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Photo from www.stopclusterbombs.ie/

Banning Cluster Bombs: The Outlaws

Rene Wadlow December 3, 2008 Rene Wadlow

Anti-Cluster Bomb March, Ireland
In a remarkable combination of civil society pressure and leadership from a small number of progressive states, a strong ban on the use, manufacture, and stocking of cluster bombs was signed in Oslo, Norway on December 3, 2008. However, all bright sunlight casts a dark shadow, and in this case the shadow is the fact that the major makers and users of cluster munitions were deliberately not there: Brazil, China, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia and the USA.

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Chile: Mapuche Increase Opposition Bío Bío River Dam

Ecoceanos News December 1, 2008 Ecoceanos News

On November 26, Mapuche Pewenche authorities of the Bío Bío River in Chile met with the Environmental Minister, Ana Lya Uriarte, explaining their opposition to the construction of a new dam on the Bío Bío River and requesting for more time to allow for civic participation in the "Environmental Impact Study" of the Angostura Project of the Colbún-Matte, the company that is again threatening their territories.

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As the Banks Crumble: A Look at the Left in Switzerland

Sammy Loren November 26, 2008 Sammy Loren

Swiss Bank Bailout Protest
If the left draws the majority of its support from those at the lower rungs of the economic pecking pole - organized labor, civil servants, and the working poor - how then in Switzerland, one of the wealthiest countries, with some of the lowest poverty and unemployment rates in the post-industrialized world, does the left ever make it to public office? How on the turf of banking goliaths Credit Suisse and United Bank of Switzerland does the left not get laughed out of town?

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The Indigenous and Popular Minga Takes Over Colombia’s Capital

Mario A. Murillo November 26, 2008 Mario A. Murillo

It's been a busy series of days in Bogotá as the MINGA Popular continues to expand and flourish. From the streets in the center of the city, to the Plaza del Ché at the National University where an international forum was held on Saturday, from the media centers of the indigenous movement to the dozens of meetings taking place around the city where "Mingueros" are discussing the five point agenda with all the sectors that are interested to listen, the enthusiasm and energy of the popular movement can be felt.

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Hannah Arendt: The Trouble With Representative Government in the US

Jeff Nall November 26, 2008 Jeff Nall

Hannah Arendt
Having good representatives in government isn't enough. In fact, if you think about it, how on earth can individuals honestly represent the interests of such large bodies of people and their vast views?  Moreover, how involved are we really? We vote, choosing candidate A or B. We have our views expressed via polls. We side with MSNBC over FOX News. Let's face it, representative government isn't all its cracked up to be.