Last month, thousands of People from four continents, representing 140 organisations from 56 different countries gathered together for the Via Campesina Gathering—an event that’s held every four years “to discuss and plan work and strategies according to the most important aspects of country life (goods, sovereignty, food, agricultural reform, sustainable commerce, biodiversity, human rights, emigrants and rural workers).” This year’s gathering was in Zapatista territory.

From Narco News - In a world of such rich culture, so many languages, so many ecosystems, so many skin colours, campesinos of the …

Here’s an excellent “grab-you-by the throat” speech by Ghanaian economist George Ayittey, at a conference put together by TED.

George goes into the details and sources of corruption and economic exploitation in Africa—and moves on to explore Africa’s Traditional Governing systems, which he says are based on the Confederacy Principle: That most Africans view modern governing systems as inherently corrupt, and that they would traditionally take numerous steps to prevent corruption, for instance, create council upon council to ensure any governing authority could not become corrupt… And if they did, against the Peoples’ will, the leaders would be removed or the …

The enslavement, torture, displacement, and genocide of people in Burma continues

From the Asia Tribune: According to the Free Burma Rangers, a relief organisation working in the area, soldiers from Light Infantry Battalions 542 and 544 attacked Ber Ka Lay Ko village, northern Toungoo District in north-western Karen State on 12 May. They reportedly captured, raped and killed a woman.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide revealed in a statement, “Three days later, troops attacked again as villagers worked in their fields. Many were able to flee due to the noise made by the …

The following video is a presentation given by Arundhati Roy in New York City at The Riverside Church, May 13, 2003

Instant-Mix Imperial Democracy (Buy One, Get One Free)
In these times, when we have to race to keep abreast of the speed at which our freedoms are being snatched from us, and when few can afford the luxury of retreating from the streets for a while in order to return with an exquisite, fully formed political thesis replete with footnotes and references, what profound gift can I offer you tonight?

As we lurch from crisis to crisis, beamed directly into our brains …

The following is around the first half of a recent article, titled Social Change and Building the Ties That Bind, by Raul Zibechi. I highly recommend you read the full article

“The question of power is not resolved by taking the government palace, which is easy and has been done many times, but rather by the building of new social relations,” said João Pedro Stedile, coordinator of Brazil’s Landless Rural Workers’ Movement (MST), at the 2005 World Social Forum. His comment reflects a new vision of social change, one that until recently was almost exclusively promoted by the Zapatistas of …

The following video is part of a speech given at the recent protest against APEC, in Melbourne Australia (info on the protest) Click on the image to view (or watch on youtube) Well said Ana!

From Whenua, Fenua, Enua, Vanua - Occupied Australia is the land of genocide and apartheid for its Indigenous peoples.

The invasion of Aboriginal lands was illegal under international law at the time of the arrival of the First Fleet. This invasion involved the perpetration of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and theft of Aboriginal homelands.

The current …

From www.alainet.org, May 3 - The World Bank is going through the worst period of its history. Its situation has never been so precarious. Rejected by a growing number of social movements, its credibility has been further undermined by revelations of nepotism on the part of its president, Paul Wolfowitz. At the same time, it is coming under fire from several Latin American governments that are setting up a Southern Bank with radically different perspectives. Could the deathblow be on the way ?

The fiasco of its actions over the last 60 years is clearly what has done the World …

[translated for RA by Rosalind Gil. Links added by me. See here for the Declaration in Spanish]

Declaration of Durugubuti
Garífuna, Lenca and Vía Campesina representatives have come together as part of the Foro de Biodiversidad: Territorio y Cultura (Forum on Biodiversity: Lands and Culture) to declare that we honour the spirits of our ancestors who were massacred seventy years ago during the dictatorship of Tiburcio Crías and we declare that:

Faced with the offensive of the neo-liberal Plan Puebla-Panamá, a plan to reinforce neocolonialism amongst our peoples and to spread the powerful neo-liberal transport and maquila network, we …

El Enemigo Comun (the common enemy) scratches beneath the surface of neoliberalism, at some of the its most hidden atrocities in recent North American history. The film documents instances of paramilitary activity against indigenous communities in Oaxaca, Mexico from 2002 through 2005 while including scenes from an international human rights movement in 2003, in Miami against the Free Trade Area of the America’s, and in Cancun against the World Trade Organization. The three locations in isolation expose the disparity of North American resistances, but together bring us closer to understanding the nature of an emerging common struggle.

Tear gas, rubber bullets, …

Here’s an upcoming event in Melbourne, Australia. Thanks Anna for posting this on Toske. For anyone wanting more info, see http://humanrightsinfo.net or the contact info at the bottom of this post

October 11-14, 2007, Melbourne - Australia
Fighting and organising globally against neoliberalism!

A global call for participation
We call on all activists, organisations and communities who are committed to building a better world to join together at the Latin American and Asia Pacific International Solidarity Forum to be held in October 2007, in Melbourne Australia.

The forum has been initiated by the organisers of several successful conferences and gatherings in solidarity with …