ATTENTION:
The Campaign for Labor Rights website is being redesigned. While
much of the information contained here is current, much is also
in need of updating. Please be patient with us during this transition.
Also, be advised that CLR has a new National Coordinator,
James Jordan, replacing Jon Hunt, who has left in order to pursue
graduate studies. Contact information included on the website
is still accurate. You can also contact James directly at james@afgj.org
or call 520-243-0381.
HURRICANE EMERGENCY FOR HAITIAN WORKING FAMILIES
Support Still Needed
Haiti has been devastated by a series of hurricanes
and tropical storms that have left over 600 dead (so far) and
thousands of people wounded, homeless and in dire need. According
to Senator Yuri Latortue who represents Gonaives, where the most
severe damage has occurred, there are 200,000 people who have
not eaten in three days because of the hurricanes.
Members of Haiti's largest union, the Confédéderation
des Travailleurs Haitiens (CTH), have been hard hit and the CTH
is organizing and distributing aid to its affiliates and their
families and communities.
We recently heard from Paul Loulou Chery, the General Secretary
of the CTH. He told us that, "Right now, Haiti is living
though a very delicate situation as a consequence of the cyclones
over our country--many dead, many homeless, so CTH members are
in a very critical situation. We are now looking for support from
anyone and everyone to help the victims of the cyclones Gustav
and Hanna."
Click
here to support the people of Haiti now.
NOTE: You'll be given several donation options. Click
the one that says "Other" and type in Haitian Hurricane
Relief.
The CTH has been rebuilding since a 2004 US sponsored
coup overthrew Haiti's elected government. This coup was led by
groups funded and trained by the International Republican Institute
whose Chair of the Board is John McCain. CTH members were targeted
because of their support for Haitian democracy and opposition
to foreign intervention. Today, the CTH leads the fight against
privatization in Haiti and for workers' rights.
The Campaign for Labor Rights is collecting funds to send to
the CTH to be distributed to union sisters and brothers and their
families for hurricane relief. The CTH is an advocate for all
the Haitian people. It is a voice that must be kept strong. A
great way to show solidarity in this time of need is by making
a tax-deductible contribution. All contributions will go 100%
to CTH hurricane relief.
HAITIAN
WORKERS HURRICANE RELIEF FUND: Click Here to Make Tax Deductible
Contribution
NOTE: You'll be given several donation options. Click
the one that says "Other" and type in Haitian Hurricane
Relief.
TO MAIL A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER, Make check out
to the Campaign for Labor Rights, and put Haitian
Workers Hurricane Relief Fund in the memo line. SEND
TO:
Campaign for Labor Rights
Haitian Workers Hurricane Relief Fund
1247 E Street SE
Washington, DC
20003
Join the campaign to bring justice to workers
in Liberia.
While much
of the country is kept distracted by the excessive rhetoric of
the current Presidential campaign, groups like the Campaign for
Labor Rights continue to do the day-to-day work that is necessary
to create a society in which we would like to live, and one that
we would like our children to grow up in. We do this work with
minimal resources, all the while battling a well-financed and
resource-laden corporate opponent. It is your continued support
that allows us to keep fighting and organizing. For that I am
very appreciative and I hope that you will continue to support
our efforts at building a better world.
Click
here to donate today!!
One aspect
of that better world which we envision is that it be based on
participatory democracy. This concept originates with the People
of the Six Nations, better known as the Iroquois Confederacy.
It was their model of governance, already in use for 600 years,
which provided much of the foundation for the representative democracy
created by the founders of this country. Unfortunately, representative
democracy is designed specifically to limit the direct participation
of the people. As a result we are in our current state, where
our representatives in government have aligned themselves, and
pledged their allegiance to, a class whose interests differ greatly
from those of the people.
While our
form of democracy is often touted as the “greatest system
on earth” it is clear that large portions of society are
excluded from participating in this system and prevented fromsharing
the benefits enjoyed by a select few. We call this exclusionary
democracy. This is the type of democracy exercised in this country
and it is this kind of democracy that we export to the rest of
the world. In fact, besides exporting this exclusionary democracy,
our government and corporate media actively attack any expression
or appearance of participatory democracy, which serves as a clear
indication of the genuine threat it poses to those in power.
For some though,
even representative democracy allows too much participation by
the people. On the rare occasion when our representatives in Congress
go against corporate attempts to gain even greater profit and
to limit public oversight, a new route must be found so the rich
can achieve their goals. [It is important to remember that the
corporate model is authoritarian and is diametrically opposed
to the democratic model.]
One manifestation
of this new route was recently on display in New Orleans. Well,
actually it wasn’t really on display, since it was done
behind closed doors and minus the people’s participation.
But it did occur, as it has for the past few years, and you may
find its existence disturbing.
On April 21-22,
the leaders of Mexico, the United States and Canada met for the
4th Leader’s Summit of the North American Security and Prosperity
Partnership (SPP). The SPP is the model being pushed by those
who feel threatened by even the limited aspects of representative
democracy. The SPP is an executive-level agreement between the
3 countries of North America and it is not subject to Congressional
or Parliamentary oversight in any of the countries.
The Security
and Prosperity Partnership is a perfect example of the concept
of the unitary executive advanced by the Bush regime over the
past 7 years.
Read more.
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