THE HEADLINES

ALL I EVER NEEDED TO KNOW TO RUN ATLANTA’S SCHOOL SYSTEM, I LEARNED BY SERVING ON THE BOARD OF BRITISH PETROLEUM.

(Black Agenda Report)

Errol Davis, head of Atlanta school system, has the kind of “background” in public education that is typical of other school chiefs in other cities as well as Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.  In Atlanta now and elsewhere past and future, school boards are deciding to close down those schools whose students show “under-performance” on standardized tests and, unsurprisingly. they are in predominantly black neighborhoods.  Parents and teachers are given little time to organize in protest and little to no media publicity to their protests, and are even denied their fervent requests that abandoned school buildings be used for community centers: it’s the market, you know, and control of facilities in minority areas needs to be re-distributed from those lacking market power (the poor) to those who have it (the rich.)

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“IN PRACTICAL TERMS, NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED.”

(Antiwar.com)

A Pentagon spokesman says this to a reporter about the supposed “agreement” between U.S. and Afghan security forces that the Afghan government will have to approve the much-hated night raids of the U.S. military.  Although this agreement exists on paper, it apparently will be ignored by the Pentagon, as Afghanistan will not be allowed to “veto” any proposed U.S. military operation.

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THE MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO BE A TRADE UNIONIST.

(Counterpunch)

The government of Colombia continues its long-term policy of  suppressing trade unionists whose organization might hinder the profitability of multi-national corporations operating in the country: the kind of practices that President Obama says must be stopped if the provisions of the Free Trade Agreement are to be extended to Colombia.  Despite this fact and these continuing atrocities against the trade union movement, Obama is expected to announce at a trade summit in Cartagena that the country is in “compliance” with a Labor Act that would have outlawed such practices.

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THOUGHT GENERAL MOTORS AND U.A.W. HAD A COZY RELATIONSHIP IN THE U.S.?  TAKE A LOOK AT SCHLECKER DRUG STORES AND VERDI UNION IN GERMANY.

(World Socialist)

The German pharmacy giant engages in massive employee layoffs and store closings as the corporation deals with its financial crisis.  Far from effectively imposing these measures, Verda has become the executive arm of the company in pressuring workers to accept these downsizing arrangements.

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STAND-OFF AT BOCA RATON: CHARGES AND COUNTER-CHARGES OF INTIMIDATION FLY AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY. 

(South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Members of Students for Justice in Palestine post “eviction” notices on F.A.U. dormitories to symbolize the eviction of Palestinians to make way for Jewish settlements in Israel.  Anti-defamation League protests to the University about alleged anti-semitism in the group’s action and head of SJP receives messages that she deems as “death threats.”

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Quote of the day…

ince the Vietnam War era, the U.S. has traveled from being the “greatest purveyor of violence in the world today,” in Dr. Martin Luther King’s words, to an existential threat to world order, the rule of law, and the security of the Earth’s inhabitants – to civilization itself. The nation’s first Black President has taken us on the final descent into international barbarity with his drone offensive. It is a joy stick to Hell. 

Glen Ford, on escalated use of drone warfare.   

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