Hotel Workers Fight Back: Launch Global Boycott of Hyatt, Class-Action Suit Against Temp Agency

By Staff, UNITED HERE | Jenny Brown, Labor Notes. The hotel housekeepers union UNITE HERE gathered in Washington, D.C. on Monday, July 23, 2012, to launch an international boycott of Hyatt hotels under the banner “Hyatt Hurts.” The workers complain of injurious workloads and an employer who seeks to subcontract their jobs. In addition a class action suit is being launched on behalf of 3,000 Indiana hotel workers who estimate a liability of $10 million and claim that temporary agency employer Hospitality Staffing Solutions (HSS) regularly stole their wages and conspired with the hotels to blacklist them and deny them permanent jobs.

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Canada’s Infamy Per Capita

By David Swanson/Douglas Ou-ee-ii-jay-ii Jack, War Is a Crime. The great majority of Canadians are unaware of their status as world leaders in activities such as mine development, energy development, deforestation, consumerism, and weapons sales.

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Canada’s Foreign Aid Minister Swap in Haiti

By Staff, Defend Haiti | Meagan Fitzpatrick and Staff, CBC News Online | Sheila Dabu Nonato, National Post. Canada Foreign Aid Minister Bev Oda — the woman responsible for the relocation of hundreds of thousands from the tent camps on Champs de Mars, Port-au-Prince, Haiti — has resigned. She was replaced by Julian Fantino, a former policeman risen to the ranks of police chief, Member of Parliament, and Defense Minister. Mr. Fantino has been followed in every political post by allegations of corruption.

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Clear Caribbean Thinking Required on Extra-Territorial US Laws

By David Jessop, Caribbean Council via Stabroek News. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, is one of a growing number of US laws that are extra-territorial in effect and have been introduced on the grounds of security, to counter terrorism and organized crime, or to address tax evasion. In addition to extending US jurisdiction into the Caribbean, FATCA carries with it the possibility of being used to extend the reach of US law into areas that the legislation was not primarily designed to address.

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Peasants In Nacunday Losing Patience With Paraguayan Government

By Staff, Prensa Latina. Thousands of peasants from Ñacunday, in eastern Paraguay, have set a one-week limit for the government to hand over 37,000 acres of land, which they consider to be illegally held by agribusiness.

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Final Vote on Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement ACTA on July 4th

By Georgi Gotev, EurActiv. A European Parliament Committee rejected the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) on June 21st despite pro-business lobbying by Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, who insisted that Parliament should not decide before the European Court of Justice gives its opinion. A final vote in the full Parliament is expected on July 4th.

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Venezuela to Become Mercosur Member July 31, Paraguay Suspended

By Staff, MercoPress. Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay made official on Friday the temporary suspension of Paraguay from Mercosur, because of the ‘summary’ removal of President Fernando Lugo and at the same time announced that Venezuela will be incorporated into the group on July 31 at a meeting in Rio do Janeiro.

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Top Five Reasons Why Caracol Industrial Park is Disastrous for Haiti

By Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. The Caracol Bay area was slated to be a World Heritage Site and Marine Park because of its breathtaking barrier reef, mangroves, and migratory birds. The area is also the site of archaeological finds including Guacanagaric, one of the largest and most complete Taino Indian villages. The area has been converted into the massive Caracol Industrial Park (or Free-Trade zone, FTZ) that is expected to pollute the Trou du Nord River and the bay and get served by a deep-water port.

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Subsidizing Haitian Farmers Into Chemical Dependency

By Staff (TB), Haiti Libre | Commentary by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. Local importers of fertilizers and the Haitian government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Monday, June 25, 2012, to fix a bag of nitrogenous fertilizer at $21 and sulfate fertilizer at $13. Chemical fertilizer is cheap now that it is subsidized. After the native strains of rice, corn, and other crops vanish, the fertilizer will cost its full price.

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Tragic Week in Paraguay | Semana trágica en Paraguay

By Javiera Manuela Rulli and Reto Sonderegger, Parar El Mundo | Translated by Lilian Joensen for Grupo de Reflexión Rural | Friends of the Earth | Haiti Chery. An explanation of the chain of events that have shaken Paraguay, from the Curuguaty deaths on June 15 to the June 22 overthrow of Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo. (English | Spanish)

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Dissolution of Parliament Brings IMF Deal Back to Egypt

By Islam Zayed, Daily News Egypt. Delegates from Egypt’s financial and international cooperation ministries have negotiated a loan with the IMF and are preparing to negotiate others with the World Bank and the African Development Bank. The recently dissolved parliament had opposed some of IMF loan’s terms.

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ALBA Resolves to Expel USAID From Member Countries | Resolución del Consejo Político de la ALBA para el inmediato retiro de las USAID de los países miembros de la Alianza

ALBA PRESS RELEASE, Granma | Translation by Rachael Boothroyd for Venezuelanalysis. Resolution from the Political Council of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) for the immediate withdrawal of USAID from member countries of the alliance. (English | Spanish)

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Haiti’s Agriculture Expected to Crash in 2012 | Vers la diminution de la production agricole en 2012

By Pierre Ricardo Placide, Le Matin. After a 20% drop in Haiti’s agricultural production last year, the agricultural sector is under threat of a more drastic reduction of food supply. This situation could exacerbate food insecurity in the most vulnerable households in the Departments of the North, Northeast, South, Artibonite and Central Plateau. (English | French)

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Crucial ACTA Vote Kept Open and Honest, ACTA Soon to Depart

Press Release, La Quadrature du Net. The “International Trade” (INTA) committee of the EU Parliament will adopt its draft report on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), on Thursday June 21. Under pressure from the EU Commission and industry lobbyists, members of the committee could decide, potentially in a secret vote, to call for the adoption of ACTA or postponement of the final vote for years. Citizens participation is crucial to ensure the Parliament follows the general interest and votes a clear rejection of ACTA.

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