South America

Peru: National mining strike to start on Monday

Peruvian miners' march, May 2007

Peru's biggest federation of mining unions said workers will go on strike nationwide starting on Monday despite efforts by the government to avert the walkout, officials said on Sunday.

It would be the second nationwide strike this year in Peru, the world's third-largest producer of copper and zinc, and fifth-largest producer of gold. A strike in May, which was halted after five days, pushed up global metals prices.

"Mine workers will go on strike tomorrow (Monday)," said Julio Ortiz, a director of the federation.

Argentina: Teachers strike in memory of colleague

On October 5th there were mass walkouts nationwide by teachers in state and private schools in memory of a colleague who had been killed by police.

Carlos Fuentealba died in April after being struck by a tear gas grenade fired from almost point blank range. The attack took place after Jorge Sobisch, the then Governor of Neuquen and current presidential candidate, ordered police to crack down on a protest march by striking teachers.

Colombia: hunger strike at Cuaca University

ESMAD

A group of sixteen students have launched a hunger strike at Cuaca University in Popayan (Southern Colombia).

Student protests against privatisation and for freedom of speech began several months ago, culminating in the occupation of the historical centre in San Domingo. On May 31st Colombian Police special forces (ESMAD) broke the occupation with the help of a tank. In the process causing damage to the centre, recognised as a world heritage site.

Working class protest, popular revolt and urban insurrection in Argentina: the 1969 Cordobazo

Workers march in Cordoba, led by Agustín Tosco

Detailed background, sequence of events and sociological analysis of the 1969 general strike and riot in Cordoba Argentina.

Working class protest, popular revolt, and urban insurrection in Argentina: the 1969 Cordobazo James P. Brennan

Introduction

Workers struggle betrayed by State and union in Venezuela

Workers at a co-operative elsewhere in Venezuela

This article was written by a revolutionary who has been working with the occupied factory in Venezuela.

Workers Control at Venezuela’s Sanitarios Maracay under Attack
By Megan Hise

Favela Rising - review

Tom Jennings is disappointed at Favela Rising’s focus on its founder’s personality rather than Brazilian Afro-Reggae’s grass-roots potential.

Riodemption Songs
Directed by Jeff Zimbalist & Matt Mochary, the Oscar-nominated Favela Rising documents the development of the Afro-Reggae cultural movement in Vigario Geral, one of 600-odd illegal shanty settlements (favelas) perched precariously among the hills behind Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach which together house over 20 million inhabitants in desperate poverty.

Strange Defeat: The Chilean Revolution, 1973 - Pointblank!

An article by Situationist group Pointblank! written in October 1973 about the coup in Chile which deposed elected left-wing leader Salvador Allende.

Instead of blaming the right and the CIA for the coup like most commentators on the left, Pointblank! point out the role that Allende and the parties of the left played in demobilising the powerful working class, undermining their strength and eventually signing their own death warrants by refusing to arm them

‘General strike’ spreads across Peru

Riot police in Cuzco

As an indefinite teachers strike continues into its 12th day, farmers, miners and construction workers joined the protests, with one farmer shot dead by police.

The latest death brings the reported death toll to 4 over the last week in what has been described by some media as a general strike. The strike began when the teachers union struck against a new law requiring all teachers to sit regular competency exams (libcom.org coverge here).

Sócrates - midfielder and anti-dictatorship resister

Sócrates - resisted Brazilian dictatorship

Brazil and Corinthians midfielder, doctor of medicine and philosophy, Sócrates also organised demonstrations of opposition to Brazil's military dictatorship.

Born Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, Sócrates captained Brazil at both the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.

Javier Zanetti - Zapatista supporter

Javier Zanetti - right back and left winger

Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti was instrumental in building links between his club and the Zapatistas.

With Zanetti leading the drive, Inter Milan funded sports, water and health projects in the Chiapas region of Mexico, where the Zapatistas operate.

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