World

Thiago and Saif were abducted last week in international waters by Israeli forces, more than a thousand kilometers from Gaza, while sailing on a humanitarian mission in support of the Palestinian people. Of the 180 activists abducted, most were released after 48 hours, but Thiago and Saif remain in detention, subjected to interrogation and physical and psychological torture. In yet another affront to international law, the Israeli court decided on Monday, 4 May to extend the detention of humanitarian activists Thiago Ávila, from Brazil, and Saif AbuKeshek, members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, for six more days. The decision was made by the Ashkelon Magistrates’ Court, which granted the Israeli government’s request to keep them in custody until next Sunday (10 May) at 9 a.m., without presenting any formal charges against either of them.

The elections were called by the Palestinian National Authority with the aim of regaining some legitimacy, as its policy of collaboration with the Israeli occupation is highly unpopular, having proven contrary to the interests of the majority of Palestinians. The sole beneficiary of this collaboration is the Palestinian bourgeoisie linked to the occupation’s businesses. 88% of the candidates ran as independents for electoral reasons, although many were members of Palestinian parties, primarily Fatah. In Deir al-Balah, in Gaza, four lists ran. All were announced as independent, but in reality the “Rise of Deir al-Balah” list, close to Fatah, won six of the 15 council seats, and “Deir al-Balah Unites Us,” closer to Hamas, won two seats. Of the independent lists, “Future of Deir al-Balah” won 5 seats and “Peace and Reconstruction” won 3.

My daughter, Carolina Garzón, disappeared in Quito, Ecuador, on 28 April 2012, while she was on holiday with classmates from the District University of Bogotá, where she was studying. Aged 22, she was a student activist and a member of the Socialist Workers’ Party (PST). The presidents of Ecuador and Colombia at that time were […]

The demonization and attack on immigrants remains a bipartisan project. Case in point, this past week the governor’s office of California announced that it will be turning over the driver’s license data of all 1 million undocumented immigrant drivers in the state to a federal database where their names, information, and addresses can be looked up. While implementation may be dependent on the legislature voting funds for the process, this decision has not yet been legally challenged and as of yet there have been no rallies opposing it. This is coming from the Democratic Party—the party that says it stands with immigrants! If they are willing to do this today, what will they do next?

The Global Sumud Flotilla is issuing an urgent international alert of a state-sponsored kidnapping and torture mission currently unfolding in international waters. This alert follows first-hand testimony from released participants confirming that Saif Abukeshek, one of two civilians forcibly taken by israeli forces, was subjected to torture while in detention aboard an israeli military vessel while still in Greek waters. 

Every year on May 1st, International Workers' Day is observed around the world. It is not merely a holiday to respect labor; rather, it is a day of remembrance of struggle and revolutionary resolve – the bloodiest chapter in the working class's struggle against the capitalist system. Pakistan is a textbook example of capitalist exploitation. The conditions of the working class here are barbaric.

The Global Sumud flotilla, which was transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza, was attacked by Israeli armed forces in a Greek search-and-rescue zone, 35 miles from Crete (Greece) and 1,200 km from Gaza. Netanyahu’s genocidal government used drones, communications jamming technology, and armed speedboats in international waters to seize the flotilla’s members. According to reports, 22 […]

On Tuesday, the 28th, the 4th Federal Criminal Court sentenced PSTU President Zé María to two years in prison for the crime of “racism.” What is most surprising is that the decision stems from a speech by Zé María in defense of the Palestinian people, denouncing the genocide and the colonialist regime imposed by the State of Israel on occupied Palestine. In the face of a decision with no legal basis, the PSTU will appeal to the Federal Court of São Paulo (TRF3). Beyond that, the party will not back down one inch from its condemnation of the State of Israel and the successive crimes against humanity it has been perpetrating under the gaze of the world.

Straight from the middle of the Global Sumud Flotilla, Mandi Coelho interviews Andriy Movchan, a Ukrainian left organizer, also sailing in the Flotilla, who organizes with the european network for solidarity with Ukraine, and who is a political dissident facing persecution by the right-wing.

On the night of April 12, in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, thousands of people jubilantly filled the streets to celebrate the political and electoral defeat of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party, after 16 years of authoritarian government. A new historical stage had begun. Why did Orbán lose, and what does his […]

It had been only a few months back that the contract workers of Indian Oil Company had revolted in a wildcat strike. They were protesting the conditions of work for contract workers. The uprising inspired petro chemical workers in Surat where the same conditions were replicated. Now, the fire spreads from Panipat in Haryana to the streets of Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Noida is the so-called Millenium city of India, a poster child for neo-liberal growth. The militant protests of workers have made non-sense of this illusion of neo-liberal capitalist development.

Between Monday, March 16, and Saturday, April 4, a predominately immigrant workforce shut down one of the largest beef processing plants in the country. Beyond the “bread and butter” issues of wages, healthcare and safety this strike had much larger political implications about the ability of immigrant workers to organize and fight back against employer and government attacks in the workplace and community. The strike certainly raised questions about the difficulties workers face in winning contracts that deliver big economic packages and make meaningful long term gains. But what the strike lacked in financial impact it made up for as an example of fearless union members coming together from dozens of different ethnic backgrounds to stand up and fight.

Whether it's taking jobs, pricing out utilities or polluting neighborhoods, capitalist AI is an obvious menace. The fightback it's provoking also has immense potential

In the imperialist war initiated by the U.S. and Israel, the environmental consequences have been particularly vile for Iranian people. Although, at the moment of writing, a temporary and fragile ceasefire has been arranged, these consequences will last for decades and affect the whole region. Indeed, in the near future we can expect more environmentally destructive and ultimately pointless wars to be waged by U.S. imperialism, powered by AI and justified by genocidal rhetoric.

On 12 April, a new flotilla will set sail from Barcelona. Hundreds of activists are determined to break the blockade that Israel has imposed on Gaza, preventing any kind of humanitarian aid from entering. This is happening amid the inaction and complicity of European governments. This new flotilla aims to build on the mission of […]

Parliamentary elections were held in Hungary last Sunday. The results left no room for doubt: a massive rejection at the polls brought an end to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s sixteen-year rule. Moreover, Orbán’s defeat deals a serious blow to both Putin and Trump at the same time. As the results came in, a sea of people flooded the streets of Budapest and other cities. The Hungarian masses categorically refuse to continue down Orbán’s path. It remains to be seen—beyond his campaign promises—what course his successor, Péter Magyar, will take.