The No Berlusconi Day (NBD) committee will have demonstrations in many cities in Italy on 5 December, under the slogan: Save Italy, save democracy. Also on the Leidseplein in Amsterdam on 5 December there will be at 3pm an anti Berlusconi demonstration.
On the network site Facebook in Italy, a mass movement has arisen to demand the dismissal of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. The initiators, on their web site www.noberlusconiday.org have a page in olandese (Dutch) as well. “We can no langer be passive as a whole country has been held to ransom for over 15 years by someone who feels he owns the government and has an aggressive attitude against all forms of freedom whatever,” they say.
WILLEMSTAD - The contract with the United States military ‘location’ on Curaçao which finishes in 2010, should not be prolonged. This Saturday, Curaçao politician Helmin Wiels of the opposition party Pueblo Soberano said that.
‘In this way, we will prevent that Curaçao will be dragged along into a future war between Venezuela and the USA.’ Wiels is convinced that the recently rising tensions between Colombia and Venezuela, will finally lead to a war between the USA and President Hugo Chávez’ country.
The USA have several military bases in Colombia and recently, contracts have been concluded for more bases there. According to Wiels, the USA are aiming consciously at a war against Venezuela. He thinks that this may have ‘disastrous’ consequences for Curaçao. ‘As long as we will allow the USA to have a military base of their own on Curaçao, we will be seen as traitors in Venezuelan eyes. We are a small country, and it is better for us to gave good relationships with all sides.’
The US American Forward Operation Location (FOL) is on Curaçao ever since 2000. From there, the USA flies over South America as part of the “war on drugs”. The ten year contract for the locations on Curaçao and Aruba will finish next year. If one of the two parties will not object, it will be prolonged automatically. Wiels calls on the government of the Netherlands Antilles to be active and to close down the FOL.
Pakistan Rock Rails Against the West, Not the Taliban
While Pakistani journalists, playwrights and even moderate Islamic clerics have boldly condemned the Taliban, the nation’s pop music stars have yet to sing out against the group, which continues to claim responsibility for daily bombings.
The violence has no shortage of victims in addition to the dead: more than three million people have become refugees, and more than 200 schools for girls have been destroyed. And the musicians I spoke to have suffered as well, which makes it all the more surprising that they are reluctant to criticize the militants.
Pakistani pop musicians once had two main ways to make money: live concerts and corporate sponsorships. But because of deteriorating security in the last two years, the concert scene — and the revenue that comes with it — has all but vanished.
Musicians are now relegated to televised performances. …
The result is a surge of bubble-gum stars who have become increasingly politicized. Some are churning out ambiguous, cheery lyrics urging their young fans to act against the nation’s woes. Others simply vilify the United States.
According to veteran journalist Seymour Hersh, US officials have pushed for an “understanding” that American forces can enter Pakistan to secure its nuclear arsenal in the event of a direct threat, particularly a mutiny by anti-American Islamist tendencies inside the Pakistani armed forces: here.
USA: Photos/Video-Veterans For Peace March At End Of Boston Veterans Day Parade: here.
The European and international protest movement against deteriorating conditions in the education system reached a new high point on Tuesday, November 17, with almost 100,000 students, pupils, teachers and parents taking part in protests and demonstration throughout Germany: here.
‘We’re expecting a big turn out tomorrow for the nationwide demonstrations,’ an Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) spokesman told News Line yesterday.
He added: ‘The purpose of the Get Up Stand Up Campaign launched by ourselves with the support of all affiliates on the island of Ireland is to oppose the government and the way it is handling the crisis in favour of the banks.
‘The government has done nothing for jobs. And cutting incomes, including social welfare in a recession is not only morally wrong, it’s madness.
‘It will turn a recession into a depression.
‘Demonstrators will be carrying banners and placards saying “Banks 54m euros – jobs zero”.
‘Tomorrow is just the start of our campaign leading to the Budget.
‘There will be stoppages and 24-hour strikes to follow.’
The Get Up Stand Up Campaign website says: ‘We believe there is a fairer way.
‘Where are the plans to protect peoples’ jobs, or create new employment?
‘Where are the plans to protect peoples’ homes from repossession? And where are the plans to protect vital services at a time when greater numbers will come to depend on them?
‘The course of action proposed by government is both unworkable and unfair.
‘To cut peoples’ incomes in a recession invites economic freefall and to impose the greatest burden on low and middle income earners is unjust.
‘They played no role in causing this crisis and should not be presented with the bill.
‘This crisis demands fresh thinking. So far all we’ve seen are reruns and reheats of the same failed policies that have brought us to this sorry pass.
‘This crisis demands that people get active and get involved. Get Up, Stand Up!
‘Show your solidarity. March with us on November 6th!’
Over 5,000 young Greek workers on so-called ‘training’ schemes in the public sector, demonstrated on Thursday in Athens and in other main cities against a government decision to immediately sack them: here.
Reading a newspaper, I saw a picture of birds on the electric wires. I cut out the photo and decided to make a song, using the exact location of the birds as notes (no Photoshop edit). I knew it wasn’t the most original idea in the universe. I was just curious to hear what melody the birds were creating.
I sent the music to the photographer, Paulo Pinto, who I Googled on the internet. He told his editor, who told a reporter and the story ended up as an interview in the very same newspaper.
Here I’ve posted a short video made with the photo, the music and the score (composed by the birds).
SAN JUAN - Three human rights groups said yesterday that they will decline an invitation to tour the Guantanamo Bay prison next month because it doesn’t include an opportunity to speak with prisoners.
R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails Join Campaign To Close Guantanamo Bay: here.
A UN human rights investigator insisted on Monday that Guantanamo Bay detainees must be freed or transferred to US federal courts for trial by the January 22 deadline set by US President Barack Obama: here.
US Attorney General Eric Holder announced Friday that ten of the prisoners now held in the Guantánamo Bay detention camp would be transferred to US locations and placed on trial on terrorism charges: here.
The ousted president and his supporters say army is blaring loud songs
Oct. 21, 2009
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Occupants of the Brazilian Embassy in Honduras, where ousted President Manuel Zelaya is holed up with his supporters, complained Wednesday about loud music blasted by soldiers posted around the diplomatic compound.
Army chief of staff Gen. Romeo Vazquez denied claims of harassment, saying the all-night broadcast was a “serenade” intended to celebrate the country’s Armed Forces day holiday.
The playlist of tunes that stretched from after midnight into Wednesday morning included the song “Two-legged Rat,” an ode to an ex-boyfriend made famous by Mexican songstress Paquita La del Barrio. Its lyrics begin, “Filthy rat, crawling animal, scum of all life …” and get worse from there.
A statement by the Organization of American States expressed concern about “increased harassment” of the embassy, especially at night.
Zelaya has been holed up in the diplomatic compound since he sneaked back into Honduras in late September, after being ousted in a June 28 coup. He has demanded he be reinstated to serve out his term, while the interim government has refused to do so.
Journalists from several media outlets including The Associated Press are inside the embassy.
Soldiers have cordoned off several blocks around the compound and allow only certain kinds of previously inspected food inside. They also have taken to shining bright lights into the building at night, and occupants say soldiers make loud animal noises as well. …
In 1989, when U.S. troops invaded Panama, then-president Manuel Noriega took refuge in the Vatican Embassy in Panama City. U.S. soldiers blasted the building with loud rock music until the Vatican complained, and Noriega finally surrendered.
Danny came from West Ham, & he’d been a dad 8 months
Joey came from Birmingham, & he was just 18
Billy came from Bromyard & his Captain told the press he was a “a key part of a closely-knit platoon”
The Corporal came from Kings Lynn he was “the perfect soldier”
The Rifleman from Yorkshire “saw the lighter side of life”
The private from the Welsh Guards had ” a tremendous sense of humour”
The Rifleman from Maidenhead, was “1st in everything”
And we’ll all be home by Christmas in a land that’s fit for heroes
We’ll all have beer & medals, we’ll all get jobs for life
Next time you see your colonel, you can sell him a Big Issue
& he’ll take you home for Christmas & he’ll let you shag his wife
Tommy came from West Ham, or maybe it was Glasgow
Or maybe it was Birmingham, but he was just 18
Tommy came from Bromyard, or maybe some where else
But it’s somewhere else he’ll never see again
Tommy come from West Ham…
Jimmy come from Birmingham…
What business did they have being here?
What business did they have dying here?
What business do we have being here On the Northwest Frontier?
HILARY CLINTON ADMITS USA CREATED ISLAMIC EXTREMISM IN AFGHANISTAN: here.
