By CHRISTIAN RAY BUENDIA Bulatlat.com LOS BANOS, Laguna — Decrying the barrage of oil price hikes under the Aquino administration, militant transport group Southern Tagalog Region Transport Organization-Piston (Starter-Piston) and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Timog Katagalugan (Bayan-TK) held a transport strike last July 20, paralyzing up to 100 percent of public transportation in strategic municipalities in Southern…
Day: July 22, 2011
NDFP consultant Balweg ordered released by court; another activist nabbed
By RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com MANILA – One of the more than 300 political prisoners was released today. After more than two years in detention, Jovencio Balweg, 61, was acquitted of charges of rebellion, murder and multiple frustrated murder. Balweg was arrested on May 18, 2009 in Camp 7, Baguio City after a check up…
Political prisoners start fasting up to Aquino’s Sona
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“It appears that the Arroyo policy of witch-hunting, arrest, criminalization of political offenses and/or the slapping of fabricated criminal charges to silence and put behind bars human rights defenders continues to be implemented under Aquino,” Angelina Ipong, Selda spokeswoman, said.
MMDA Streetsweepers fight for benefits, higher wages
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“We are like slaves! We are not being treated with respect and by ignoring our demands for a CNA the MMDA administration is stripping us of our dignity.” MMDA streetsweepers
Aquino performance notably poor in prices, jobs, wages, land (PR)
The likely hype and promises in the president’s upcoming state of the nation address (SONA) should be seen in the context of economic realities, according to research group IBON. Pres. Aquino’s performance has been notably poor in four important economic fronts: prices, jobs, wages, and land. 1. The prices of food, fuel, transport, water and…
Inequality and Poverty in Latin America
By MARK LOYKA Counterpunch.com Over the past decade, income inequality and poverty in Latin America have been on the decline. These two key socio-economic indicators have historically plagued the region, inhibiting it from prospering. Although most of the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean still suffer from very high levels of inequality and poverty,…
Ground Your Warplanes, Save the Horn of Africa
By RAMZY BAROUD Counterpunch.org “When you are hungry, cold is a killer, and the people here are starving and helpless.” Not many of us can relate to such a statement, but millions of ‘starving and helpless’ people throughout the Horn of Africa know fully the pain of elderly Somali mother, Batula Moalim. Moalim, quoted by…
Progressive groups gear up for Sona protest action
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“Aquino should prioritize the needs of the majority of the people and not the interest of the big corporations, foreign investors and the imperialist countries like the US.” – Piya Malayao spokesperson of Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Kamp).
From magician to rotten egg: Aquino’s effigy
Women slam Aquino for deepening poverty and marginalization
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“Aquino promised change, but the conditions of women and our families have worsened. Just a little over a year into his presidency, Aquino’s ‘daang matuwid’ (straight path) has proven to be a ‘killer highway’ for many Filipinos,” Gabriela secretary-general Lana Linaban said.
Worsening conditions for the Filipino worker
By MARYA SALAMAT
Majority of those employed today in the Philippines are in vulnerable or part-time work, hampering many workers’ desire to demand for a living wage. Even those in full-time work are reportedly under pressure to comply with various flexible work arrangements.