South America
‘General strike’ spreads across Peru
As an indefinite teachers strike continues into its 12th day, farmers, miners and construction workers joined the protests, with one farmer shot dead by police.
The latest death brings the reported death toll to 4 over the last week in what has been described by some media as a general strike. The strike began when the teachers union struck against a new law requiring all teachers to sit regular competency exams (libcom.org coverge here).
Sócrates - midfielder and anti-dictatorship resister
Brazil and Corinthians midfielder, doctor of medicine and philosophy, Sócrates also organised demonstrations of opposition to Brazil's military dictatorship.
Born Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, Sócrates captained Brazil at both the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.
Javier Zanetti - Zapatista supporter
Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti was instrumental in building links between his club and the Zapatistas.
With Zanetti leading the drive, Inter Milan funded sports, water and health projects in the Chiapas region of Mexico, where the Zapatistas operate.
Peru: Teachers strike against exams
Teachers in Peru launched a one-day strike to protest against legislation currently being debated in Parliament.
The government is proposing to reform the education system by forcing teachers to take regular competency exams. A teacher failing the exam three times could then be fired. Unions have strongly protested, claiming that the new law will allow arbitrary sackings.
Miners' strikes in North and South America
Miners in Canada, Mexico and Peru are either currently striking or planning strike action.
In Canada the mining group Inco has been forced to cancel deliveries as a strike by 3300 workers at its Sudbury Mine in Ontario. Workers have been on strike for a week after negotiations on a new contract broke down.
Chile: miners and support workers strike
Seeing record prices for raw materials and record profits for mining companies, workers in Chile are demanding better wages and conditions.
At the Collahuasi mine in Chile, one of the world's largest copper mines workers have given notice of a strike to begin Monday, they are demanding an 8% pay increase whereas management has only offered 1%, they are also asking for health and education benefits and a housing stipend.
Bolivia: roads blocked by strikers and protesters
Thousands of striking miners from the Huanani mine have been forming road blocks since Tuesday to protest against government inaction.
President Evo Morales was forced to cancel a trip to Brazil due to this and several other protests.
Venezuela: student march repressed
Police used rubber bullets and tear gas against students protesting against the closure of the RCTV television channel.
The main demonstration took place on Monday in Caracas, with further demonstrations in
Valencia (100km southwest of Caracas) and San Cristobal (in the south-west of the country). The main demonstration was attended by 5000. There have been no official reports of casualties for this demonstration although the government has confirmed that four people were taken to hospital in Valencia.
Traven, B. – An Anti-Biography
A short biography of the writer and anarchist, B Traven, also known as Feige, Ret Marut, Torsvan, Croves...
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B. TRAVEN – AN ANTI-BIOGRAPHY
"An author should have no other biography than his books."
“The biography of a creative man is completely unimportant.”
– B. Traven
– B. Traven
Argentina: wildcat strike on Buenos Aires Metro
Metro Workers in Buenos Aires launched a 24-hour wildcat strike in protest at an agreement between management and their union.
The strike was virtually 100% observed and shut down the entire network, which is used by over a million people every day. The workers called the strike in protest at the salary increase negotiated by the rail workers' union (UTA). Buenos Aires was chaotic with traffic jams blocking most of the city as hundreds of thousands of people tried to use the roads instead.
