Feature Archives

In what could turn out to be a truly radical new policy, Brazil's Health Ministry has finalized a proposed law with a goal of creating "policies that can deconstruct the common view that every drug user is a sick person who requires intervention, prison, or aquittal." The Attorney General of Brazil, Márcio Thomaz Bastos, said that he "favors the decriminalization of drug use." This approach, that of seeing drug use and abuse as a public health rather than a criminal issue, would put Brazil on a much better path toward reducing the harm caused by drugs and the enforcement of current laws. Read more | Narconews

On Tuesday 9/30 in SF, representatives from Food First, Via Campesina and UNORCA, the largest Mexican peasant federation, will answer questions on the collapse of the WTO ministerial in Cancún and the future of the global justice movement. Details
9/15: Talks have collapsed as developing countries walked out of negotiations in Cancún. Press conference

9/10: Militant activists at the forefront of a march of thousands of farmers, anarchists, environmentalists and others battled police in an attempt to breach the security barrier blocking the only route to the Cancun's Hotel Zone and the convention center hosting the 5th WTO Ministerial. Protesters tore down a 10 meter section of the security fence, set fire to another section and hurled stones at Mexican police who responded by throwing the stones back and firing water cannon and tear gas. Lee Kyung-Hae, a South Korean farmer and activist, stabbed himself to death to protest the WTO and its role in the exploitation of the world's poor by the rich. Reports: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Video: 1 | 2 Audio: 1

9/8: As a kick-off to this week's demonstration activities, approximately 40 activists in Cancún took to the beach, to expose both their bums and beliefs about the WTO. The WTO will be launching its annual ministerial meeting this Wednesday, and many activities, including a farmer's march, a women's forum and a sustainable trade synposium are planned for the week. The highlight of the week will be blockades up and down the one road leading in and out of Cancún on Thursday, while blockades are planned for Tuesday's final delegate arrivals at the airport. Comité de Bienvenida Cancún | Chiapas IMC Feature | Food First Emergency Plea | Cancún IMC

Committee In Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) is urging people to take action regarding the detention of at least 60 people, 13 of them election observers, at customs in El Salvador by immigration officials. Since September of last year, immigration officials have used intimidation tactics and illegal raids on the Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (CIS), in order to discourage solidarity workers from organizing around the controversial elections of this month. For the past 15 years, ARENA has been the ruling party in El Salvador, employing a dirty campaign to ensure that the popular left-wing party, the FMLN, stands much less of a chance of unseating them. Six months after ARENA started its campaign of intimidation, the immigration police have informed observers that the Ministry of Governance has issued a general directive to deny entry to all international election observers. At least one local bay area observer was detained. The United States government has been complicit in the illegal detentions, issuing vague threats should the FMLN win the election and expressing their support for ARENA. Read more On Detentions

3/23: Two days after El Salvador held its highly anticipated election, ARENA's Tony Saca has won another five years for the ruling party. After oppressive tactics on part of the ARENA government to keep out election observers failed, FMLN supporters began a massive mobilization that gave hope to many that ARENA would be ousted. Supporters in red flooded the election polling places in massive numbers, and throughout the day it appeared that guerilla FMLN candidate Schafik Handal was in the lead. After spending over $55 million on a campaign of fear, Tony Saca was able to coerce a win. The FMLN has vowed that it will continue to fight US imperialism in all its forms, especially CAFTA's impending plans for the people of El Salvador.

The state of Puebla in central Mexico has been a hotbed of independent union organizing. 800 garment workers at the Tarrant Mexico - Ajalpan factory are leading the latest organizing effort. The workers are seeking recognition of their union, SUITTAR (Sindicato Unico Independiente de Trabajadores de la Empresa Tarrant Mexico), as well as reinstatement of workers illegally dismissed from the factory. The factory is co-owned by the Tarrant Apparel Group -TAG- whose major clients include The Wet Seal, Limited/Express, Abercrombie & Fitch and the Federated Department Stores which own and operates Macy's and Bloomingdale's.
Fundraising Appeal for Dismissed Workers | Timeline of Struggle
Email CEO of Wet Seal   | Sweatshop Watch
Action on March 24 at Powell Mall

Update: March 26: Femsa finally agreed to begin meeting with union leaders in hopes of ending the hunger strike. Galvis(VP of a local union), said the company changed course due to solidarity in Colombia and from overseas. Unionists and human rights activists around the world had sent protest messages to Coca-Cola executives in Atlanta. And students in a dozen U.S. cities organized March 23 solidarity actions.
Monday March 15: Coca-Cola union workers in Colombia began a hunger strike in front of the Coke bottling plants in Barrancabermeja, Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Cúcuta, Medellín, and Valledupar. Juan Carlos Galvis, vice president of the local union in Barrancabermeja, has said, "If we lose the fight against Coca-Cola, we will first lose our union, next our jobs and then our lives."  | Demands

Since 1990 eight Coke workers have been killed and 67 have received death threats from paramilitaries. Management has used this to intimidate workers out of being part of the union.
Reportback and Pics: Oakland Action at Coke Regional Headquarters, March 23rd
Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and Economy Press Conference in Oakland 3/15/04  | Students Organize at California Student/Labor Teach-In at Berkeley to Support Colombian Coke Workers 3/12/03  | Listen to "Coke is the Drink of the Death Squads" by David Rovics  | Killer Coke Campaign Grows Internationally  | For More info see Killer Coke

On December 17, 2003 the United States coerced Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala into signing the controversial Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Costa Rican negotiators walked out of the talks over disagreements related to opening their telecommunications and insurance markets. There were protests and educational activities in cities in North and Central America where CAFTA talks were held, including Managua, Nicaragua, San Francisco and Washington, DC. Read More Under the Trade Act of 2002, Congress has to be notified at least 90 days before signing the agreement. The US will tell Congress early next year of its intent to sign the CAFTA. 10 Reasons why people oppose CAFTA. More links.