BBC’s use of fake images extends to natural history

The footage that embarrassed the BBC

The BBC is to launch a review into the Human Planet natural history series where four faked scenes have been exposed.

May Day – Philippines

May Day rally in Cebu, 2017 | Tony Seed (Click to enlarge)

Every May 1, thousands of Filipino labourers come together across the country and fill the streets with a familiar rallying cry: “Mabuhay ang manggagawang Pilipino!” (Long live the Filipino worker!). The goal of the demonstrations is to bring to the forefront issues such as fair remuneration and labour export policies as well as such demands as to end U.S. military bases and domination. 

1 de Maig – Catalunya

CCOO de Catalunya celebrarà aquest 1 de Maig amb el lema Ara ens toca a nosaltres! + igualtat, + ocupació, + salaris, + pensions

Les manifestacions previstes són:

Barcelona, 11.30 h. Ronda Sant Pere / Passeig de Gràcia.
Girona, 12.00 h. Plaça de la Independència
Lleida, 12.00 h. Plaça del Treball
Tarragona, 12.00 h. Plaça Imperial Tàrraco
Tortosa, 12.00 h. Plaça del Carrilet
Blanes, 18.30 h. Passeig de Dintre, 29 (davant de l’Ajuntament)
Igualada, 12.00 h. Passeig Verdaguer, cantonada amb Carrer Sant Magí

Feu clic per veure
– el cartell de CCOO de Catalunya per a l’1 de Maig
– el cartell conjunt de CCOO de Catalunya i UGT per a l’1 de Maig
– el manifest de l’1 de Maig: Ara ens toca a nosaltres: IGUALTAT, millor OCUPACIÓ, SALARIS més alts i PENSIONS dignes
– el programa d’actes del Maig de la Cultura i el Treball
– la notícia ‘Roda de premsa conjunta de presentació de les mobilitzacions del Primer de Maig de 2018’ (25-4-2018)

Source: CCOO

May Day – Halifax

Halifax May Day, 2012

MAY 1 – International Workers’ Day rally and march
Public · Hosted by Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council
Tuesday at 5 PM – 6:30 PM
Halifax Grand Parade, Barrington St, Halifax, Nova Scotia
May 1 is the international day of celebrating the working class struggle for a better world.
The Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council invites everyone who is a friend of this struggle to come rally at Grand Parade Square in front of city hall at 5:00pm. We will march at approx. 6:00-6:30pm. A reception will be hosted by the Mayworks Festival at the Bus Stop Theatre at 6:30pm.

mayworkshalifax.ca

 Dave Shaw (25 April at 20:09):  May 1st! friends and allies, hope to see you there, great to see the Labour Council take this day on, as it normally is THE day of recognition of labour internationally. Years ago we met with resistance when we attempted to forge ahead with this very special day for a MAYDAY rally. People like Tony Seed, Aaron Doncaster Allan Bezanson Ivy Shaw Jeff Callahan, Toni MacAfee Charles Spurr and others were part of the loyal small contingent we were able to pull together years ago. Bravo that Labour is recognizing this day again in Halifax .

All Out to Build the New!

International Day of Working Class Unity and Struggle

As workers all over the planet prepare to mark May Day 2018, contingents of the international working class reflect on their situation and their demands. In Cuba, the working people will celebrate their people’s power and pledge to take further measures to consolidate their socialist economy. In the capitalist world workers know from direct experience that the problems they face at work and generally in their lives and society are connected with the unresolved problem that political power is in the hands of alien class interests. To solve those recurring problems the working class must take collective action to sort out the question of Who Decides?

Germany and the EU: Using hardship of the Syrian people as leverage

BERLIN/DAMASCUS (April 26) – Berlin and the EU are seeking to use Syria’s hardships for leverage to gain influence on that country’s political development. Berlin will provide humanitarian aid for the Syrian population, German Foreign Minster Heiko Maas announced at yesterday’s Syria conference in Brussels – aid that is also seen as helpful in preventing a new wave of mass migration to the EU. However, aid for the country’s reconstruction will only be granted, if Damascus makes political concessions, Maas declared.

Struggle for peace on Korean peninsula: Perspective on Inter-Korean and US-DPRK summits

A very lively meeting was held during the afternoon of March 31 in downtown Toronto with Professor Kiyul Chung of the 21st Century Institute based in Washington DC. Prof. Chung is also an Associate Professor at Kim Il Sung University in Pyongyang and at universities in China and Japan. Prof. Chung shared his thoughts about the upcoming third Inter-Korean Summit between Kim Jong Un, leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) scheduled April 27 on south Korean territory in Panmunjom at the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean nation. He also gave his views on the planned DPRK-U.S. Summit set for May where Kim Jong Un will meet U.S. President Trump.

The Communist Party of Cuba will resolutely support and back the new President

Speech by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, at the close of the Constituent Session of the 9th Legislature of the National Assembly of People’s Power, at Havana’s International Conference Center, April 19, 2018, “Year 60 of the Revolution.” 

Cuba awarded with ‘safest country’ title at Madrid’s tourism fair

During Madrid’s International Tourism Fair, FITUR 2018, Cuba received the honour of being declared “safest country” – a title it proudly holds and which completely debunks certain claims recently made by Trump’s administration that seek to tarnish the island’s impeccable reputation for safety. This recognition proves Cuba is one of the safest countries for tourists to visit, not just in the Caribbean, but the whole world | SUSANA CORONA

How the New York Times partook in the plunder of Iraq

Who gave permission to the New York Times to remove thousands of ISIL files from Iraq? | SINAN ANTOON*

A US soldier hauls documents during a raid conducted at a community centre in Baghdad in June 2003 | AP/Jim Krane

Many of the precious objects displayed in the global north’s major museums were plundered from their home in the global south. The dubious itinerary and the illegal and unethical practices that facilitated the plunder cannot be found in the laconic texts accompanying these exhibited objects.

‘Media used my son for their purposes’: CNN’s Amanpour challenged to go talk to ‘Aleppo boy’

Omran Daqneesh’s photo became a symbol of the tragic state of children in Aleppo. The boy’s father reveals how the Syrian militants used his young son as a scripted tool in their propaganda fight against the Syrian government. I do not recall Amanpour making political hay out of or expressing any concern about civilians killed and/or injured by armed US involvement in Iraq and elsewhere.

No consent – No pipeline! Canadian’s opposition to Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline project

Protesters block the gates of Kinder Morgan’s Burnaby Mountain facility, March 17, 2018.

Germany: Export world champion under pressure

BERLIN (April 20) – With intense shuttle diplomacy, members of the German government are seeking to avert the impending US punitive tariffs on European goods and the loss of access to the important US market.

The era of retaliation

BERLIN (April 23) – Germany’s defence minister reaffirmed that Berlin is basically ready to participate in military aggressions, such as the recent western attack on Syria. “We could also fulfill the contribution from the air that Great Britain had made in this case,” said Ursula von der Leyen, but “we weren’t asked this time.”

Celebration of 57th anniversary of proclamation of socialist character of the Cuban Revolution

57th anniversary of Fidel’s proclamation of the socialist character of Cuba’s Revolution celebrated in Havana, April 16, 2018.

On April 16, the victory of the defeat of the U.S.-led invasion of Cuban mercenaries at Playa Giron, the Bay of Pigs, was celebrated in a political and cultural event held at the historic corner of 23rd and 12th Streets in the Vedado neighbourhood of Havana where, 57 years earlier, Fidel Castro proclaimed the socialist character of the Cuban Revolution.

Cuba holds opening session of newly elected National Assembly of People’s Power

Congratulations to the Cuban people on the successful culmination of their historic electoral process

Constituent Session of the 9th Legislature, April 18, 2018.

On April 18, as their first act at the inaugural session of Cuba’s 9th Legislature after being sworn in, 604 deputies of the National Assembly of People’s Power unanimously re-elected Esteban Lazo Hernández as President, Ana María Mari Machado as Vice-President and Miriam Brito Sarroca as Secretary of the National Assembly. Following this, deputies nominated from their ranks and elected the 31-member Council of State, including its President, five Vice-Presidents and Secretary.

German maneouvres in the wake of the bombs

From the Jasmine city of Damascus (Dimashq) today (Click to nlarge)

BERLIN/DAMASCUS/MOSCOW (April 18) – The German government, after having applauded the bombing of Syria, is now demanding participation in the country’s reorganization once the war has ended.

Cuba: Revolutionary continuity, renewal and unity

By Isaac Saney, National Spokesperson, Canadian Network On Cuba

Deputies to the National Assembly of People’s Power elect members of Council of State.

(April 17) – On April 18, Cuba’s newly elected National Assembly of People’s Power, the island’s parliament, will inaugurate a new sitting of legislators, the Constituent Session of the 9th Legislature.

The search for truth in the rubble of Douma – and one doctor’s doubts over the chemical attack

Robert Fisk, twice British journalist of the year and seven time foreign correspondent of the year, visits the Syria clinic at the centre of a global crisis. He finds zero evidence of the “gas attacks” used as the pretext for the combined US-UK-France aggression on April 13, a war crime, and for a frenzied media campaign to instead find Syria and Russia guilty of a war crime. There is no evidence of the supposed dozens of dead.

The US secret plan against Damascus foiled: Russian role before and after the US-UK-France attack revealed

By ELIIJAH J. MAGNIER

(Damascus)  – Donald Trump has climbed down from the tree he climbed up a few days ago when he gathered a large military force and firepower similar to “operation desert storm” (but without ground forces).  “Plan A” consisted of a destructive attack on Syria to destroy its army, presidential palace, command and control bases, elite force, strategic military and ammunition warehouses, radar, defence systems and political leadership institutions.

Prior to the triple attack on Syria by the US – UK – France, intensive contacts were carried out by Russia and President Vladimir Putin himself – at around 04:00 am– to reduce the attack and go to a softer, less significant “Plan B”.

US foreign policy

The proof of the pudding

Ussian: Syrian Army gassed its own people.
Syrian: What is the evidence?
Ussian: We know. We say so. We don’t need any evidence!
Ussian: And! We launched 120 missiles against just 3 targets, Syria didn’t shoot down a single one.
Syrian: We downed most of them and we have evidence.
Ussian: Shut up, you… you Arab! We know! We know! We don’t need evidence!
Syrian: As Engels used to say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating!

US failed attempt to disable the Syrian air force by destroying its airports

US definition of ‘surgical’: 105 missiles against 3 targets, or something else? Two reports.

There is a very large discrepancy between the Russian Ministry of Defense’s report of strike and the description in the Pentagon briefing on the strike. According to the Pentagon, only three places related to non-existing Syrian chemical weapons were targeted:

This combined military strike was directed against three distinct Syrian chemical weapons program targets.
…
In summary, in a powerful show of allied unity, we deployed 105 weapons against three targets.

It does not make any sense to send 35 cruise missiles against each of those not hardened, not defended targets like the now destroyed Barzeh research center which was a small two story building complex and had been declared free of chemical weapons and weapon research by the OPCW. Why would the U.S. military use such a high number of precision weapons against only three targets? This is extremely unusual and does not make sense at all.

Word. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s address at the Council for Foreign and Defence Policy, Moscow, April 14, 2018

Mr Lukyanov,

Mr Karaganov,

Friends,

Colleagues,

Thank you for another invitation to the traditional annual Assembly of the Council for Foreign and Defence Policy (CFDP). This is a platform for an unbiased discussion, where the participants take part in a private capacity as they discuss the most pressing issues of our country’s foreign policy and security. The fact that those who gather here are like-minded individuals, many of whom are friends, does not exclude but rather presupposes sincere and at times contentious debates. Of course, I prepared a speech but as you understand it was prepared before the events mentioned just now by Mr Karaganov. So I would like to say a few words in an official capacity regarding this burning issue.

Hands Off Syria!

No airstrikes against Syria in the name of high ideals!

On April 13 at approximately 8:30 pm the U.S. imperialists, in coordination with Britain and France, launched a criminal attack by firing missiles on Syria. News agencies reported loud explosions and smoke in the Syrian capital Damascus in the aftermath. The Syrian government reported April 14 that its air defences shot down 73 of 103 missiles.

Nova Scotia Council of Health Care Unions prepares strike vote

Nova Scotia public sector workers fight for their rights – Interview with Jason MacLean, President, Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union | WORKERS’ FORUM

Health care and other public sector workers oppose enactment of anti-worker Bill 148, outside opening of Nova Scotia legislature, September 21, 2017.

The Nova Scotia Council of Health Care Unions is proceeding with the first ever province-wide Health Care Bargaining Unit strike vote to oppose the wrecking of health care by the anti-social offensive of the McNeil government and defend the rights of the health care workers. Workers’ Forum talked to Jason MacLean, President of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU), about how this work is going. The Nova Scotia Council of Health Care Unions is made up of the NSGEU, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Unifor, and the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union.[1]

International trade as a weapon of exploitation, chauvinism and war

Necessity for a new direction for international trade | K.C. ADAMS

In March, the U.S. government suddenly announced tariffs on $60 billion worth of Chinese exports to the U.S. and threatened even more. China has now retaliated with tariffs of its own against certain U.S. exports. Whatever the reasoning for these tariffs, the sudden imposition seriously disrupts the working lives of those involved in producing those goods in both China and the U.S. and those using the commodities either as a means of further production or articles of consumption. Modern industrial mass production cannot simply be turned on or off with the flick of a switch without causing widespread pain. This is no way to conduct economic relations among the peoples of the world.

War on Syria: CIA program supplied money, weaponry and training to terrorist forces

Introduction

Timber Sycamore was a classified weapons supply and training program run by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and supported by various Arab intelligence services, most notably that of Saudi Arabia. The program is the proverbial tip of the iceberg. It is further evidence that the United States and/or any of its collaborators and accessories including the Canadian government, with its proxy support, training and arms programs in Kurdistan, Jordan, Israel and Saudi Arabia, are guilty of crimes against humanity through aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic, a sovereign country. The use of proxy mercenary armies camouflaged by a fictitious “civil war,” according to the Obama Doctrine, masks the identities of their sponsors. It cannot hide them however, nor their aggression, from the light of day nor the reaches of international law.

Cold War provocations to justify aggression

Drum beats of war against Russia

Many commentators have torn to shreds the assertions of the British government that Sergei Skripal[1] and his daughter Yulia were poisoned by a nerve agent called Novichok, and that the Russian government was directly involved | WORKERS’ WEEKLY*

Western threats to attack Syria will not dissuade it from confronting any aggression regardless of its source

(April 11) – Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr Bashar al-Jaafari, stressed that the threats by Western states to launch an aggression on Syria and their manoeuvres, misdirection, lies, and terrorism will not dissuade Syria from preserving its sovereignty and territorial integrity and from confronting any aggression regardless of its source, adding that Syria will not allow any of the permanent or non-permanent member states to do in Syria what they have done in Iraq or Libya.