Politics

The Evilness of Power

pirate — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:08:47 -0400

An examination of the effects of power and hierarchy on individuals, society and the world at large NOTE: I forgot to mention that the Indian woman speaking in the 2nd half is Arundhati Roy, author of "The God of Small Things"

Union protest brings SAfrican city to standstill

pirate — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:37:55 -0400

Wed Jul 9,2008

DURBAN, South Africa (AFP) - A protest march by thousands of trade unionists against rising fuel and food costs closed down businesses and disrupted public transport in South Africa's port city of Durban on Wednesday.

While there were no reports of unrest, shops closed their shutters and the roads were largely deserted as the crowds marched on City Hall following earlier threats by activists to torch taxis who continued operating. read more »

1,000 protest G-8 summit in Japan; police arrest 4

pirate — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:51:31 -0400

By JOSEPH COLEMAN, Associated Press Jul 5, 2008

SAPPORO, Japan - More than 1,000 people marched in northern Japan on Saturday to protest an upcoming summit of the top industrialized countries, and police arrested four protesters after a brief scuffle. No injuries were reported. read more »

Breckenridge skateboarders stage protest

pirate — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:01:24 -0400

More than two dozen skated Saturday in hopes of sharing the road

By K.J. HASCALL summit daily news June 21, 2008 read more »

Nepal students attack government vehicles, block traffic to protest fuel price rise

pirate — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:53:11 -0400

By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA,Associated Press June 20, 2008

KATMANDU, Nepal - Students attacked several government vehicles and blocked traffic in Nepal's capital Friday to protest sharp rises in fuel prices, bringing transportation in the city to a standstill.

The students also demanded a 50-percent discount on public transportation fares.

It was the second day of violent protests pressing the government to immediately withdraw fuel price increases and reverse a recent decision that let public transport fees jump by as much as 35 percent.

College students in Katmandu walked out of classes and blocked major streets in Katmandu on Friday. They erected roadblocks and threw rocks at government vehicles. read more »

Irish voters veto EU treaty

pirate — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:17:29 -0400

by SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press June 13, 2008

DUBLIN, Ireland - It took years to negotiate, weighs in at 260 pages, is virtually unreadable — and now could be a dead letter.

Irish voters vetoed a painstakingly drafted treaty Friday that had been designed to streamline the European Union. Politicians from all of Ireland's major parties worked hard to sell the complex, deeply technical document to a confused and suspicious public. read more »

Thousands of Bolivians protest at U.S. embassy

pirate — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:21:49 -0400

By Ana Maria Fabbri June 9, 2008

LA PAZ (Reuters) - Thousands of supporters of leftist president Evo Morales protested outside the U.S. Embassy in La Paz on Monday, demanding the United States send home for trial two right-wing Bolivian politicians.

The protest followed comments by former Defense Minister Carlos Sanchez Berzain, who told a local radio station last week that a U.S. court had granted him political asylum. read more »

Chinese police drag grieving parents from protest

pirate — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:29:37 -0400

June 2, 2008

DUJIANGYAN, China - Chinese police dragged away more than 100 parents Tuesday while they were protesting the deaths of their children in poorly constructed schools that collapsed in last month's earthquake.

The parents, many holding pictures of their dead children, were pulled down the street away from a courthouse in Dujiangyan, a resort city northeast of the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu. read more »

Thai PM orders crackdown on anti-govt protest

pirate — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:29:48 -0400

by Thanaporn Promyamyai May 31, 2008

BANGKOK (AFP) - About 1,200 riot police assembled on Saturday in central Bangkok, waiting for an order from the Thai prime minister who has threatened to forcibly break up an extended anti-government protest.

At least 2,000 protesters defied the threat and continued to block a major avenue in the city's historic district, with some activists fashioning improvised shields and batons out of plywood boards and wooden rods. read more »

Protest of Hiring Practices Disrupts India's Capital

pirate — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:10:27 -0400

By VIBHUTI AGARWAL and KRISHNA POKHAREL
May 30, 2008 Wall Street Journal

NEW DELHI -- Clashes between Indian authorities and a group seeking preferential treatment in government hiring spilled into the capital, hampering business and paralyzing traffic. read more »