Middle East
Palestinian union hit on all sides
An article from the Al-Jazeera website detailing the repression faced by trade unionists in Palestine not only from the Israeli state but also from the 'national liberation' militias of Hamas and Fatah.
Taken from Al-Jazeera English, by Omar Khalifa.
With 47 per cent of the potential Palestinian labour force unemployed and a per capita income 23 times less than that of Israel, the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) has a difficult enough job.
1991: The Kurdish Uprising
The following is an account of the uprising in Kurdistan in 199, which buries the lies of the western media which presented this proletarian uprising as the work of nationalist parties in the north or Shi'ite religious fanatics in the south.
THE KURDISH UPRISING
&
KURDISTAN'S NATIONALIST SHOP FRONT
AND ITS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BAATHIST/FASCIST REGIME
(Plus an account of the Workers Councils)
(Note: text is as in original pamphlet; a few pictures and accompanying captions have been removed)
Syrian-Lebanese dispute and its implications for the class struggle, 1500-2003 - Melacholic Troglodytes
Melancholic Troglodytes' pamphlet covering the history of the Syrian/Lebanese dispute from 1500-2003.
Godfathers of Levant
Syrian-Lebanese dispute and its implications for the class struggle
Iranian trade unionist kidnapped
Iranian bus union leader, Mansour Osanloo, was kidnapped on his way home from work yesterday.
The following report was received this evening from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) in London:
The Zanj Slaves Rebellion, AD 869-883
A history of the Zanj slave rebellion - East African slaves in Mesopotamia during the 9th century. These events took place around Basra, in modern day Iraq.
Zapping the Zanj: Towards a History of the Zanj Slaves' Rebellion
Revised on: 16 October 2002. This is an ongoing investigation. Credible sources regarding the Zanj are hard to come by. Melancholic Troglodytes would appreciate any assistance from readers.
Statement from Ghazl el-Mahalla's "7th of December Movement- Workers For Change"
In December, Egypt saw a wildcat strike of 27,000 people at the Ghazl el-Mahalla textile factory. As militancy has spread across and beyond the sector in the region, workers in Ghazl el-Mahalla have formulated the following statement.
This is a rough translation of one of two statements distributed by, the previously unknown, "7th December Movement - Workers for Change" in Ghazl el-Mahalla, 19th and 20th June 2007.
Israel: bus drivers strike in Tel Aviv
1,250 Dan bus drivers began an all out unannounced strike in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
The strike began as efforts failed to settle a five-year collective wage agreement and bonus payments, and drivers set no limit on the duration of the strike.
Haaretz reported that
On Lice and Fleas: Observations Starting from the Conflict Between Iran and the USA
A new situationist analysis of the threat of war between Iran and Iraq and the way this functions to sustain the dominant society, plus some critical comments on the wave of proletarian struggles in Iran.
Al-Jazeera program on Mansoura-España Garments Company struggle
The Everywoman program on Al-Jazeera takes a look at the struggles of Egyptian women working at the Mansoura-España Garments Company who have been occupying their factory for over a month for better pay.
Aired June 1st 2007 and includes an interview with Hossam el-Hamalawy writer from the 3arabwy blog.
The new world order - Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky discusses the New World Order - tri-polar economically, three major economic powers, the United States still the biggest, but declining, relatively, but uni-polar militarily, one military force.
The following is a transcript of a speech given at a benefit for The Middle East Children's Alliance (president, Barbara Lubin) and KPFA radio (manager, Pat Scott).
The topic, as you saw, is The New World Order with primary concern for the Middle East.
