In honor of May Day I thought I would post a couple of videos about the history of the day. Although it is widely recognized around the world as an international workers’ day, in memory of the Haymarket Martyrs and the struggle for the eight hour day that took place in Chicago in 1886, its origins remain very obscure to most people from the US.
Hopefully the events taking place around the US and around the world today, in connection with the Occupy movement, the Indignados, and others, will reawaken the hidden history of May Day and bring its central tenants to the fore once again.
The Origin of May Day
Amy Goodman interviews James Green on the Haymarket Riot
Posted in 1886, 19th Century, america, Amy Goodman, Capitalism, Current Events, economics, Fear, history, Interview, politics, Protests, Protests, Socalism, social, u.s., Videos, wealth distribution, worker control
Tagged 1886, anarchism, democracy now!, eight hour day, Haymarket, haymarket martyrs, haymarket riot, history, International Worker's Day, May Day, origins, socialism, video
Some disturbing scenes from the recent Israelis independence day celebrations. The stifling of protests and activists that challenge the state, while at the same time turning a blind eye to the right wing activists is a trend that we have documented before on this site.
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Posted in International Perspectivies, Israel Watch, Protests, Protests, social, Videos
Tagged activism, activists, arrests, independence day, israel, Israel watch, left, Lia Tarichansky, Nakba, nationalism, police, Right, the real news
As some of you may know, I make my home in the lovely city of Duluth, Minnesota, USA. Although normally a national or even global perspective is featured on this blog, I thought it would be appropriate to share some local perspective as well. The video below if from a recent rally that took place in Duluth on tax day to call on the rich to pay their fair share. It is important to share an acknowledge this smaller local actions. Sometimes focusing on the larger picture can be self defeating; power structures and systems seem so entrenched as to engender a feeling of helplessness in the face of them.
We must always remember that no meaningful change will come the centers of power on their own accord. It will only come when enough of a groundswell is built through a multitude of small and local organizations that apply pressure to those that currently occupy the halls of power in Washington.
Samir Amin on the correlation of forces in Egypt today and identifies the current phase as the beginning of a long period of democratic change with its ups and downs.
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Posted in Arab Uprising, Capital, Current Events, economics, Egypt Watch, International Perspectivies, neo-liberalism, people, privatization, Protests, Socalism, social
Tagged Arab Uprising, class, egypt, interview, privitization, revolution, Samir Amin, social, US, video
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Posted in Best of the Web, climate change, Current Events, energy crisis, environment, Protests, Videos
Tagged 350.org, Climate change, connect the dots, protests, video
The recent presidential elections in Russia have seen Vladimir Putin regain the post after fours years as prime minister. Amid widespread calls of vote-rigging and against the backdrop of the large popular mobilizations in December 2011, will Putin be able to retain the necessary support of the elites (and with them the military and police), or will the already forming splits in the ruling class be a portent of tough times to come in Russia?
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Posted in 2012, election, International Perspectivies, Protests, Russia Watch, vote
Tagged 2012, elections, protests, Russia, video, Vladimir Putin
The Other Americas 
Israel Denies Entry to Hundreds in Day of Action
The below video expands on a theme that we have often touched upon at The Other Americas: the incompatibility of a Jewish state and a democratic state.
The rightward shift in public opinion in Israel over the past decade only continues to deepen, the large protests that took place last summer over social questions ( the issue of the occupation was conspicuously absent for the most part) notwithstanding.
The specific targeting of left leaning political activists by the police while simultaneously allowing right leaning activists to act with impunity is a clear example of the systematic attempt to suppress dissent.
As always, antisemitism is the charge leveled against those standing up for the rights of a dispossessed people that have lived under occupation, as refugees, or as second class citizens for the past half century. It does not matter that many of the activists supporting the Palestinian cause were themselves Israeli Jews; they simply can be slapped with epitaph of self-hating Jew and no further thought on the matter is necessary.
As the struggle for Palestinian rights continues to unfold, both in the Palestian communities in the Occupied Territories and in Israel, as well as among Jewish and international solidarity activists, The Other Americas will continue is analysis with an eye towards a just, equitable, and lasting solution for all involved, recognizing that tyranny over any can only result in tyranny over all.
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Posted in Commentary, Current Events, International Perspectivies, Israel Watch, politics, Protests, Protests, social, Videos
Tagged activists, antisemitism, day of action, democracy, israel, Jewish state, middle east, oppression, palestine, palestinians, Right, solidarity