Lesehinweis zur aktuellen Situation in Kanaky

Kanaky: Politics heats up as independence supporters mobilise for 2014 election von Nic Maclellan auf Links – International Journal of Socialist Renewal

Antigewerkschaftliche Repression in Fiji

Der von einer Militärjunta regierte pazifische Inselstaat drängt die Gewerkschaften im Lande in die Illegalität und weist eine internationale Solidaritätsdelegation aus, mehr auf LabourStart:

Lesehinweis zur Geschichte von Rapa Nui/“Osterinsel“

Rapa Nui/Easter Island: Blaming the victims — Jared Diamond’s myth of ‘ecocide’ von Coral Winter auf Links – international journal of socialist renewal:

„Jared Diamond makes a slight mention of the rats, the Peruvian slave trade, the sheep and the smallpox epidemics, but no mention of Jean-Baptiste Dutrou-Bornier, Enrique Merlet, nor the Maison Brander Company. He selects a few facts and so distorts the history of Rapa Nui to fit his thesis. This is very dishonest, completely removed from any historical context, and without any consideration of the activities of brutal colonial rule up to 1966. Without examining these factors, no real understanding of the devastation that took place can be discussed rationally.

An unlikely and incredible civilisation thrived on Rapa Nui for at least 500 years. Despite limited resources, a few thousand islanders carved and transported more than 8000 tons of massive stone sculptures across a hilly landscape and have left us an incredible, historical legacy. The victims of cultural and physical extermination by imperialism and its megalomaniacs have been turned into the perpetrators of their own demise, according to Diamond.“

Ein Aufruf zur Solidarität mit den ArbeiterInnenkämpfen in Birma

Quelle: Links – International Journal of Socialist Renewal:

Burma: Regional left support for workers’ struggle

February 13, 2010 — The statement below has been signed by the Working People’s Association (Indonesia); Confederation Congress of Indonesia Union Alliance; the Singapore Democratic Party; the Socialist Party of Malaysia; Socialist Alternative (Australia); Socialist Alliance (Australia); Socialist Worker New Zealand; Young Democrats (Singapore); Partido ng Manggangawa (Philippines); Congress of South African Trade Unions; Partido Lakas ng Masa (Philippines); World Federation of Trade Unions (Asia Pacific Region); Movement for the Advancement of Student Power (Philippines); Canadian HART.

If your organisation would like to sign this statement, email international@prp-indonesia.org.

* * *

Workers at Burma’s Taiyi shoe factory and Opal 2 garment factory began a strike on February 8, 2010. They are demanding a salary increase, a reduction of working hours and the provision of a clean space for meals.

The strike started in the Mya Fashion garment factory in the No. 3 Factory Zone of Yangon’s Hlaing Thrayar Township.

Now, the workers are being blocked from leaving the factory zone by riot police trucks. At least 50 trucks packed with riot police carrying assault rifles and shields were dispatched. No one has been allowed to enter.

Police are securing roads surrounding the Hlaingtharyar Industrial Zone, about 11km outside the biggest city, Yangon.

Overall, working condition in Burma are worsening. The Burmese military regime is pro-foreign capital and depends on cheap wages and deplorable working conditions to attract foreign investment.

Like other democratic rights in Burma, the rights of workers, such as the freedom to form trade unions, are also being repressed.

The rise of working-class struggle is a good sign for the possibility of fundamental changes in Burma. The rise of working-class struggle should be supported by all peoples’ movements in Burma and internationally. We support the struggle of Burma’s working class and demand:

• The workers’ just demands be fulfilled;

• An end to all forms of repression against workers; and

• Full democratic rights for workers, including the right to organise, build independent trade unions and form political parties.

We declare our fullest support for the people of Burma to build a democratic nation. Only with a democratic Burma can prosperity and justice can be achieved.

Demonstration gegen Arbeitsgesetze auf den Nördlichen Marianen

Zwischen 3.000 und 15.000 Menschen (die Angaben variieren) von ca. 84.500 EinwohnerInnen der US-Kolonie Nördliche Marianen (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands oder kurz CNMI) haben am 7. Dezember in der Hauptstadt Saipan gegen das neue Arbeitsgesetz demonstriert und die Implementierung der US-Regelungen gefordert, da die neue Regelung von migrierten ArbeiterInnen (v.a. aus China und von den Philippinen) verlangt, nach Ende eines Arbeitsvertrages das Territorium zu verlassen, bevor sie nach sechs Monaten die Möglichkeit einer neuen Einstellung erhalten können. Obwohl das CNMI Teil der USA sind, gelten dort die US-amerikanischen Gesetze nur eingeschränkt, was zur Folge hat, dass das Territorium sich zum Paradies für InvestorInnen entwickelt hat, welche aber zunehmend Probleme haben, beispielsweise mit der chinesischen Textilindustrie zu konkurrieren.