], etc. After the massacre of 15th November 1922 the movement retreated, a widespread phenomenon throughout the continent as a result of rise of populist governments, the rise of Stalinism as the revolutionary model and the emergence of the fascist-style governments, up until the 1940s

.From then on, there were attempts at labour organization in 1970s and in the '80s it became mostly an artistic and literary wave. But by the '90s, it was another story. Several young people had begun to identify with punk counter-culture, but by the start of the new century they understood that it was necessary to go beyond a type of politics detached from reality and the class problems in the country. That's how our history developed. It's a history that we will go on building, winning the hearts of the people and keeping our distance in no uncertain terms from the dominant structure.

Q.In what way has the movement changed since the fall of Gutiérrez?

Since the last decade of the 20th century, the country has seen increasing diffidence among the people towards neo-liberal policies and the various governments that there have been. This diffidence led to the overthrow of Abdalá Bucaram in 1997, of Jamil Mahuad in 2000 and more recently in 2005 it manifested itself with the removal from power of Lucio Gutiérrez, leader of the Patriotic Society Party (PSP). The discontent was also obvious in the popular opposition to Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) in our region, and also to the US presence at Manta Air Base.

The mobilizations against neo-liberalism and its representatives have been led by the indigenous movement, the workers, students and social movements. These sectors have often sought to go beyond the established framework but each time they have fallen into the same trap, that of accepting the crumbs thrown to them. To this should be added the absence of an autonomous, revolutionary political project that could enable the boundaries of protest to be overcome and generate a new way of conceiving society.

Some anarchists, either individually or collectively, have participated in these protests since 2002, but a basic problem with our activity has been the absence of an organization that could allow us to leave spontaneism behind us and also allow us to instigate proposals for change from within the people.

Nevertheless, the fall of Lucio Gutiérrez and the events that occurred at the time have served to enable us to see the necessity of an organization in order to go beyond spontaneism and draw up a strategy, because in the hurly-burly of the demands for the overthrow of this corrupt individual, there was no-one to provide guidelines in order to develop a new, horizontal and assembly-based political praxis with direct democracy. There wasn't even any analysis of the fact that the cause for the evils that afflicted - and still afflict - the Ecuadorian people lie in the practices handed down by the State and the exploitation with which Capital keeps us in submission. What we mean is that the people, as an autonomous and revolutionary body, lack any sort of political tool. Slogans such as "Que se vayan todos!"[11] were continuing to lose ground to variants like "Que se vayan todos, pero primero el dictador!"[12] or suchlike.

This experience has taught us two lessons:

a. The need for an organization that can allow us to leave behind the spontaneism that is inherent in and necessary to the people, and

b. the development of an economic, social and political programme from within the people, that can be applied at times of social crisis, so that we do not see a repetition of the opportunism that fills the void that the popular movement leaves behind itself.

Q.Ecuador is currently in the process of re-writing its Constitution. What do you think about that?

Since the foundation of the republic in 1830, our country has been under a totally anti-popular dominant class. Over all this time there have been an endless stream of constitutions, none of which have reduced the power of the oligarchic bourgeoisie by an inch. On the contrary, they have enabled it to survive and adapt to the new difficulties that the world's economy presents.

The Constitutions drawn up by the Right and the Left have not diminished political power, or worse still, the economic power of the dominant classes. In this sense, the current government which declares itself to be the standard-bearer of 21st-century socialism, is trying in some way to reduce the political power of the powerful class in this country, but when it comes to breaking its economic power, it is doing little or nothing.

Let us be clear that the socialism referred to above is only camouflaged capitalist reformism of a type signalled over a hundred years ago by the Russian revolutionary Mikhail Bakunin, when he said:

"There is an infallible sign by which workers can recognize a phoney socialist, a bourgeois socialist; when talking to them about revolution or social transformation, if he says that the political must precede the social and economic transformation; if he denies that both must be made at the same time, or maintains that the political revolution must in a certain way be separate from a full, immediate and direct social liquidation, then the workers must turn their backs on him: because he who is speaking is either an idiot or a hypocritical exploiter."

The constitutional process that the country is going through has been the product of some channelling of the popular mobilizations. We are aware that this is not the solution to the needs that the people aspire to solve, and in this sense the new "Magna Charta", like any constitution, will be nothing special as it will not make significant improvements to the level of poverty and widespread exclusion.

Our position goes beyond the current situation and the traps that the current polarization could lead us into. And it in this sense that we are continuing to propagandize the people becoming organized and conscious, through our daily militant work, since we are sure that only this will allow us to work towards those fundamental changes that Ecuadorian society is incessantly searching for.

Q.Some people are enthusiastic about the idea of a pluri-national State... Do you believe that these illusions have any basis?

In some indigenous sectors those who defend the need for a Pluri-National State are fond of the notion that the creation of such an institution will enable a high level of social participation, demonstrating at the same time that the State is open to the inclusion of sectors that historically have been dominated.

These notions are false insofar as participation cannot be measured by the levels of access to political power and its institutions, as many among the Indigenous leadership think.

On the other hand, the process of inclusion that is expected by the spheres of power and has been one of the demands of the indigenous, is a limited one since all debate and political practice revolves around acceptance of the ethnic aspects of the demand for pluri-nationality without any thought for the political and economic aspects. Consequently, we have the Ecuadorian State trying to proclaim itself pluri-national without losing its hierarchy, a fact which has been noticed by some indigenous sectors.

What it has been impossible to make people aware of it that one of the premises of the State is its centrality at all levels. Given what plurinationality implies, proclaiming a pluri-national State would mean the destruction of one of the basic principles of the State - centralism.

Q.Can you tell us how you, as libertarians, saw the crisis with Colombia?

The constant border violations by the Colombian army demonstrate the Uribistas plans to expand the conflict to our region, due to the inability of these forces to defeat the Colombian guerrillas militarily.

We closely watch these and other practices that try to involve the Ecuadorian people in the civil war that has been causing so much bloodshed for our Colombian brothers for over forty years.

We must denounce the class character that hides behind this conflict and the demands of the Colombian government.

Q.Do you believe there is some tangible threat on the part of the aggressive Colombian military forces, who are undoubtedly acting at the dictates of the USA?

Uribe's right-wing government is the expression of the imperialist re-composition of South America. This was seen in the plan to put "Plan Colombia" into operation at the start of this decade.

Behind the euphemism of combating drug trafficking, the United States is trying to set up geopolitical control over our lands. This behaviour, together with the growing arms funding and professionalization of the Colombian army, demonstrates the interests and influence of Yankee imperialism over the Colombian government.

The real danger is that the conflict will spread throughout the region, a policy that guides the Colombian government's relations with its neighbours, including Ecuador. There have of course been set-ups, like the cowardly murder of the FARC-EP commander "Raúl Reyes" in this country, or lies like Ecuador being the home of the guerrillas' rearguard.

We must be careful with the distortions that can easily be given to this problem, and at least for the moment prevent any direct intervention in "our America" by the imperialists.

Q.Lastly, could I ask you what chances there are of building a revolutionary, libertarian alternative in Ecuador?

What possibilities there are, depend not only on the conditions for it. It would be ironic to say that, as they are already in place; we live in a class society.

It depends on the conviction and dedication of each member of the Organization in being a part of the class war, in the neighbourhoods, in schools and universities, in the workplace. It is interesting to see that in Ecuador, three consecutive presidents in a row have been swept away by the "Out, all of them!" movement - and not only these three parasites, but also the institutions and both private and State bodies. And one of our most basic weapons in this revolutionary task is to take advantage of this discontent.

Q.Any last points you would like to make?

We'd like to thank comrade José Antonio for the very kind interview. We would also like to extend a warm, fraternal greeting to all those Organizations and militants around the world who work day in day out for this huge task. It is a task that depends on every single one of us if we are to achieve it. Unite, Convince, Win to the side of the people. Because that's where we come from!
One way or another.. we will win!

The hand of friendship to our comrade, the closed fist to the tyrant!

Revive the Class Struggle!

Long life and Revolt!

To contact the Grupo Anarco-Comunista "15 de Noviembre", write to: http://www.anarkismo.net/mailto:ateneo_libertario@yahoo.es Translated by FdCA - International Relations Office
Translator notes:

1. Ecuadorian Regional Federation of Workers.

2. Light & Action.

3. Words & Action.

4. Centre for Libertarian Social Studies.

5. Red Dawn.

6. The Red Flag.

7. The Proletarian.

8. The Hungry.

9. Shipyard Trades Association.

10. Association of Cacao Workers "Thomas Briones".

11. "Let's get rid of them all!"

12. "Let's get rid of them all, but first let's get rid of the dictator!"