Ecuadorian police detained five journalists associated with Ecuador Indymedia late Tuesday night, May 6th. Four of the five were released from custody on Wednesday afternoon. The government says that the four activists were detained because of their relationship with the fifth detainee, Ecuadorian resident and Colombian national Antonio Alcívar.
The government at first refused to issue a statement on the matter or inform the detainees of the reason for their arrests. The Regional Foundation for Assistance in Human Rights (INREDH) noted that this was a violation of the detainees' constitutional right to be clearly informed of the reason for their detention along with the identities of those who ordered and carried out the arrests.
Since 2001, Euro May Day Parades on the 1st of May have spread all around Europe.
The May Day Parade is a transnational march which expresses the common will to fight the precarity of work and the criminalization of migrants, to make the daily struggles of the precarious visible. Every year hundred thousands of people protest against the precarity of work and life in a context where worktime can be expanded with no limits, and where migrant workers are the most precarious of all workers. This year, the EuroMayDay network called for a joined parade in Aachen, where, on the same day, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela Merkel received the Charlemagne prize. Referring to Charlemagne as the founder of Western culture, it honours people for their contribution to European unificaton. In Hamburg, one thousand nazis tried to recuperate the MayDay, ten thousands antifa met there and cancelled the nazi demo in the most violent riots in Hamburg since 80's. In Milano, there was 100.000 people in the euromayday parade [ video ].
In US, tens of thousands marched and held demonstrations on Thursday 1st of may, calling for an end to war and dignity for immigrants and workers. Dockworkers on the west coast defied their union bosses and staged a one day strike against the war, effectively shutting down all port activity [ pics ]. High school and university students staged walkouts in Venice and San Francisco. Protesters also called out unjust military recruiting and defended public housing.
In New-Zealand, near Blenheim, ploughshares penetrate Waihopai base and deflate satellite dome.
MayDay Parades and Immigrant marches were held all around the world:
Boletín del Centro de Apoyo Comunitario Trabajando Unidos “CACTUS”
Municipio Autonomo de San Juan Copala, Oaxaca--Rumbo a la comunidad de Llano Juárez en la zona Triqui fueron emboscadas y asesinadas dos locutoras de la Radio Comunitaria del Municipio Autónomo de San Juan Copala; “La voz que rompe el silencio”. En el ataque fueron heridas otras cuatro personas, entre ellas dos menores de edad.
Activistas de fuera y dentro de Europa han nombrado el viernes y sábado 11 y 12 de abril de 2008, como días de acción para los espacios ocupados y autónomos. En una reunión que tuvo lugar el año pasado en Dijon, en el espacio autónomo "Les Tanneries", se hizo un llamamiento para organizar dos días de acciones descentralizadas en defensa de los espacios libres y de la cultura popular y anticapitalista.
El objetivo de los días de acción es desarrollar las conexiones y la solidaridad entre los espacios autónomos y ocupados y fomentar su crecimiento como un movimiento político europeo y global. Hay acciones públicas planeadas en Austria, Bielorrusia, República Checa, Dinamarca, Finlandia, Francia, Alemania, Grecia, Irlanda, Israel, Italia, Lituania, los Países Bajos, Nueva Zelanda, Noruega, Polonia, Portugal, Serbia y Suecia entre otros.
El 2 de abril a las 12:30 aproximadamente, cientos de policías rumanos llevaron a cabo una redada en un centro de convergencia en Bucarest, la capital rumana. El lugar de convergencia se había establecido para facilitar la reunión anti-OTAN y estaba alquilado legalmente. Se ha informado que durante la redada al menos dos manifestantes fueron hospitalizados. Varios informes afirman que los detenidos son brutalmente golpeados incluso cuando son llevados al hospital, varias personas están gravemente heridas y a algunas se les ha negado asistencia médica.
Se estima que 46 personas han sido arrestadas. Ninguna manifestación o acción tuvo lugar antes de la redada y todos los arrestos se hicieron en el centro de convergencia. Los oficiales de policía llevaban la cara cubierta y fueron muy agresivos con los periodistas que intentaban acceder al lugar de la acción. El centro de convergencia está localizado cerca del centro de Bucarest, que será la sede de la cumbre de la OTAN que acaba de empezar hoy. Se estima que hasta 27.000 oficiales de policía, francotiradores y policía secreta están “protegiendo” la ciudad. Se ha declarado código de alerta de seguridad amarillo, lo que significa que se prohíbe el acceso a la ciudad a todos los manifestantes y que se aplicarán otras leyes restrictivas.
En Brasilia, la Administración local quiere construir un barrio de lujo denominado « Noroeste », en el lugar donde viven indígenas de varias etnias : Fulniõ/Thapuwia, Tuxá, Cariri-Xocó, que hace más de 30 años recuperaron el lugar (que durante el proceso de invasión les fue robado). El Santuario de los Pajés es la última área de vegetación nativa de los Cerros de la capital del país. Es un santuario ambiental de alto valor para la recarga de la red hidrográfica, siendo al mismo tiempo posada para indígenas de paso por el Distrito Federal y hogar para los indígenas que ahí viven, que en estos paisajes se reconectan con la sabiduría ancestral y sus prácticas espirituales y culturales. Los intereses financiero-especulatorios son importantes, y por ende son defendidos por aquellos que deberían trabajar por un medio ambiente saludable y por la pluralidad cultural, en lugar de ser portavoces de los intereses privados que quieren destruir el Santuario de los Pajés, los Pueblos Originarios, y el medio ambiente. El Gobernador José Roberto Arruda, envuelto en el escándalo de violación del Panel del Congreso Nacional algunos años atrás, el vice-gobernador Paulo Octavio –senador retirado, dueño de la mayor empresa inmobiliaria de Brasilia, dueño de un canal de televisión, dueño del Diario de Brasilia (cual Citizen Kane)- quieren destruir esta historia, usando como propaganda que el barrio sería ecológicamente sostenible, un modelo de modernidad y progreso, cuando en la realidad se trata de una prueba de intolerancia, prejuicios y racismo del modelo de desarrollo capitalista eurocéntrico que destruye la naturaleza y extermina los indígenas, negros y todos aquellos que se oponen a sus mega proyectos. Según el Gobernador Arruda : « Hay quienes piensan que no deberíamos construir el sector « Noroeste » para que los indios sigan viviendo ahí. Obviamente esta no es mi opinión. » El barrio está destinado a la clase alta del país y el metro cuadrado podría costar desde un principio alrededor de 6000 reales (U$ 3500) . Serían más de 100 mil personas y cerca de 150 mil carros máximo, lo que perjudicaría aún más a Brasilia en el período tan duro de la sequía, así como implicaría riesgos de contaminación de los nacimientos de ríos. No hay motivo para la construcción de este barrio pues, según el IBGE (Instituto Brasilero de Geografía y Estadística) habría más de 53 mil inmuebles desocupados por opción de los propietarios. La supuesta demanda habitacional de clase alta es en realidad una demanda de flujo de capital, lo que comprueba la fuerte especulación finaciero-inmobiliaria de los grupos empresario-gobernamentales de la capital federal del Brasil.
Rising Tide called for a day of action against the fossil fuel industry on April 1st. People responded by targetting various aspects of the fossil fuel industry. In the UK, offices were targetted, banners dropped and protests held. In Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, protesters halted work at one of the biggest open-cast coal mines in Europe, with the intention to remain on the site for several days. Read reports: [1][2]. Activists also blockaded the UK's largest off shore gas terminal at Bacton in Norfolk and prevented construction workers from entering the site. Read reports: [1][2]. On 3rd April activists succesfully blockaded Aberthaw power station in Wales, causing huge traffic tailbacks. Read reports: [1][2]. In Scotland the tyres of 4x4's were deflated and foolish action took place in Edinburgh and Glasgow. In Nottingham, an office of energy giant E.ON was successfully blockaded. Two people were arrested and their homes raided and searched by police. Read report + audio. Read full reports:UK Indymedia, Notts Indymedia and Scotland Indymedia.
In the US, activists stopped bulldozers at the contruction site of Cliffside coal-fired power plant, Charlotte, North Carolina. Shortly after locking themselves to construction equipment, police arrived on the scene and used pain compliance holds and tazers to force them to unlock themselves. Read report. In Boston, Massachusetts, four activists locked themselves to the front entrance of a Bank of America branch and were arrested. They were protesting the bank's funding of coal and energy companies. Read report. Two people were arrested in New York City after locking themselves to the front door of Citibank's headquarters, protesting at the companies' "socially irresponsible investment strategy, which includes funding environmentally damaging industries". See report and photos. Other protests were reported in Houston, Denver, Berkeley, Portland, Maine and Worcester. Read full reports:US Indymedia.
In Aotearoa (New Zealand), 3 people were arrested at a Fossil Fools Day protest in Otautahi/Christchurch. One report speak of "blatant police harassment, prosecution of activists, with no possible justification for arrests and brutality." A group of climate change activists also presented Air New Zealand with New Zealand's first ever 'Fossil Fool' award. The company was chosen for the award because of their recent eco-branding program which "attempts to give their customers the impression that damage to the climate due to air travel can can be offset". Read report. Read full reports:Aotearoa Indymedia.
Early morning, Sunday 30 March 2008, the day after protests against the US anti-missile missiles (en)(pl) to be placed in Słupsk, Poland, about 23-25 activists were detained (pl)(en) in Słupsk, mainly from Toruń but also from Szczecin and Poznań. It appears that the police raided a private home while people were sleeping and that the human rights activists were brutally treated and beaten. Police used tear gas and one person has a broken hand. Please telephone to the police station in Słupsk at 3 maja Street +48 59 848 0545 and to the police command +48 59 848 0100. The police allege that the intervention was due to disturbance of the peace at night. There are also charges of assaulting a police officer.
El 23 de marzo, unas 1000 personas de 17 países europeos asistieron al cuartel general de la OTAN, en Bruselas, para participar en la acción internacional no violenta OTAN, juego terminado (NATO Game Over). Cinco años después del comienzo de la guerra en Irak y a diez días de la cumbre de la OTAN en Bucarest, activistas pacíficos de toda Europa manifiestan que la prevención de la guerra comienza en Europa.
TIMELINE: | Photos 1, 2, 3, 4 | Video 1, 2
NEXT ACTIONS: March 29-30: Stop the Shield! | Słupsk, Poland [1] [2] [3] [4] | Czech
On the 5th anniversary of the Iraq invasion, anti-war protesters across the United States stepped up actions of civil disobedience to make their voices heard. From Washington, DC to San Francisco to Boston, hundreds of people were arrested while blockading streets; targeting federal buildings, corporate headquarters and military recruitment stations; and participating in walkouts. Thousands more participated in vigils and support demonstrations. See Below for Roundup of Actions.
These actions followed what is probably most significant and underreported anti-war action in the last 5-years — the Iraq Veterans Against the War's "Winter Soldier" hearings. For four days in Washington, DC, former US military who were in Iraq and Afghanistan testified about US war crimes in the two wars and dramatically condemned the Bush administration and Pentagon for starting the wars. "Winter Soldier" hearings were first held in 1971 in DC by the Vietnam Veterans Against The War and were pivotal in bringing the Vietnam War to an end. This year's hearings were broadcast live on the internet and they were seen by the public at many locations organized by anti-war activists in multiple states; however, the IVAW Winter Soldier was largely ignored by most corporate media. Coverage fromWashington DC | NYC | Boston | Rustbelt Radio | Indybay | Baltimore
El 6 de marzo pasado cientos de miles de personas se movilizaron en 24 lugares del país en la jornada solidaria convocada por el Movimiento de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado MOVICE. El mismo día se realizaron actos de solidaridad en 74 ciudades del mundo. Desde el momento en que se hizo pública la propuesta de la jornada, la estigmatización y los señalamientos, provenientes fundamentalmente del alto Gobierno y de otros sectores de extrema derecha, han generado un clima de polarización cuyas consecuencias no se han hecho esperar. Desde el 10 de febrero y por varios medios de comunicación el asesor presidencial José Obdulio Gaviria señaló la marcha del 6 de marzo de ser "convocada por las Farc". El 12 de febrero se difundieron por correo electrónico panfletos amenazantes contra los organizadores de la marcha. Luego se ha desatado una ola de asesinatos.
“[P]eople in Haiti tell us that all of this stuff has an impact. The more people are doing in other counties, even small events like this one, have an impact because the word is starting to get out to people. So any small thing that you can do really helps.” – Margaret Prescod of "Sojourner Truth" Radio
On Saturday, March 1st, as part of the International Day of Action in Solidarity with the People of Haiti, the www.globalwomenstrike.net hosted a showing of the films Haiti: Harvest of Hope (see the trailer here) and What’s Going on in Haiti? at the Eastside Café in Los Angeles. Margaret Prescod of Pacifica Radio and Women of Color in the Global Women’s Strike, moderated the event. "The Reports that I’ve gotten are is that things are going very well, there were events in about 36 cities around the world,” she said. “There were four major events in Haiti yesterday, including in Port au Prince, that were quite large, including a contingent of people who were also demanding the safe return of Lovinsky Pierre-Antione, one of our comrades who’s been missing in Haiti” (see: http://la.indymedia.org/news/2007/11/210199.php). Full Report & PicturesHaiti Event Marks Four Years Since the Coup Against Aristide by Weak from Fasting | | | Video:MARINES OUT! Solidarity with the Haitian People! by Bill Carpenter | | | List of Participating Cities