Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Global Unions Launch UN Complaint Over Iranian Repression

25 July 2006

Global union the ITF and international union body the ICFTU today made a formal complaint against Iran to the ILO (International Labour Organization) following the continued use of terror tactics against one of the ITF’s member unions there.

The union bodies today submitted a dossier detailing coninuing repression against the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed) that is not just contrary to all norms of justice and human rights but is in direct contravention of the very principles to which the Islamic Republic of Iran signed up when it joined the ILO.

Since it was set up as an independent trade union in 2005 the Syndicate, which is affiliated to the ITF, has been subjected to an ongoing campaign of harassment, arrests and physical attacks. These include the continuing detention of the union’s President Mansoor Osanloo.

To read the full article please click on the link below:

http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/878

Monday, July 24, 2006

The Joy of Resistance at WBAI Covers the Showdown Between Religious Right and Feminists in Missisippi

By Jennifer Fasulo
July 23, 2006

This Thursday, July 27 at 11am, tune in to The Joy of Resistance, Multi-cultural Feminist Radio to hear an important report about the showdown between the Religious Right and Feminists in Mississippi.

The religious-fascist group “Operation Save America”(OSA), formerly Operation Rescue, descended on Jackson Mississippi for a week of protest activities designed to shut down the last remaining abortion clinic in the state. In response, local feminist groups, such as the Jackson Area National Organization for Women, along with hundreds of feminists and progressives from around the country united to oppose and denounce the Religious Right’s ongoing anti-woman and anti-freedom agenda. According to media reports, Feminists and their supporters outnumbered the religious fanatics by 4 to 1. According to Michelle Colon, President of the Jackson area chapter of the National Organization of Women, not only did “Operation Save America” fail in their goals to shut down the clinic, but their presence helped galvanize local residents and instigate an exciting new grassroots effort, particularly by women of color, to defend women’s rights.

Listen to interviews with Michelle Colon, Jackson NOW president and Betty Maloney of Radical Women in NYC recount the successful week’s activities.

Residents of NY, NJ and CT can hear report on Thursday July 27, at 11am on WBAI 99.5 FM.

Those out of range can listen online by going to www.wbai.org and clicking on live streaming.

After the 27th, it can also be heard by going to the same link, clicking on archives and scrolling down and clicking on the date and time of show.

More Picture: Jackson, MS, Women's Rights Activists Confront Christian Fascists





Pictures: Jackson, MS, Battle for Freedom and Equality for Women