The situation currently unfolding in Colombia is a disturbing reminder of just how extensive the global war on terror actually is. Not only is there a fierce, and publicly open, war being fought in the Middle East and South Asia, but a equally fierce and brutal war is being silently fought in America’s proverbial “backyard” of Latin America under the pretense of “terrorism”. On Saturday March 1, Raul Reyes, commander and spokesperson of FARC, was assassinated during an air-attack in ECUADOR by the Colombia Army. In case you missed it the first time, it happened in Ecuador, meaning the Álvaro Uribe illegally ordered an air-strike on a neighboring sovereign nation. A lot of people do not equate terrorism to Latin America, but the U.S. has craftily used the “terrorism card” to secure its interests and influence within the region. Uribe, with the help of Plan Colombia, has created an atmosphere of terror characterized by private power, repressive forces and assassination (ironically in the name of terror itself) to create an investment friendly Colombia. Meanwhile, the U.S, sits back and watches their little investment practically pay for itself as it hopes to creates a “stabilizing” counter-weight to the emerging Left in Latin America.
For more info check out the links:
Well, the school which claims to “redefine the possible” is having a rather hard time defining their sweatshop policy. Actually, I lied, they aren’t having a hard time at all but I found the irony and hypocrisy of their “slogan” far too tempting and such an easy target. Anyways, students @ York will be taking it to the streets this coming Thursday, so feel free to come and join the cause. The info below was forwarded to me, so check it out:
The Sustainable Purchasing Coalition at York will be holding a No-Sweat (No Sweatshops) Rally on Thursday, March 6th.
Did you know York STILL does not have a No Sweat policy? Almost 8 years after the University of Toronto adopted a policy and began taking leadership on this issue, York persists on not having adequate standards for the conditions York apparel is produced under. York University has done this despite student and faculty pressure to live up to its reputation, and abide by its mission statement’s commitment to ‘global concerns’ and ‘social justice’.
The No Sweat Working Group of the Sustainable Purchasing Coalition (http://www.yorku.ca/spc_ft/) has attempted to get change through dialogue for the past three years with no luck, and now they’re organizing a demonstration to prove to the administration that the York students, faculty and staff DO CARE. We care whether forced labour, child labour, unfair wages, discrimination, or physical, emotional and sexual abuse took place to produce YorkU clothes. If you care, please attend the demonstration and sign the petition to let the administration hear your voice!
No Sweat Rally
March 6th, 2008
Vari Hall @ 1:00
416.721.3471
spcyork@gmail.com
