Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti
21 June 2010

This year, the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) will bring its fight for human rights in Haiti to the U.S. Social Forum (USSF) in Detroit, Michigan from June 22-26.  The Social Forum is an opportunity to collaborate with our allies, build new relationships, and promote awareness about our work to bring justice to Haiti’s poor majority. We have been carrying out this work across the globe – two weeks ago we were in Geneva to support the leader of a partner grassroots Haitian women’s organization as she testified before the United Nations Human Rights Council on gender-based violence in Haiti. Last week we were in Paris, two weeks from now we will be in New York City attending the UN Economic and Social Council session, and we will be in Washington DC for a Congressional briefing later in July. We are doing everything we can to keep Haiti on the world’s radar screen and bring voices of earthquake victims and grassroots groups to places where decisions about their lives are being made.

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NED Report: International Agencies fund Venezuelan opposition with $40-50 million annually

Eva Golinger

A revealing report published in May 2010 by the FRIDE Institute, a Spanish think tank, prepared with funding from the World Movement for Democracy (a project of the National Endowment for Democracy “NED”), has disclosed that international agencies are funding the Venezuelan opposition with a whopping $40-50 million USD annually.

This exhorbitant amount of financing well exceeds the approximately $15 million USD previously believed to have been channeled to Venezuelan opposition groups via the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the NED.

[Read more]

Related:
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez interviewed by BBC `Hardtalk’; Mark Weisbrot analyses interviewer’s bias

TomVeeTV — 20 June 2010

In Oakland, California an Israeli ship was blocked by protesters for the first time in history. 700-1000 protesters blocked three different gates at 5:30 A.M. keeping dockworkers from unloading the Israeli cargo.

ILWU members refused to cross picketline – citing “health & safety” provisions of their contract. Management demanded “instant arbitration.” The arbitrator took a look at the picketlines at each gate to the SSA Terminal and ruled that ILWU members were justified in refusing to cross.

All dockworkers were sent home with FULL PAY.

Special thanks to the Brass Liberation Orchestra for their performances today.

BEIRUT – LEBANESE authorities have granted a Gaza-bound ship carrying aid and activists permission to sail to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi says the ship, ‘Julia,’ is now docked at the northern Lebanese port of Tripoli and can set sail once it is cleared by port authorities there.

Mr Aridi’s comments came in an interview with a local Lebanese TV channel late on Sunday and published in the press on Monday.

He said the ship would be allowed to sail to Cyprus and not directly to Gaza because Lebanon and Israel were technically in a state of war.

The ship’s organisers said on Monday they plan to sail in the next few days. They did not give an exact date for departure because of security concerns. — AP

[Link]

Related:
Lebanon gives greenlights to Gaza-bound aid ship

Israel has been in touch with the UN, the United States, France, Spain and Germany on this issue, it has also been speaking with the Vatican because “Mariam” is expected to include several dozens of Catholic nuns, Ha’aretz said.

However, Aridi said “Mariam” was not the ship’s name, stressing that the voyage was christened “Mariam” in honor of Virgin Mary.

Updated @1200 21 June 2010:
Lebanon aid ships prepare to sail

Gaza/Bethlehem – Ma’an – Two Gaza-bound aid ships are to set sail to Cyprus on Monday, Gaza’s Popular Committee Against the Siege chief said.

Independent Palestinian lawmaker and anti-siege head Jamal Al-Khoudary announced the imminent departure of the two ships at a news conference held at the fishermen port in Gaza city.

Al-Khoudary said that more than 480 women including American nuns requested to join the all-women ship Miriam which will transfer only 50 women. The other vessel, called Naji Al-Ali after the renowned Palestinian cartoonist, will transfer only journalists.

[…]

Another aid ship, Julia, is due to set sail from Lebanon to Cyprus according to Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz. Under Lebanese law ships cannot travel from Lebanon to Israeli-controlled ports as the two countries are technically in a state of war, transport minister Ghazi Al-Aridi said.

Mazin Qumsiyeh
20 June 2010

Israeli occupation forces today in Beit Jala engaged in beatings, burning of fields, and attacking peaceful demonstrators, bystanders, and reporters. Two young Palestinians: Mohammed Masalma and Thaer Mahmoud were injured after severe beatings with hands and clubs (they were both near their homes and not participating in the demonstration).  Several demonstrators were also roughed-up.  Occupation enforcers also attacked six reporters and prevented them from doing their job of covering the event:  Yousef Shahin (Palmedia), Abdel Hafith Hashlamon (European News Aghency), Nasser Al Shayukhi (Associated Press), Mamon Wazwaz (APA), Musa Al Shaer (France Press), and Najeh Hashlamon (ABA). The Israeli occupation forces (thugs) also aimed their gas canisters at dry fields managing to set a fire that engulfed an olive grove (fortunately, the Palestinian fire department quick response saved most of the field and the nearby homes).  The apartheid forces also aimed tear gas at far away homes in Beit Jala to send a message of fear to the local population. And Israeli Occupation ‘intelligence’ Officer Fadi came and then tagged us and as we were trying to leave in my car mocked us and call out my name with his loud speaker. Video of much of the action at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktDUzjnxapY

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