Newfoundland Tories are more left than Manitoba NDP?

Offers interest free student loans

As you can read in the following media release sent out by the government of Newfoundland and Labrador, student loans there are now interest free. This, along with a continuing tuition fee freeze, and all on a smaller budget than Manitoba.

Minister and Students Celebrate Unprecedented Initiative

July 31, 2009

Student representatives from across the province gathered in St. John’s today in celebration of a milestone in student debt reduction initiatives in Newfoundland and Labrador. At the strike of midnight tonight, interest on provincial student loans will be eliminated, making this province the first in Canada to take such action to help students reduce debt. The initiative was brought forward in Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation.

"This is groundbreaking," said the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education. "We are truly leading the nation in debt reduction initiatives. Back in 2005, our White Paper on Public Post-secondary Education laid out a plan to ensure quality, affordability and accessibility across the system and we’re seeing the results of continued key investments over the past number of years. When students receive their post-secondary education at college or university, they are getting the highest quality education, but are not breaking the bank to do so."

The elimination of interest is automatic, with no requirement for individuals to make calls or complete forms. There will be no change in the monthly payments made, but the loan will be paid off earlier. However, if a person prefers to reduce their monthly payment, they can contact the financial institution which holds their loan to discuss lower payment arrangements. With interest eliminated, individuals in repayment can see a savings of up to $1,800 over the life of their provincial student loan. Approximately 49,000 people who are currently paying off their loans will benefit from the initiative.

"This initiative, the first of its kind in Canada, will help ease the burden of student loans for thousands of graduates and former students," said Daniel Smith, Newfoundland and Labrador Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "By continuing the tuition fee freeze, increasing core funding for our public college and university, expanding upon the up-front grant program and eliminating the interest rate charges on student financial assistance, this government has clearly listened to students and their families for the need to increase accessibility to post-secondary education and reduce student debt."

This year, a total of $10.9 million is allocated to make public post-secondary education more affordable for more people. This includes $5 million to eliminate interest, to increase up-front, non-repayable grants from $70 to $80 a week and to decrease the amount of spousal contributions to give married students greater access to assistance. In addition, $5.9 million is allocated this year to continue the freeze on tuition rates bringing the total investment in this area alone to $71 million just since 2005.

"It was great to get together today with post-secondary students to recognize this turning point in student financial assistance," said Minister King. "They have been our partners through the past several years in determining the best ways to reduce student debt and we will continue to work with them. We are making unprecedented investments and implementing initiatives that are being noted by student groups in other jurisdictions across the country. This is clearly money well-spent and an investment not just in our students, but in the future of Newfoundland and Labrador."

for a communist to say that a tory government has done something good for students, is really saying something.

High school youths willing to go to jail

would you do the same in a similar situation?

In Israel, military service is compulsory after grade 12. A refusers movement among high school students has been growing for some time. Shministim-Tweleve Graders is the name of the movement and members are willing to and have served time in prison.

A video explains:

Profiles of some of the objectors are shown on this webpage. Among the items on the webpage is a letter and web form for showing support and a video, this one has french subtitles:

Date set for Colombian Political Prisioner`s Trial

From the U.S.-based Campaign for Labor Rights

In August 2008, Liliany Obando was arrested on trumped up charges by the Colombian authorities for "managing money for a terrorist organization", and "rebellion." She was arrested on the basis of emails allegedly found in a computer belonging to FARC Commander Raul Reyes when the Colombian military bombed a FARC camp in Ecuador that was working out details for a prisoner release.

     This "evidence" has been widely discredited. The Colombian Police Captain, Ronald Hayden Coy Ortiz, who oversaw the initial investigation of the computers has said under oath that they contained no emails, only Word documents which are easily manipulated. The international police agency, INTERPOL, said the evidence could not be authenticated and "did not conform to internationally recognized principles".

     Liliany was arrested the same week that a report was released that she authored detailing the murders of more than 1,500 members of the FENSUAGRO rural farm workers union by the Colombian military and paramilitaries.

     Liliany goes to trial on August 27. Her defense team feels confident that it can show that the money she raised was legitimate and traceable and went to the rural workers union. (Many Canadian trade unionists and solidarity activists are familiar with Liliany's work on behalf of FENSUAGRO during her visits to this country.)

     However, the second charge "rebellion" is particularly worrisome. As Carlos Cuevas, speaking for the International Network in Solidarity with Colombian Political Prisoners has noted, "Trade unionists get charged with rebellion. Community organizers get charged with rebellion. So it's a very difficult situation when the government creates legislation that criminalizes dissent."

     And as Liliany's lawyer, Eduardo Matyas noted, the charge of "...Rebellion is very difficult to defend. The charge is highly political ‑ not really a legal matter." The best defense to such a political charge is a political defense ‑ the mobilization of international opinion denouncing these sham charges and demanding Liliany's freedom.

     Liliany's case is especially important because she was the first person to face trial in what is called the "farc‑politica" process. This process is being used to investigate, intimidate and marginalize a variety of unionists, journalists, academics, and opposition political figures.

     Her case will set an important precedent: if she wins, then the whole "farc‑politica" house of cards will come falling down. But if she loses, then her loss will represent a whole new level of repression against dissent in Colombia.

     The Campaign for Labour Rights is urging organizations in North America to support freedom for Liliany Obando. A resolution can be found on the Web at http://www.clrlabor.org/wordpress/wp-content/lilianyresolution.pdf.

     The Campaign is also seeking short handwritten letters protesting the political nature of this case and calling for Liliany's freedom, which will be turned over to Liliany's lawyer. Letters should emphasize the discredited "evidence" against Liliany, and the reality that the case is a thinly veiled attempt to widen the repression of dissent in Colombia. Such letters should be sent to "Liliany Defense Letters," c/o Campaign for Labor Rights, 1247 E Street SE, Washington, DC 20003.

     Finally, contributions are needed to support Liliany's two children, a 5 year old girl and a 15 year old boy. There are some 90 women political prisoners being held with Liliany, many of them in the same condition, with children struggling to get by.

     You can make an online contribution by going to: http://nicanet.org/?page_id=341. Scroll down and mark the option that says "Other: Enter Name" and in the space provided, put "Lily Obando". Cheque or money order contributions made out to the Alliance for Global Justice can be sent to: AFGJ/Lily Obando Fund, 1247 E Street SE, Washington, DC  20003.

     For more information, see the July issue of People's Voice, or visit the Campaign for Labor Rights website: http://www.clrlabor.org/wordpress.

(The following article is from the August 1-31, 2009, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

Hanlon Creek Occupation

Hanlon Creek Occupation

Hey everyone,

As some of you may know there since Monday July 27th there has been an occupation in Guelph in order to stop construction at the Hanlon Creek. Hanlon creek is about 700 acres and is one of Guelph last forest, so we need to protect this land.
Please check out this site, read the articles and check out the video. Updates are posted on the site fairly so check the site often.

http://hcbpoccupation.wordpress.com/

Yesterday, Guelph City General Manager Peter Cartwright came up to the HCBP occupation site to deliver a notice for our eviction. The notice states that we are to be off the site by *tomorrow, July 30th, at 4pm*. The eviction notice was delivered threatening charge of trespassing. We are committed to the protection of tributary A, the old growth forest, the blue heron, and this thriving and vital ecosystem that sustains us.

We are looking for support, both on and off the site. If you are able to, we
strongly encourage and support your decision to come join us tomorrow at 4
pm. If you do not feel comfortable coming up to the encampment and
potentially facing a charge of trespassing, we encourage you to show your
support by standing at the entranceway off of Downey. If you are unable to
be on site, please show your support by calling the following people to
express that you are opposed to the eviction of people who are defending
this land and water that we all need. Please express that you disagree with
any arrests that will be made.

If you feel that calls aren't enough, try to find them in person at city
hall.

Please call:

Mayor Karen Farbridge
519-837-5643
mayor@guelph.ca

Hans Loewig
Chief Administrative Officer
519-837-5602
administration@guelph.ca

Peter Cartwright

General Manager of Economic Development and Tourism

519-837-5600 x2820
peter.cartwright@guelph.ca

Ward 6 Councilors
Christine Billings
519-826-0567

christine.billings@guelph.ca

Karl Wettstein
519-763-5105
karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

music review: proletopia records label

note most links below are to myspace profiles, including music players.



above: “...I saw the wildly flashing red ad...”

“OUT NOW!!!” the self-promoting blurb proclaimed on a myspace post. I wish I had a better way to introduce a record label in a profile or review, but I did not come across this label by ways of a indie record shop, merch table or touring punk band. I saw the wildly flashing red ad on a computer screen hours away from any metropolitan area.

Proletopia records is the label. Hard core punk is the music. Beijing is the home base for it all.
Oddly enough the website for this label has been short lived since it is now offline.

The use of 1!..2!..3!..exclamation points following “OUT NOW” means it must be good. Or really bad and they must flog those records. Or excited that they released a copyleft record. Well that's for you to decide, but for myself I find the music good enough to download. Or if I had extra cash maybe even buy a CD. The fact that the label's releases were copy left is what got my attention. Let's face it, if the music is for us proles, we have to make it ourselves and to get other fellow worker's music, we need it cheap or better yet free.

Why the name Proletopia? The first things that crossed my mind when I read that name were, myopia and utopia. The second one is more relevant. The label's name is a contraction of the words proletariat and utopia.

The bands on the label are from all ends of the Earth: South America, Europe, North America and Asia.
Ska and Oi! Bands also make a strong showing on the label roster.

Right: The fact that the label's releases were copy left is what got my attention



Earlier this year the label released two compilation albums: Black and Red (also called in full black sunrise and red sunrise ).


There are too many bands to give space to them all but I will feature a couple now to give an idea of the label....

Gum bleed is a Chinese street punk band that reminds me of another street punk band: the Casualties. The same mammoth size mohawks and street punk music style. But clone band it's not. Surf rock band like the ventures, instruments like klezmer clarinets, and other influences seem to find their way in at times. Many tracks are largely metal influenced. Most unusual is the punked up cover of the Metis anthem, Red River Valley.

The adrenaline dumping into arteries from the high energy sound and screaming lyrics are sure to wake us up with after a tiring shift at the factory, store or call centre. With tracks titles like “don't forget the Class struggle” and People's War” Gum Bleed is very much relevant to working class punks.

Factory Minds is a ska punk band from San Jose, California that formed in February 2008. A listen to them and you know the Clash was a big influence on them.

Brigada Oi! is a Oi! band from Columbia that formed in 1999. Lyrics are in Spanish.

other bands:

Answer---catalonia
Camarada Kalashnikov---catalonia
A.S.C.O---Western Sahara
Subversivos---Brazil
Piolet Rock Proletario---Venezuela
Cervelli Stanki---Italy
Sobressal Tos---Portugal
P38punk---Italy
Post Guerra---Colombia
Breaking To Top---PRC
Mr. Irish Bastards---Germany
Death Zone---UK
Hangover Overdose---Finland
Civil Olydnad---Sweden
Unity of inferior---Russia
Lost Cherrees---UK
Represion24horas---Spain
Crise Total---Portugal



above: note the misspelling “surise” well kudos for trying. I guess that's what punk's all about.

Latest on Honduras and Colombia

As reported in Granma and the People's Weekly World online blog, the general strike continues to keep the economy dead in its tracks. Literally, as extensive roadblocks have stopped the flow of people and goods. The report says some police officers have joined the strike and that "Many people called Radio Globo, a radio station that is keeping its microphones open for the people, to report that they had been victims of repression by the army forces who attempted to halt their movement."

The Honduras armed forces have said that they will support the agreement being sought to return President Manuel Zelaya to Honduras, but with severe limits on his powers. This signals that the army is taking a somewhat moderate but still pro-establishment approach compared to Roberto Micheletti, who holds an extreme view of absolutely refusing to have Zelaya return. It's up to the people now. Here's hoping that the strike spreads.

Zelaya has set up camp on the Nicaragua border, this after crossing into Honduras twice over the past few days. Zelaya was the target of a coup d'etat after he tried to hold a referendum to gauge public opinion on changing the constitution to allow him to run a second time.

Meanwhile in Colombia, the Uribe government continued it's campaign of bloody repression. It bombed a FARC camp south of the country's capital. Any hope of peace is dismal while Alvaro Uribe is president. It should be noted that in Colombia Uribe is also planning to change the constitution in order for him to run for a third term in office. If anybody needs to be overthrown it's Uribe.

reports on the honduran regime's attempts to close down radio and free media outlets. Links.

from Indymedia newswire




Listen the transmission of Radio Liberada from some place of Honduras: http://208.43.218.127:8070/

We encourage the national and international independent means groups to broadcast in your free radios or make a mirror of this transmission.

Mirrors: 1 2 3

More information in the Independent Media Center of Honduras Indymedia Honduras: http://chiapas.indymedia.org/honduras/

More information in Radio is the one of less:

http://www.radioeslodemenos.org/

Minute by minute by Kaos in the Network: http://www.kaosenlared.net/noticia/secuestrado-presidente-honduras-militares

Information and transmission by the Association of Radios and Participating Programs of El Salvador (HARPS): http://www.arpas.org.sv/

We know that they have been closing free media in Honduras. This morning (note: report is from late June) the Radio Progreso, one of the older communitarian radios of the continent has been closed by the military. Other communitarian radios have decided to protect their equipment.

The electrical energy, the telephone and the Internet have being interrupted by the coup participants trying to block the communications and make the informative censure.

And the situation worries to us in that the networks of communitarian radios of the Lenca town and the Garífuna town stay, as well as the free media: COMUN, Revistazo, the COFADEH and the rest of groups of the independent and communitarian media movement in Honduras.

Celebrating 50 Years of Cuba Revolution!

Moncada Day Celebration TODAY!
Sunday, July 26
2 pm
Chilean Coop
3390 School Ave
Vancouver

Speakers:
Jim Sinclair, President BC Federation of Labour
Frank Kennedy, Secretary Treasurer ILWU Retirees
Ray Viaud, Canada Cuba Friendship Assoc.

Entertainment:
No Shit Shirleys
Tom Hawkins
Hugo Rojas

Food & Cash Bar
-----------------------------------------------------
Celebrating 50 Years of Cuba Revolution!


This July 26, the Young Communist League of Canada - la Ligue de la
jeunesse communiste du Canada, sends its greetings and stands in
solidarity with the people of Cuba. This "Moncada Day" has special
meaning for Cubans and friends of Cuba everywhere, as it is the 50th
anniversary of the victory of the Cuban Revolution. The movement that
grew into the triumphant Revolution was born on the 26th of July, 1953
when Fidel and Raul Castro and around 160 other brave revolutionaries
attacked the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba. This was the first
armed resistance to the corrupt and brutal, US-backed, Batista regime,
carried out by the "Movimiento 26 Julio".

The YCL-LJC Canada wishes to send a special greeting to the Youth of
Cuba and to the Unión de Jóvenes Comunistas. We acknowledge the
vanguard role the youth play in the Cuban Revolution and the Cuban
people's struggle for socialism and against imperialism. This was no
different 56 years ago when the attack on the Moncada barracks was
carried out. The revolutionaries that participated were
overwhelmingly young farmers, workers and students and in unity with
the working-class. The average age was 26, the same age as their
leader Fidel Castro. Today we salute the example set by those brave
revolutionaries.

The Moncada attack was not an immediate victory for the Movimiento 26
Julio, but it was the first battle in a long people's struggle against
the strangle-hold of imperialism. After Fidel was arrested and
imprisoned, he published his famous defence speech entitled "History
will Absolve Me". With 50 years of history written about the heroic
Cuban Revolution, Castro and his Moncada comrades have been absolved
one-thousand times over. By continuing to maintain friendly relations
with Cuba, Canada affirms its sovereignty in foreign policy (which in
all other areas is authored by Washington -- like Palestine, Colombia
or Canada’s imperialist war in Afghanistan).



The bravery and heroism of their people continues, symbolized by the
Cuba Five – five men unjustly imprisoned in US jails for fighting
CIA-backed terrorism on their Island. We salute the Five, reaffirm our
demand to free them, and cheer-on Cuba's achievements in education,
health care and international solidarity which have shown the world
that socialism is both possible and necessary to end war,
environmental destruction and economic injustice.



The Young Communist League of Canada joins the friends of Cuba from
around the world in saying:



"VIVA LA REVOLUCION CUBANA Y EL MOVIMIENTO DEL 26!"

July 26, 2009
YCL-LJC CEC