The irrelevance of Canada's Parliament to important decisions affecting the future of the country is on gross display as the House of Commons and Senate approach the end of their 20-day sitting on Friday, December 17. As a decision-making body it is becoming increasingly difficult to see any purpose in its proceedings other than partisan bickering and games of one-upmanship that only serve to further discredit the cartel parties and system of party rule. Absent is serious deliberation of any kind. The urgent problems facing the people and the polity do not appear on any agenda: from the climate crisis, to the deteriorating and precarious economic conditions which are seeing food-bank usage soar and working people treated as disposable, to the escalation of violence against the most vulnerable and the denial of the hereditary rights of Indigenous peoples, as well as the volatile international situation and Canada's place within it as a member of NATO.

Canada's Parliament has become camouflage for decisions being made on the basis of executive-federalism and through supranational bodies in the service of the neo-liberal interests of the most powerful global financial oligarchs. It has become commonplace that when Ministers or their substitutes are asked questions about what the government is doing, such as matters related to the environment or the COVID-19 pandemic, answers are given that begin with the phrase "we are consulting with our allies," or "we are working with our partners," or "we are discussing with like-minded countries."

Parliament's irrelevancy was illustrated by the formation of a Special Committee on Afghanistan created on December 9, with the support of all but the Liberals. The preamble to the motion for the appointment of the Special Committee argues that "given that real-time parliamentary oversight was impossible" during the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban (because the election had been called), the Committee is needed to conduct hearings and review all the related events. Why Canada was involved in Afghanistan in the first place is not a matter of investigation, nor is an accounting of the disaster that resulted from Canada's involvement in the U.S. aggression against the country. The Special Committee will focus on how the government handled the evacuation of those who had worked with the NATO-led forces in the country but not delve into why collaborators with foreign aggression and occupation are called heroes or why Ukrainian special forces trained by Canadian special forces were required to pull Canada's chestnuts out of the fire.

Meanwhile, in the here and now of "real-time parliamentary oversight," not a word of deliberation or consideration took place in the House of Commons before the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly and Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan, who formerly headed the Department of Defence including Canadian forces in Afghanistan, headed off to the G7 December 10-12 meeting of foreign and development ministers in Liverpool, England. It was known that the U.S. would advance its war-mongering agenda against Russia there in regards to Ukraine. Global Affairs' website informs that "Ministers Joly and Sajjan will look to align Canadian efforts with like-minded partners on a number of priorities." It informs that the G7 ministers will "exchange views on pressing geopolitical issues, including Afghanistan, China, Ethiopia, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Sudan and Ukraine." The Foreign Affairs Minister, whose main expertise seems to be inventing myriad ways on how to say nothing, sent out a tweet from Liverpool stating that she "looks forward to engaging in important discussions seeking real solutions to some of the most pressing issues of our time."

Accounting for Parliament's Irrelevancy

The irrelevancy of Parliament has become a subject of consideration by various pundits. One aspect is the snail-like pace at which Parliament is being made operational following the September 20 snap federal election, said to have been needed to set a new direction in conditions of the pandemic. The three-term Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delayed convening Parliament for over two months after the election, which returned a House of Commons indistinguishable from the previous one and began with a Throne Speech virtually the same as the aspirational statements it issued after the August 2020 prorogation of the House.

Once convened on November 22, the task of re-establishing parliamentary committees, which are supposed to be the forum for elected members to scrutinize legislation and study important matters, was not made a priority. As of December 10, only two committees are operational: the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Public Safety and National Security. The list of members for all other committees was tabled in the House of Commons on December 9 and they have been instructed to elect their chairs before the House adjourns for its break.

Coupled with this, since the beginning of its second term in October 2019, the Liberal government has taken many measures and attempted-measures characterized by a disregard for the House of Commons as the purported decision-making body of elected representatives for Canadians. This included an attempt to table legislation that would have empowered the Minister of Finance to increase spending without seeking approval from Parliament and challenging a ruling of the Speaker of the House in the Federal Court when it was ordered to provide documents to the House of Commons.

The Globe and Mail ran an editorial bemoaning the fact that it appears that the House of Commons will not be "fully functional" until February. It notes that since June 2019, the House has only been in session for 169 days. It notes how the August 2020 prorogation served to snuff out the investigation into the WE Charity scandal and so on. It concludes: "Mr. Trudeau clearly would prefer not to be held accountable by the democratic institutions he claims to believe in. It even seems as though he considers himself above those institutions ... But Mr. Trudeau is not above Parliament. In a minority government, he only serves as Prime Minister at the pleasure of the House of Commons. It is not his place to choke off the debate and scrutiny that are the oxygen of our democracy, and the fact he continues to get away with doing so should worry all Canadians."

In a similar vein, other political pundits have taken to calling the Prime Minister "Mr. Dither" and have coined a term to describe the slow-workings of Parliament as "Justin-time." The absence of mandate letters for Cabinet Ministers is also being called out, given that Justin Trudeau presented the publication of these letters as a focal point for how his government would be "transparent" and "accountable." Government "insiders" were promising they would be issued "soon" even 44 days after the Cabinet was sworn in.

As diversion is piled atop diversion, the latest is that even within the ranks of the Liberal Party itself, nobody opposes talk about replacing the Prime Minister sooner rather than later.

The situation cannot be accounted for by this or that narcissistic or vacuous personal penchant of the Prime Minister. It lies in the very structures of the party-dominated system of democracy which is simply not representative of the people because it represents narrow private interests which are empowered to rule over the mass to keep it in check. The crippled state of all the institutions, structures and civil society agencies that are said to represent civil society -- from the cartel parties on down the line through to the notions of ministerial responsibility which are no longer practiced -- political discourse has disappeared to be replaced by a shell-game to find out which are the scandals and where they lead. All of it is to divert attention away from where decisions are made and how to hold the corrupt self-serving forces who make them to account.

All over the world the peoples are beset by the power of neo-liberal decision-making and advisory bodies established at both national and international levels. Canada is not alone when it comes to the irrelevancy of its Parliament to setting the direction in which the country is being taken. It is a serious matter of concern for all the people of Canada and the peoples of the world who are waging battles for the dignity of labour, for a solution to the crisis in which the social and natural environments are mired and for an end to the dangers of new wars and the disasters they leave in their wake. We are one humanity, waging one struggle for the right to be -- as we define it ourselves, together.

The irrelevancy of the Parliament to the decisions which affect our lives signals the end of forms of party rule and the beginning of what comes next. Let us make sure that what comes next favours the interests of the people of Canada and the peoples of the world, not those of the narrow private interests which are fighting to control everything in their favour.

Government's Subservient Foreign Policy

- Margaret Villamizar -

The Liberal Speech from the Throne delivered on November 23 by Governor General Mary Simon made clear the Trudeau government's intentions with respect to foreign policy for the 44th Parliament. It identified what it called pressing challenges of our time as "rising authoritarianism" and "big power competition," saying this requires Canada to increase its engagement with key allies and international partners, coalitions, and organizations. It also announced that Canada would be making deliberate efforts to deepen partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and across the Arctic.

It does not take a wizard to understand this means stepping up Canada's involvement in the increasingly desperate attempts of its "key ally" to impose its so-called rules-based international order on the rest of the world, endangering peace and security. It is about deepening Canada's integration into the U.S. war machine through NATO as it extends its reach into the Asia-Pacific and beyond, engaging in dangerous provocations against China and Russia. It is about escalating Canada's interference in the affairs of sovereign nations and peoples who refuse to bow to U.S. dictate by opting for their own independent path to development and defending it.

The intentions of the Trudeau government to stay the course with a foreign policy that operates in lockstep with the hegemonic agenda of U.S. imperialism are being loudly trumpeted by its new Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly as well. At a media briefing in Washington, DC following her first meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on November 12, Joly enthused that a priority for both of them would be working together "to protect and promote democracy and human rights around the world." There have been many examples of what this means in practice.

"Promoting Democracy" U.S.-Style in Nicaragua and Venezuela

In a statement Joly issued on behalf of Canada in response to the November 7 general election in Nicaragua in which electors overwhelmingly reaffirmed their support for the Sandinista Revolution and its leader, President Daniel Ortega, Joly arrogantly told the Nicaraguan people the election did not reflect their will, that "the regime" had robbed them of their right to vote in free and fair elections. Other unfounded accusations and slanders against President Ortega followed. The statement concluded that Canada intended to hold "the oppressive regime and its enablers" to account.

A week later the Trudeau government announced it was expanding its so-called targeted sanctions to include eleven more individuals linked to the Nicaraguan state and government, allegedly for human rights violations. In doing so Canada followed the lead of the U.S. Congress which just days before the election passed the Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform (RENACER) Act to step up its unilateral coercive measures in a crude attempt to influence the elections. The U.S. legislation specifically calls for increasing the coordination of such measures with the European Union and Canada.

More dirty work closely coordinated with the U.S. took place at the 51st General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) held November 10-12. There, Joly took the lead in presenting, on behalf of the U.S., Canada and six other countries, a draft resolution which declared that the November 7 elections in Nicaragua "were not free, fair or transparent and had no democratic legitimacy."[1]

One of the things the powers that be at the OAS could not forgive Nicaragua for was undoubtedly its refusal to permit an OAS observer mission to oversee its November 7 election. Reasons for this were the organization's non-stop meddling in the country's internal affairs the past few years and the malicious role the OAS played in instigating the 2019 coup in Bolivia by raising baseless allegations that Evo Morales had been re-elected through fraud. Subsequent scrutiny by independent investigators of the data collected and interpreted by the OAS observer mission has consistently shown there was no fraud, and that Morales did not "steal" the election as the nefarious OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro declared to everyone who would listen.

Having its election deemed illegitimate by the OAS was the last straw for Nicaragua. Like Venezuela had done four years earlier, it announced on November 19 that it was withdrawing from the OAS. In a statement Foreign Minister Denis Moncada said Nicaragua was not interested in being part of an interventionist organization that has as its mission facilitating the hegemony of the United States over the countries of Latin America.

Nicaragua's decision to leave the OAS did not stop Canada and the handful of other countries that co-sponsored its resolution condemning Nicaragua's election from requesting the convening of a special session of the OAS Permanent Council on December 8. The purpose was to adopt yet another interfering resolution, this one as a result of the "assessment of the situation in Nicaragua" called for in the previous resolution. The December 8 resolution, which was passed without discussion, reminded Nicaragua that until the required two-year process of withdrawing from the OAS was completed its obligations to the organization remained in force, as did its duty to comply with its international human rights obligations. It contained a shopping list of demands and impositions for Nicaragua to comply with, presumably to avoid expulsion from an organization it had already said it is leaving, but more likely to try and legitimate the application of more coercive measures by countries like the U.S. and Canada whenever they decide to do so. One of the more outrageous demands on the list, especially considering the sources, was that Nicaragua implement the "comprehensive electoral reforms as requested in previous resolutions and in keeping with Nicaragua's obligations under international law." Obviously Canada and others who supported that pompous resolution feel not only qualified to judge Nicaragua's electoral system and laws, but feel no obligation themselves to uphold international law when it comes to respecting countries' sovereignty and not interfering in their internal affairs.

Nicaragua's representative said his country rejected the holding of the illegitimate session, saying it represented a further attack against Nicaragua and its people in violation of the UN Charter, international law and the OAS's own charter. In a statement delivered the same day, Minister Moncada said Nicaragua's positions are and have been clear, that "we are not a colony, we are not slaves, we are not servants of anyone, of any empire or of any government that believes itself to be a power." Instead, he said, "We accuse the OAS, which has no moral authority to accuse anyone, because it is, with the United States, in the words of Sandino, 'the den where crimes, abuses and outrages are fabricated' against all human, political, economic, climate, and social rights, and against the freedoms that our peoples claim and demand, with ever more strength and determination."

In Venezuela, which is no longer an OAS member, the results of the November 21 "mega-election," were not to the liking of the U.S. and Canada either even though there was ample participation by opposition parties they support, including some that had boycotted previous elections. Both the U.S. and Canada issued statements shortly after the election concluded, claiming it had been neither "free" nor "fair." President Nicolás Maduro was accused of every manner of crime and misdeed, even the effects of the brutal U.S. sanctions that have taken such a toll on the people of Venezuela. Both governments asserted, without evidence, that the election did not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people, with Joly adding that Canada stood by the opposition forces and their call for an election that "reflects the true desires of the Venezuelan people."

The Trudeau government has a lot to answer for to the people of Nicaragua and Venezuela and Canada for whom its foreign minister presumes to speak when she simply parrots lines left and right that originate with the U.S. State Department.

Note

1. The resolution was presented on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, United States, and Uruguay. Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States and Uruguay voted in favour. Nicaragua opposed it, while Belize, Bolivia, Dominica, Honduras, Mexico, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines abstained. The illegally credentialed representative of Juan Guaidó, claiming to represent Venezuela, also voted in favour. Saint Kitts and Nevis was absent.

COVID-19 Update

Situation in Canada with Vaccinations
and New Variants

- Nick Lin -

At the end of November and beginning of December, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to persist around the world, including Canada.

As of December 9 in Canada, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), there have been 1,818,742 cumulative COVID-19 cases. Worldometers reports that there are 31,197 active cases and 1,760,830 people have recovered, and 29,863 people have died of the disease. Current cases and vaccinations are shown in the two maps below:

The changing levels of daily new cases and new deaths since the start of pandemic are shown in the two graphs below:

In the context of the Delta variant, which now makes up the majority of current cases, and the emerging Omicron variant, Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, in her December 10 statement, noted:

"Today's updated longer-range modelling forecast suggests that with our current levels of transmission a resurgence of Delta variant cases is forecasted for Canada, even without any acceleration of the Omicron variant in Canada [...]. The forecast also shows a possible trajectory if spread of the Omicron variant were to accelerate and replace the Delta variant as the predominant variant in Canada. In this case [...], it is possible we could have an even more rapidly accelerating resurgence in cases. As well, while there is still considerable uncertainty regarding the potential for Omicron to evade immunity and/or increase disease severity, any rapid resurgence in cases could add additional strain to our still fragile health care system. Until we know more, Omicron's increased transmissibility and potential for strong resurgence means we must approach the coming weeks with an abundance of caution and at the same time be prepared to act quickly to control spread at the first sign of rapidly accelerating cases."

As of December 9, the PHAC reports that cases of the Omicron variant have been confirmed in seven jurisdictions: Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. Regarding the efficacy of vaccines against this new variant of concern, Dr. Tam explains:

"Despite the challenges ahead with the continuing Delta-driven wave in Canada and emergence of the Omicron variant, we have more and better protections going into this holiday and winter season than previously. Vaccines and our expanding population coverage continue to give us an advantage over this virus, and while some reduction in protection is possible with the Omicron variant, COVID-19 vaccines are still expected to provide a level of protection, particularly against severe outcomes. Hence, vaccination including boosters, in combination with layers of public health and personal protections, continues to be essential to the pandemic response in Canada.

"Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,823,009 cases of COVID-19 and 29,876 deaths reported in Canada. These cumulative numbers tell us about the overall burden of COVID-19 illness to date, while the number of active cases, now at 31,295, and seven-day moving averages indicate current disease activity and severity trends.

"Surveillance data continue to show significant regional variation in COVID-19 disease activity across the country. Nationally, daily case counts are rising with high infection rates persisting in many areas. During the latest seven-day period (December 3-9), an average of 3,450 new cases were reported, which is an increase of 22 per cent compared to the previous week. Currently, hospitalization and critical care admission trends, which are lagging indicators, have levelled off, but if infection rates accelerate, trends could begin to rise again. The latest provincial and territorial data show that an average of 1,457 people with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals each day during the most recent seven-day period (December 3-9), which is five per cent lower than last week. This includes, on average, 458 people who were being treated in intensive care units (ICU), 1.6 per cent less than last week and an average of 20 deaths were reported daily (December 3-9). Keeping infection rates down remains key to avoiding renewed increases in severe illness trends over the coming weeks and months as well as to ease longer term strain on the health system, particularly in heavily impacted areas.

"While Delta continues to represent the vast majority of recent COVID-19 cases in Canada, as of December 9, 2021, there have been 87 cases with the newly designated variant of concern (VOC), Omicron, reported in seven provinces and territories. As we continue to assess the significance and impact of this new VOC, Canadians are urged to remain vigilant and continue maintaining layers of protection.

"Regardless of which SARS-CoV-2 variant is circulating, we know that vaccination, in combination with public health measures and individual practices, work to reduce disease spread and severe outcomes. In particular, evidence continues to demonstrate that a complete two-dose series of Health-Canada approved COVID-19 vaccines provides substantial protection against severe illness due to the predominating Delta variant, particularly among younger age groups. Based on the latest data from 10 provinces and territories for the population aged 12 years or older, in recent weeks (October 24 - November 20, 2021) and adjusting for age, average weekly rates indicate that unvaccinated people were significantly more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to fully vaccinated people.

"Among youth and adults aged 12 to 59 years, unvaccinated people were 32 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people.

"Among older adults aged 60 years or older, unvaccinated people were 16 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people."

In her December 3 statement, Dr. Tam informed of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendations on third doses of the vaccines to boost immunization. She stated:

"NACI has reaffirmed that the benefits of receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine continue to outweigh any potential risks of experiencing rare side effects following vaccination with an mRNA vaccine, including the rare risk of vaccine-associated myocarditis and/or pericarditis most often seen in males aged 12 to 29 years. NACI also recommends, and health authorities in Canada agree, that immunization in those who are eligible -- but have yet to receive their primary series -- should continue to remain the top priority, in Canada and around the world.

"Regarding boosters, NACI considered emerging evidence on waning protection of vaccines over time and the safety and potential benefits of mRNA vaccine booster doses. In the context of the Delta variant, evidence suggests that vaccine effectiveness against infection and symptomatic disease decreases with time, and possibly against severe illness as well, especially in older individuals. No additional safety concerns were noted following mRNA vaccine booster doses. The rare risk of myocarditis and/or pericarditis appears to be lower after the booster dose than after the second dose of the primary series --though higher than after the first dose. Based on this, NACI has increased the strength of their recommendations to now say --a booster dose of an authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should be offered 6 months or more after completion of a primary COVID-19 vaccine series."

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has advised against the rollout of booster shots by wealthy nations, saying that it comes at the expense of access to vaccines by poorer countries. The WHO and the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization and its COVID-19 Vaccines Working Group, which "continues to review the emerging evidence on the need for and timing of a booster dose for the currently available COVID-19 vaccines," in an October 4 update concluded that:

"Introducing booster doses should be firmly evidence-driven and targeted to the population groups in greatest need. The rationale for implementing booster doses should be guided by evidence on waning vaccine effectiveness, in particular a decline in protection against severe disease in the general population and in high-risk populations, or due to a circulating VOC [variant of concern]. To date, the evidence remains limited and still inconclusive on any widespread need for booster doses following a primary vaccination series.

"In the context of ongoing global vaccine supply constraints, broad-based administration of booster doses risks exacerbating inequities in vaccine access by driving up demand and diverting supply while priority populations in some countries, or in subnational settings, have not yet received a primary vaccination series. The focus remains on urgently increasing global vaccination coverage with the primary series driven by the objective to protect against severe disease."

(With files from PHAC, WHO)

Countries Deprived of Vaccines

An important fact the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the President of South Africa raised recently is that the greatest protection against COVID-19 and its variants is to make sure the peoples of the entire world are vaccinated. Efforts by the WHO to ensure all countries receive the vaccines they require, as part of limiting the emergence of new variants, have been undermined by lack of cooperation from those countries with vaccines to spare. Instead, Canada and other countries have responded to the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the latest variant of concern, by implementing travel restrictions against several countries, most of them in Southern Africa. Meanwhile, countries of the oppressed, formerly colonized peoples and those victimized by imperialist aggression and war have been left to fend for themselves.

Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, speaking at a conference in Dakar, Senegal on December 6, condemned the new restrictions imposed by the EU, UK, the United States and others following the discovery of the new Omicron variant by South African scientists in late November, calling them "vaccine apartheid."

"You ask yourself, where is science? They always said to us, base your decisions in science, but when the moment comes for them to be more scientific they are not," he said. He also accused such nations of having "hoarded vaccines," saying, "The greed they demonstrated was disappointing, particularly when they say they are our partners, because our lives in Africa are just as important as lives in Europe, North America and all over."

Senegalese President Macky Sall noted that the reaction of countries of imposing restrictions on African nations would only increase the risk that countries would withhold future information on COVID-19 variants, fearing similar repercussions.

Remarks by South African President to Eighth Access to COVID-19
Tools Accelerator Facilitation Council Meeting

President Ramaphosa elaborated on his December 6 remarks at the Eighth Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator Facilitation Council Meeting, an initiative of the WHO on December 9. He stated in part:

"Since its formation, the ACT Accelerator has made remarkable progress in fulfilling its mandate to make available to the most vulnerable countries the tools they need to fight this pandemic.

"Today's meeting is as important and is as necessary as our first meeting.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over.

"Even before the emergence of the new Omicron variant, many countries were experiencing rising infections, increasing hospitalizations and deaths.

"As the events of the past few days have shown, we live with the threat from mutating variants, which have the potential to unleash further devastation in communities globally.

"We do not yet know whether the Omicron variant is transmitted more efficiently, whether the variant increases the risk of reinfection, whether the variant causes more severe disease, or how effective the current vaccines are against the variant.

"And yet, several countries have decided to isolate a number of countries on the African continent.

"We should be concerned that some decisions are no longer informed by science and are not taken on the basis of exercising solidarity.

"This pandemic has shown how we respond to a truly global crisis.

"It has shown several shortcomings and weaknesses.

"But we can and must improve how we respond to crises.

"The lives and livelihoods of billions of people are at stake here.

"We have repeatedly said that no-one will be safe unless we protect vulnerable populations everywhere.

"We do have a part of the solution: the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, which, if fully funded, would provide low middle-income countries and low-income countries with vaccines, treatments, testing and PPE [personal protective equipment] for frontline health care workers.

"There are two important lessons we need to draw from the current situation.

"Firstly, vaccine inequality is dangerous but it is also completely avoidable.

"A year into the world's most ambitious vaccination drive, no country should lack sufficient access to vaccines.

"Yet, of the nearly 7.5 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered globally by mid-November, 71 per cent had been administered in high-income and upper-middle-income countries.

"Only 0.6 per cent had been administered in low-income countries.

"Africa is the hardest hit by inequitable access to these life-saving vaccines.

"Secondly, we need to invest in all aspects of pandemic response.

"Alongside vaccination, testing and genomic surveillance are needed to identify disease hotspots and track the emergence of new variants.

"Treatments, including medical oxygen, are needed for those severely affected by COVID-19.

"Exciting potential treatments are being developed.

"We need to ensure that once they are proven to be safe and effective, they should be equally available to all countries.

"For this reason we still insist on a TRIPS Waiver [the World Trade Organization's Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Waiver], even in its various forms where it can be negotiated.

"We must invest in strengthening health systems because health systems are what turn vaccines into vaccinations and tests into testing.

"We need research and development to adapt our tools and stay ahead of this mutating virus.

"We need the full suite of countermeasures -- they being vaccines, treatments, tests, functioning health systems, and personal protective equipment -- to fight COVID-19 and save lives.

"And the world needs the ACT-Accelerator to make this happen.

"This initiative exists to fulfil the most vital purpose of all: to save lives.

"We cannot falter and I would like to say that this is an area we dare not fail.

"It is therefore necessary that global leaders come together to fully fund the ACT-Accelerator's new Strategic Plan so that we can continue to save lives, and so that we can end this pandemic, not just for some, but for everyone, especially in the most vulnerable communities."

Vaccine Hoarding

A study published on November 18 by the COVID Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP), entitled, "Holding the World to Account: Urgent Actions Needed to Close Gaps in the Global COVID-19 Response" corroborates and quantifies the accusation that rich countries are hoarding COVID-19 vaccines. COVID GAP is an initiative of Duke University's Global Health Innovation Center and COVID Collaborative.

COVID GAP's Launch and Scale Speedometer report of November 26 notes that its "latest report focuses on the 40 per cent and 70 per cent vaccination coverage targets, which have been widely endorsed by global leaders but without any action plan to ensure it happens. Drawing on data from our Launch and Scale Speedometer COVID research, as well as the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19, and the WHO, we find that 82 countries (including most low-income and African countries) are not on track to meet 40 per cent vaccination coverage by the end of 2021.

"At the global level, this is not a supply issue but a distribution issue. The scale up of COVID-19 vaccine production over the past year has been staggeringly successful; the world is now making about 1.5 billion doses a month. We have enough doses to vaccinate far more than 40 per cent of the population in every country. However, much of this supply is concentrated in a small number of wealthy countries, who have more than they can use. Based on supply and vaccination rate data, we expect G7 and EU countries to collectively have more than 830 million excess doses at the end of 2021. Meanwhile, many countries still face significant supply gaps. For the countries that have not yet reached 40 per cent coverage, our analysis indicates that a further 1.05 billion doses are still needed to reach the target. After expected COVAX [COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access] deliveries in November and December, these countries will still face a gap of 650 million doses."

Click to enlarge.

The report notes that the G7 countries have pledged 1,618,765,480 doses for low and middle-income countries to reach the 40 per cent minimum global vaccination rate, but thus far have only shipped about 319 million of these or about 20 per cent of the commitment. In the case of Canada, it has pledged to donate 51,542,080 doses. Of these, only 10 per cent have been shipped.

Notably, COVID GAP points out that "High-income countries have continued to endorse the 40 per cent vaccination target without undertaking actions with the necessary scale and urgency to realistically achieve it."

This report deals only with vaccinations and COVID GAP says, "Future analyses will focus on quantifying the need and tracking commitments for therapeutics, diagnostics, and oxygen, as well as future preparedness."

To read the full report from COVID GAP, click here.

Lack of Reliable Access to Vaccines

On November 29, the African Union, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance), UNICEF and the WHO issued a joint statement on "Dose Donations of COVID-19 Vaccines to African Countries." They point out that the donations that are currently arriving in Africa are problematic. They state that "the majority of the donations to date have been ad hoc, provided with little notice and short shelf lives. This has made it extremely challenging for countries to plan vaccination campaigns and increase absorptive capacity. To achieve higher coverage rates across the continent, and for donations to be a sustainable source of supply that can complement supply from AVAT [African Vaccine Acquisition Trust] and COVAX purchase agreements, this trend must change.

"Countries need predictable and reliable supply. Having to plan at short notice and ensure uptake of doses with short shelf lives exponentially magnifies the logistical burden on health systems that are already stretched. Furthermore, ad hoc supply of this kind utilizes capacity -- human resources, infrastructure, cold chain -- that could be directed towards long-term successful and sustainable rollout. It also dramatically increases the risks of expiry once doses with already short shelf-lives arrive in country, which may have long-term repercussions for vaccine confidence.

"Donations to COVAX, AVAT, and African countries must be made in a way that allows countries to effectively mobilize domestic resources in support of rollout and enables long-term planning to increase coverage rates. We call on the international community, particularly donors and manufacturers, to commit to this effort by adhering to the following standards, beginning from January 1, 2022:

"- Quantity and predictability: Donor countries should endeavour to release donated doses in large volumes and in a predictable manner, to reduce transaction costs. We acknowledge and welcome the progress being made in this area, but note that the frequency of exceptions to this approach places increased burden on countries, AVAT and COVAX.

"- Earmarking: These doses should be unearmarked for greatest effectiveness and to support long-term planning. Earmarking makes it far more difficult to allocate supply based on equity, and to account for specific countries' absorptive capacity. It also increases the risk that short shelf-life donations utilise countries' cold chain capacity -- capacity that is then unavailable when AVAT or COVAX are allocating doses with longer shelf lives under their own purchase agreements.

"- Shelf life: As a default, donated doses should have a minimum of 10 weeks shelf life when they arrive in-country, with limited exceptions only where recipient countries indicate willingness and ability to absorb doses with shorter shelf lives.

"- Early notice: Recipient countries need to be made aware of the availability of donated doses not less than four weeks before their tentative arrival in-country.

"- Response times: All stakeholders should seek to provide rapid response on essential information. This includes essential supply information from manufacturers (total volumes available for donation, shelf life, manufacturing site), confirmation of donation offer from donors, and acceptance/refusal of allocations from countries. Last minute information can further complicate processes, increasing transaction costs, reducing available shelf life and increasing risk of expiry.

"- Ancillaries: The majority of donations to date do not include the necessary vaccination supplies such as syringes and diluent, nor do they cover freight costs -- meaning these have to be sourced separately -- leading to additional costs, complexity and delay. Donated doses should be accompanied with all essential ancillaries to ensure rapid allocation and absorption."

(With files from Euractive, Presidency of South Africa, Duke University Global Health Innovation Center, Africa CDC)

U.S. "Summit for Democracy"

Futile U.S. Efforts to Dictate Outcome of
Crisis of Democracy

- Kathleen Chandler -

The Biden administration organized its virtual "Summit for Democracy" to coincide with Human Rights Day, December 10. It was presented as an opportunity to "bolster democracy and defend human rights globally." U.S. President Biden said, "We're bringing together leaders from more than 100 governments alongside activists, trade unionists, and other members of civil society, leading experts and researchers, and representatives from the business community," to "lock arms and reaffirm our shared commitment to make our democracies better." These included various organizations and individuals the U.S. is already funding and backing internationally, such as the Community of Democracies and its youth network. What have always been called non-governmental organizations are now called civil society organizations (CSOs).

The fact sheet released by the White House on December 9 outlines what the Biden administration has in mind. It says the work to "strengthen democracy and advance respect for human rights" is a matter of national security for the U.S. The fact sheet states: "The Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal represents a significant, targeted expansion of U.S. Government efforts to defend, sustain, and grow democratic resilience with like-minded governmental and non-governmental partners. In the coming year, the United States is planning to provide up to $424.4 million toward the Presidential Initiative."

The U.S., whose democracy is in shambles, speaks to five areas of work "crucial to the functioning of transparent, accountable governance." These are:

- Supporting Free and Independent Media
- Fighting Corruption
- Bolstering Democratic Reformers
- Advancing Technology for Democracy
- Defending Free and Fair Elections and Political Processes

The Initiative is a farce given the current state of U.S. democracy, widely seen as a failure on every front, not least of all when it comes to elections. Significantly, within the U.S. itself what are called the democratic institutions are no longer able to resolve the conflicts among the contending forces. Further, given that the private interests which have taken over the powers of the state are global, talk of representing a "national interest" no longer jives with the reality. Contending forces are in a vicious fight to claim their faction represents the national interest and their rivals are committing treason. Congress is so dysfunctional it cannot pass a budget, due this past October, and instead keeps threatening government shutdowns. Such threats affect hundreds of thousands of federal workers, seniors, mothers, children and unemployed who require federal payments like Social Security to just survive.

The Supreme Court has also been discredited, as it is seen as a politicized force catering to one or another vying faction, not only in terms of the right to abortion but other matters as well. There are also the conflicts between the states and federal government, on matters such as immigration and elections. Then there is the monopoly control and corruption of existing media, with technology increasingly used by forces like Facebook and the government itself to intensify divisions and inflame passions among the people while justifying more government violence, including racist detentions and mass incarceration and more.

It is in this context of the contention among the ruling factions, the discredited and dysfunctional institutions, and the increasing claims of the peoples for their rights and greater control, that Biden's Initiative is put forward. He is striving to unite what he refers to as "all of us," behind the president and across the usual separations between countries, levels of government, and the peoples organizing to affirm human rights. For example, mayors from the U.S. and internationally were brought together, bypassing state, provincial and federal level forces. Authorities and their responsibilities are to be dismissed so as to "bring together" all those who can be said to have joined the president's Initiative.

What Imperialists Mean by Supporting Free
and Independent Media

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been assigned as the main instrument for funding an "International Fund for Public Interest Media, a new multi-donor fund designed to enhance the independence, development, and sustainability of independent media, especially in resource-poor and fragile settings." Another $5 million is to "launch a Media Viability Accelerator" to fund "independent media outlets in both under-developed and more-developed media markets."

The very idea that U.S. government funded media is independent shows the kind of challenges facing Biden's imagination. USAID is notorious internationally for funding the most reactionary political forces and undermining the independent development of economies. Clearly, the issue is not merely one of funding, but most importantly, how to establish the various organizational forms, which are no longer covert but overt, in their mission to interfere in the affairs of various countries. Official media have joined the Biden administration in promoting the likes of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and its "civil society" appendages as champions of human rights and democracy. Only a severely challenged imagination and presidency can be so detached from the reality as to think this will succeed.

The Initiative also calls for "protecting journalists physically, digitally and legally." This includes providing those it declares are journalists with "digital and physical security training, psycho-social care, legal aid, and other forms of assistance." Given the starting demand that all support what the U.S. declares are "democratic values," it makes any journalist exposing U.S. crimes of genocide, aggressive wars and torture while elaborating on rights persona non grata. This program thus endangers all those who have hitherto considered themselves to be bona fide members of a civil society. Only reactionaries need apply for jobs and only reactionaries will retain them. Making sure this is so will be yet another justification for the U.S. to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and to further fund and provide assistance to those involved in its efforts at regime change.

The "Democracy Summit" poses the problem of democracy as being between what it considers to be the pinnacle of democracy -- the racist misogynist U.S. system based on oppression and exploitation and what are called "autocracies." Any discussion on democracy which goes to the heart of the matter is taboo. Only disinformation which targets the striving of the peoples to provide their claims on society with a guarantee is considered valid.

Fighting Corruption and Bolstering Democratic Reformers

Under the banner of "Supporting Anti-corruption Change Agents," to "support and connect anti-corruption actors across civil society, media, academia, and labor organizations," USAID will provide $5 million to promote "protective measures for whistleblowers, civil society activists, journalists, and others at risk due to their anti-corruption work" and $6 million to "connect media and civil society organizations with one another."

The claim about protecting whistleblowers comes at a time the U.S. has successfully secured the extradition of Julian Assange from Britain to the U.S. and jailed others who have exposed U.S. crimes, claiming such acts constitute espionage. This is a clear indicator of how the U.S. will decide who is and is not an "anti-corruption actor," while also using the corruption of USAID funds to try and unite "civil society, media, academia, and labor organizations." All had representatives taking part in the Summit in various forms.

In addition, millions more will be provided for a "partnership platform to crowd-source innovative solutions from businesses, technologists, philanthropies, and other actors," so as "to energize and institutionalize existing public sector anti-corruption engagement with the business community." It also appears that in the name of combating corruption, there is an effort to increase financial control on an international scale. Fighting corruption with corruption is part of the arsenal of mafia turf wars which is in fact what is taking place at government levels in the U.S. and, by extension, Canada as well. With reforms and initiatives such as those outlined in the "Democracy Summit" the conflicts between those contending for power within the United States can only pose more dangers to the peoples of the U.S. and the world.

Institutionalizing the various partnerships and their integration under the command of U.S. executive powers are aimed at bringing the functions of government, the public sector and "civil society" under the sway of narrow private interests. Nothing more and nothing less will do as far as these executive powers are concerned.

This is further evident in the "Bolstering Democratic Reformers" section of the Whitehouse fact sheet. The language and demands being made worldwide for rights is used to confound such resistance into support for the so-called democratic initiative. This includes, "Empowering Historically Marginalized Groups and Ensuring All Have a Say in Democracy" as well as targeting women, girls and the LGBTQI+ community. Secretary of State Blinken put it this way: "the strength of our democracies depends on their success, and it depends on getting more young people to join them -- voting, running for office, getting involved in civic life, in making our democracies better."

In this vein, there is a "Supporting Activists, Workers, and Reform-Minded Leaders" section and one called "Bridging Understanding, Integrity, and Legitimacy for Democracy (BUILD) Initiative." "BUILD" echoes Biden's "Build Back Better," and is openly for purposes of interference to "lay the groundwork for providing career professionals in closed political spaces the skills and resources to navigate democratic openings when they occur."

Another "initiative" has USAID providing $15 million for the "Powered by the People" initiative, which is specifically designed to undermine the broad social movements for equality, justice and rights. It aims to intervene in "nonviolent social movements by increasing coordination through exchanges, seed grants, and engagement with younger pro-democracy actors."

One of the single largest amounts of funding, $122 million from the Departments of Labor and State, and USAID, will "establish a Multilateral Partnership for Organizing, Worker Empowerment, and Rights (M-POWER)." This is said to "help workers around the world claim their rights and improve wages and conditions by strengthening democratic and independent worker organizations and supporting labor law reform and enforcement."

Clearly the U.S. fears the growing organized resistance among workers and their many struggles for change that seek to resolve the crisis in favor of the interests of the people. The hypocrisy and farce is underscored by the millions of nurses in the U.S. and worldwide who are demanding safe working conditions and health care for all and the tens of thousands who have been on strike. "Labor law and enforcement" have become non-existent. Far from the aim being one of empowering the people, it is to create organizational forms that eliminate existing rule of law and norms and institutionalize the U.S. rules-based order where the executive alone decides the rules. The U.S. working class will never agree to that, and neither will the peoples of the world. Attempts to claim that these measures are an alternative to wars of destruction and occupation are downright silly.

Advancing Technology for Democracy

Using and restricting the Internet is another area the Presidential Initiative addresses. This section repeatedly refers to "realizing the benefits of digital technologies that support democratic values and respect human rights, rather than undermining them." Again, determining who does and does not do so will be decided by the executive. Countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are already targets which the U.S. claims undermine "democratic values." USAID is now to provide up to $20.3 million to "build on programming supporting open, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystems. This programming will help governments enshrine democratic principles in their countries' use, development, and governance of technology, while empowering civil society, technologists, and the private sector to encourage the same."

The U.S. is plagued by a belief in its own superiority. It thus always underestimates the creativity and abilities of free peoples to supersede it in many fields.

In keeping with providing yet more justifications for intervention in the affairs of other countries, the "Initiative" also calls for "Defending against Digital Authoritarianism." This is said to "reduce the potential for human rights abuses enabled by some dual-use technologies" and forebodes a vicious war over control of space. As part of this, at the conclusion of the Summit, the U.S. together with Australia, Denmark and Norway announced the "Export Controls and Human Rights Initiative," directed at all those who do not join in the U.S. determined "vision for technologies anchored by democratic values." The four were joined by Canada, France, the Netherlands, and Britain. This "Export Controls" initiative is supposed to address "cyber intrusion, surveillance, and other dual-use technologies" that are "misused to stifle dissent; harass human rights defenders; intimidate minority communities; discourage whistle-blowers; chill free expression; target political opponents, journalists, and lawyers; or interfere arbitrarily or unlawfully with privacy."

All of it serves to emphasize that the battle for democracy and the battle of democracy have truly broken out in all earnest.

Defending Free and Fair Elections and Political Processes

As with the rest of the "Initiative," the U.S. is so discredited on the electoral front that few pay their claims any attention. In fact, most scoff at them knowing them to be hollow at best. Nonetheless Biden claims the right to vote, to vote freely -- is "sacred." He said that "The right to have your vote counted is the threshold of liberty for democracy -- for every democracy. With it, anything is possible. Without it, virtually nothing is possible." His efforts to integrate "civil society, media, academia, and labor organizations" are all aimed at undermining resistance and institutionalizing rule under direct U.S. executive powers.

This institutionalizing has USAID providing up to $17.5 million to establish a "Defending Democratic Elections Fund to pilot, scale, and apply evidence-based responses to threats to electoral integrity and related political processes globally. This Fund will address issues such as cybersecurity; domestic and foreign electoral manipulation; electoral violence, including gender-based violence; illicit domestic and foreign political financing; election-related disinformation; and barriers to the political participation of marginalized populations."

While this is directed not only to forces abroad but also within the U.S., it is hard to conceive how elections, which no longer serve to resolve conflicts among the contending factions but instead intensify them, will miraculously now serve to unite or suppress contending interests. What is evident, however, is that within the grand scheme of things $17.5 million is not a lot of money, which means that countries such as Canada are expected to use their own executive powers to impose the same within the domains that fall within their own purview.

The entire "Initiative" is a crass, as well as desperate effort to contend with resistance and the growing rejection worldwide of the existing Anglo-American liberal democratic institutions. To achieve this, "two new cross-cutting rapid response programs" will also be developed.

One, "Demonstrating that Democracy Delivers" for countries "experiencing a democratic transition," will provide $55 million to launch "Partnerships for Democracy." This is supposed to enable the U.S. to "surge cross-sectoral assistance to reform-minded partner governments to assist them in delivering visible benefits to their populations in areas such as health care and education."

The second, said to be for "strengthening rule of law, fighting corruption, bolstering civilian security, and promoting human rights," is the "Fund for Democratic Renewal (FDR)." This "flexible, rapid-response fund will enable State Department bureaus and offices" to "respond collectively and collaboratively to support partners working on democracy's front lines."

The word "partners" refers to a variety of forces apart from the existing governments. Their poverty of thought material is such that every effort is made to direct attention backwards to Kennedy's "Alliance for Progress" and FDR's "New Deal." It is a futile attempt to hide what cannot be hidden, which is that the security and future of the world lies in the people's striving for empowerment. Describing the failure and dysfunction of U.S.-style democracy and values is a waste of time and effort. Their claim to provide for the human rights of the peoples at home and abroad is hollow. Every effort should be directed at meeting the demands of the times for the peoples themselves to govern and decide.

Urgent Need for People's Empowerment

Protest in Washington, DC, December 8, 2021 demands Pentagon budget be cut

The broad majority of people in the U.S. have repeatedly shown in various ways that their security lies in the fight for the right to health care, housing, education, a livelihood, and safe working and living conditions for all. This is evident in several recent webinars against war, an International Tribunal that found the U.S. guilty of genocide, petitions, demonstrations and the tens of thousands of workers who have gone on strike across the country. The demand is for increased funding to meet the human needs of the people, affirm their rights and stop wars and war funding, which the government refuses to do.

One example is the current debate in the U.S. Congress over President Joe Biden's proposed package, said to be for social programs and the environment. It had been for $2.3 trillion and is now for $1.75 trillion. Large portions of that are for more pay-the-rich schemes. What also stands out is that while funding for social programs is considered "too expensive" and gets cut out of these bills in the name of compromise, funding for the Pentagon -- which largely goes to the war oligopolies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Raytheon -- routinely passes by large majorities.

The Pentagon has a yearly budget of about $1 trillion. This year it is estimated at $778 billion, which does not include funding for nuclear weapons, estimated at more than $43 billion for 2022 and $634 billion for 2021 through 2030. This year's $778 billion is $37 billion more than President Trump's last defence budget and $25 billion more than Biden requested. The Senate will likely add a "competitiveness bill," which includes $52 billion, with no strings attached, for a handful of microchip monopolies and a $10 billion handout to Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos for "space exploration."

While the majority of the U.S. people have made clear through their demands that human rights are to be upheld, they are not the decision-makers on these matters. People are rejecting a system where there are no mechanisms of accountability, and there is no opportunity for the people themselves to discuss and deliberate and have their solutions implemented.

Instead, issues of budgets, and war and peace are decided mainly by the executive, commonly using their prerogative powers, which are exercised with impunity. The rulers promote the notion that security depends on them and on preserving these dysfunctional institutions. Such a stand is being rejected as people organize for increased funding to affirm the rights of all, often taking independent initiatives and relying on their own efforts, not on Congress or the President.

Elections and Fear that Democracy Is
in a "Death Spiral"

Close to 100 former high-ranking U.S. national security officials sent a letter on November 9 not to the President who is Commander-in-Chief, but to Congress. The people signing include those from the military, intelligence, and the diplomatic corps. They have served Democrats, Republicans, or administrations of both parties. While they focus on elections, they are more broadly concerned about a peaceful transition of power and keeping the rulers in power and the people out.

The letter begins "We write to express our alarm at ongoing efforts to destabilize and subvert our elections... We believe these efforts are profoundly damaging to our national security." They add, "The rampant spread of election disinformation and the efforts to undermine confidence in the democratic process jeopardize our national security in a number of dangerous ways."

Two of the more influential signers are James R. Clapper and Michael Hayden, who issued a joint op-ed in the Washington Post on November 10. Clapper is a retired Air Force lieutenant general who was Director of National Intelligence in the Obama administration. Hayden is a retired Air Force four-star general, who was director of the National Security Agency from 1999 to 2005 and principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence in the George W. Bush administration. He was also director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2006 to 2009.

In their op-ed, the two are more direct in targeting Trump and the factions he represents. They state: "By now, it is well documented that in 2020 a sitting president and his allies tried to overturn the results of an election, triggering the worst political violence this country has seen in living memory. It is also clear that this attempt to undermine our democracy did not end with the transition to a new president, but continues with active efforts to make sure the next sabotage succeeds where the last one failed." Of course for them the broad and continuing racist police violence and killings, the genocide of mass incarceration, and sanctions and wars abroad are not "political violence." The point here though is the increasingly open expression of the profound antagonisms within the ruling circles. The vying factions have no solutions to the crises they face and necessarily will resort to increased violence, including potentially violent civil war at home and/or more imperialist war abroad.

Current threats against Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, troops in Haiti, and war games targeting China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are an indication of this. So too is the fact that included in the Pentagon funding bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, is a requirement for women to now register for the draft. Up until now it was all young men turning 18 that had to register. And while it is currently not being enforced and many do not register, the military routinely secures from high schools lists of students turning 18. Now the Pentagon wants all women turning 18 to register as well. This law can be enforced at any time. Adding women is an indication that the U.S. is preparing for increased use of the military abroad and possibly at home as well.

In their op-ed, Clapper and Hayden express the legitimacy problem of the rulers and their preoccupation with defeat writing, "At the heart of the attack is a homegrown disinformation campaign meant to sow doubt in the U.S. voting system. Unfortunately, it is working -- poll after poll shows declining trust in our elections and declining belief in the concept of democracy ... and these effects will not be contained to our borders... A society struggling to separate fact from fiction is the perfect environment for these actors to further erode electoral trust and kick democracy into a death spiral."

They continue with fear of U.S. decline on the world stage: "There are also serious foreign policy consequences to this crisis. The United States' power since World War II has come not just from our military might but also from the political stability and economic prosperity a thriving democracy provides... But the once-high regard for American democracy is in steep decline, and with it America's global influence and moral authority."

They conclude: "While the situation is dire, it is far from hopeless. There are clear and simple steps the Biden administration and Congress must take now to harden our defences against the risk posed by election destabilization... Three decades ago, the promise of American democracy helped us prevail in the Cold War. Today, our enemies can smell the weakness in our political system, and they will be ready to exploit it. We must be prepared to meet that threat -- for our national security, for our democracy and for the future of our country."

Similarly, the letter to Congress also shows this morbid preoccupation with defeat and desperation to save U.S.-style democracy. Both are contending with the widespread consciousness of the dysfunction of U.S. institutions, such as Congress, and increasing rule by the President through the exercise of executive powers including decisions to go to war. The letter says, "We have strong democratic institutions and traditions, but they are being placed in severe jeopardy in the current climate. We call on you to meet this challenge squarely and put in place the defences that will safeguard the integrity of our sacred democratic institutions."

The letter also hints at what its signatories think is required to do so. They ignore the broad demands to increase the role of the people in decision-making, whether it concerns police violence or wars or budgets or expanding the right to vote and measures for an electoral system that provides the equal right to vote and be elected. Instead, they raise the issue of blocking the right to speak: "We all must recognize and speak out against destructive speech and practices that undermine fair elections and respect for their outcomes."

This speaks both to the contention among the rulers -- that a peaceful transition of power is no longer within their reach -- and their concern for all those speaking out about the failure of U.S.-style democracy and its institutions. This is in part directed to the "disinformation campaigns" of the Trump forces and an effort to unite the military and civilian bureaucracies, an effort which continually fails as this letter and op-ed indicate.

More importantly, it is a call for further attacks on the many organizations and forces putting forward that U.S. elections are not fair and are designed to keep the people on the sidelines and out of power, and who are rejecting the fraud of election outcomes far beyond the 2020 election for president. The anger and resistance to the institutions is growing, along with the consciousness that they are failed institutions that do not provide accountability at any level and in fact stand in the way of the demands of the people against war and for rights.

Webinars and other activities are taking place against AFRICOM -- which is used to militarize Africa and repress resistance; in support of opposition in Japan and Korea to U.S. bases and war games, to bring troops home and close U.S. bases, with veterans speaking out against the crimes of U.S. aggression; to stand with Cuba as the U.S. seeks regime change; and more. The International Tribunal on U.S. Human Rights Violations saw many people testify about their own experience with U.S. crimes. They joined people across the country, such as nurses, immigrants, warehouse workers and many others who are speaking out in their own name demanding rights. All reflect a very different conception of security, one that recognizes that security lies in our fight for the rights of all. It is these many forces that this call against "destructive speech" is aimed at.

The letter and op-ed are just recent examples that openly express the conflicts among the rulers as to how to save their system and block the peoples, both abroad and at home, from advancing their struggle for change that favours their interests. The rulers' preoccupation with defeat means they will be more violent, aggressive and dangerous in the coming period. This makes all the more urgent and necessary the resistance by the peoples as they organize to defend the rights of all and fight for a democracy that empowers the people to govern and decide.

UN Climate Conference Fails to Humanize Natural or Social Environment

Program of Climate Crisis Profiteering and Pay-the-Rich Schemes

Montreal action, November 6, 2021, one of some 300 actions held for Global Day of Action for Climate Justice.

The UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) held in Glasgow from October 31 to November 13 adopted the slogan "uniting the world to tackle climate change." The comments and commitments of various leaders about what they are willing to do set the orientation for the rest of the proceedings where negotiators worked out agreements and decisions announced at the end of the Summit.

The Opening Ceremonies on November 1 were revealing as regards the agenda of the rich and powerful countries which dominate the climate change narrative. Talk centred on the urgency of the situation and the need for every participating and non-participating country to reduce carbon emissions, increase carbon capture and develop renewable sources of energy to prevent the world's temperature increase exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030. There was also a lot of talk about the "developed countries" fulfilling their commitment to fund the "developing countries."

It is well known that the standard of living and excesses of the so-called developed countries are acquired on the basis of their super-exploitation of the countries called under-developed. The official narrative covers up the reality of the relations which exist between humans and humans and humans and nature. All of it is to perpetrate the historical fraud that the gods of plague will sort out the problems facing humanity. The claims of humankind were expressed at the Glasgow Summit by the peoples themselves in their mass demonstrations and protests which took place every day during COP26.

According to media reports, the main message of COP26 was not in what various "leaders" "are willing to do," but in "how it is to be done." It quickly became apparent, however, that whatever measures are taken in the name of addressing the climate crisis, they will not entail the mobilization of the human and natural resources of each country in a manner that puts the needs of the peoples in first place, beginning with their need to take the decisions which affect their lives. Governments representing the interests of the oligopolies were in their service to make super profits from "greening the economy." That was the bottom line. They put forward a clear framework: "the private sector" must unite to do the job that they have declared the "public sector" cannot do. It served to cloud the fact that the public sector has been taken over by the private sector in a world marked by the politicization of private interests.

COP26 will stand as a big internationally coordinated fraud to push schemes to pay the rich, both the corporations positioned to seize the day and the financiers who will reap the interest payments on funding the new "green economy" while exercising control over who will or will not be allowed entry into the projects they finance.

The opening ceremonies of COP26 revealed that the slogan "Uniting the world to tackle climate change" is rooted in excluding the peoples who will pay the price from not having a say on the matter. They will pay in various forms -- interest on financing, whether it is funneled through governments or through supranational bodies, and increased costs for goods and services plus the results of the damage being done to the environment. The peoples are nonetheless refusing to be reduced to spectators. They oppose the shameless patronizing and condescending references and homages to the courage and determination of the youth in demanding climate crisis action. What the youth are demanding is their right to decide, their right to have a say and a bright future built by the peoples of the world in their favour.

The performance of Canada's Prime Minister was a prime example of someone incapable of feeling shame. He declared to the world's youth -- "your leaders are listening." This served to reinforce the unacceptable state of affairs where there are those who govern and those who are governed and must submit to whatever is done in their name. According to Trudeau, those who do not accept this dictatorship are extremist voices which pose the main danger to the security of the world at this time.

COP26 was a concentrated expression of the ongoing politicization of private interests and destruction of national sovereign governance. On November 1, Trudeau announced that Canada will cap oil and gas emissions. He did so without the Canadian Parliament having deliberated on the matter, let alone approving it and nor have the legislatures of Quebec, the provinces and territories. It is sufficient, we are told, that capping oil and gas emissions was mentioned in the 2021 Liberal election platform. According to the logic of the rulers, foreign policy is a prerogative power in the hands of the executive level of government and, since these decisions are taken in international conferences, this permits the government to impose them without discussion.

Clearly, the peoples must discuss among their peers and establish their own, independent political positions -- positions which unite the people to make way for democratic renewal.

Who Decides? We Decide!
Whose Resources? Our Resources!
Whose Future? Our Future!
Who Are the Builders? We Are the Builders!
All Out to Humanize the Social and Natural Environment
by Defending the Rights of All!

(Adapted from Renewal Update, November 2, 2021)

Mass Actions Expose "Global
Greenwashing Festival"

The United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) was held in Glasgow from October 31 to November 13. It adopted the slogan "uniting the world to tackle climate change."

Participants in the conference included over 120 world leaders and over 40,000 registered participants, including 22,274 party delegates, 14,124 observers and 3,886 media representatives.

The Opening Ceremonies on November 1 revealed the agenda of the rich and powerful countries which dominate the climate change narrative. Talk centred on the urgency of the situation and the need for every participating and non-participating country to reduce carbon emissions, increase carbon capture and develop renewable sources of energy to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030. There was also a lot of talk about the "developed countries" fulfilling their commitment to fund the "developing countries."

But the claims of humankind were expressed not by these leaders, but by the peoples themselves in their mass demonstrations and protests which took place continuously during COP26. Whatever measures were promised by the leaders in the name of addressing the climate crisis, they will not entail the mobilization of the human and natural resources of each country in a manner that puts the needs of the peoples in first place, beginning with their need to take the decisions which affect their lives.

Governments representing the interests of the oligopolies are in their service to make super profits from "greening the economy." That is the bottom line. They have put forward a clear framework: "the private sector" must unite to do the job that they have declared the "public sector" cannot do. It serves to cloud the fact that the public sector has been taken over by the private sector in a world marked by the politicization of private interests.

COP26 will stand as a big internationally co-ordinated fraud to push schemes to pay the rich, both the corporations positioned to seize the day and the financiers who will reap the interest payments on funding the new "green economy" while exercising control over who will or will not be allowed entry into the projects they finance.

The peoples will continue to pay the price, from having no say on the matter. They will pay in various forms -- interest on financing, whether it is funnelled through governments or through supranational bodies; and increased costs for goods and services; plus the results of the damage being done to the environment. The peoples are nonetheless refusing to be reduced to spectators. They oppose the shameless patronizing and condescending references and homages to the courage and determination of the youth in demanding climate crisis action. What the youth are demanding is their right to decide, their right to have a say and a bright future built by the peoples of the world in their favour.

COP26 has been a concentrated expression of the ongoing politicization of private interests and destruction of national sovereign governance. The peoples must discuss among their peers and establish their own independent political positions -- positions which unite the people to make way for democratic renewal.

October 26 to November 6 -- Global Days of Climate Action

Peoples' Forces Walk Out in Disgust

Climate activists walked out of COP26 en masse in disgust on November 13, the final day of the conference that had been scheduled to conclude the previous day. The COP26 Coalition issued a statement the day after the walkout, responding to the Glasgow Climate Pact, the communiqué issued by COP26.

The COP26 Coalition is a UK-based civil society coalition comprised of some 240 groups and individuals that mobilized around climate justice during COP26. Members include environment and development NGOs, trade unions, grassroots community campaigns, faith groups, youth groups, and migrant and racial justice networks -- to name a few. Their statement reads:

"Yesterday, the packed out Conference of the People walked out in protest at COP26. We are frustrated and angry that another COP has further entrenched the injustices causing misery for millions around the world, while shoring up the profits of corporations and rich countries.

"The UK was tasked with the 1.5 [degrees Celsius] COP, but what they've delivered is the 2.5C COP. More interested in preening their feathers with press releases and announcements, they've failed to do their job.

"We needed rich countries to step up and finally do their fair share of climate action, while providing compensation for the destruction to lives and livelihoods already being caused by climate change in countries who have done least to create this crisis. Instead, the needs of poorer countries have been kicked to the curb, in favour of keeping the hugely over represented fossil fuel lobbyists happy.

"Rich countries have tried to make it look as if they care about climate change -- but it is clear that they plan to continue polluting with impunity, sacrificing the poorest as they do so. The oil and gas industry, once again, is off the hook and leaves COP26 laughing all the way to the bank.

"Developing countries, already overwhelmed by the COVID crisis, inequality and a spirally debt crisis, desperately needed huge increases in financial support to deal with the impacts of climate change, and compensation for the damage already done. Yet rich countries flatly refused to put hard cash on the table, offering a pitiful advice helpline instead.

"At COP26, the richest got what they came here for, and the poorest leave with nothing."

Climate Activists' Assessment of COP26

Glasgow, Climate Justice March, November 6, 2021.

Climate activists did not mince words about the fraud of COP26 -- from the exclusion of people's voices in the discussion, to the refusal to even consider the impact of NATO, militarism and war on climate change and the climate crisis, and the repetition of empty hackneyed phrases like "commitment to net zero."

Mhairi McCann, from Scotland, was a participant at COP26. She is the founder of Youth Stem 2030, an organization focused on empowering youth to advance the UN's sustainable development goals. An interview with Mhairi by the North American Association for Environmental Education was published online by wildcentre.org. Mhairi said, "The way COP is organized is not going to be the way that we get action for tackling climate change. That has been my overall takeaway. It has been quite exclusionary in many ways for many groups of people, both partly because of COVID and partly otherwise. This is not actually where the action is going to happen. I wish I could leave on a more optimistic note than that but that is my impression from here."

Ramón Mejía, an American veteran of the war on Iraq and member of the Grassroots Global Justice Alliance also attended. In an interview with Democracy Now Ramón said, "[W]hen you have fossil fuel industries that have a larger delegation than most of our frontline communities and the global south, then we're being silenced. This space is not a space for genuine discussions. It's a discussion for transnational corporations and industry and polluting governments to continue to try and find ways to go as 'business as usual' without actually addressing the roots of the conversation."

"There can't be any genuine discussion about addressing climate change if we are not including the military. The military, as we know, is the largest consumer of fossil fuels and also the largest emitter of the greenhouse gases most responsible for climate disruption," he said. "This COP has been dubbed 'net zero' ... but this is just a false unicorn. It's a false solution, just the same way as 'greening the military' is. ... [G]reening the military is also not the solution. We have to address the violence that the military wages and the catastrophic effect it has on our world."

Tamara Lorincz, a Canadian activist, member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom-Canada and Voice of Women for Peace, also spoke out, drawing the connection between militarism and the climate crisis. Everywhere she went she handed out flyers on why NATO is a threat to people and the planet and on the carbon bootprint of the military, militarization and military spending. In a report-back to Science for Peace, she said "The science demands dramatic emissions reductions" while "net zero, offsets, carbon capture and storage, and nature-based solutions being peddled by government and industry are false solutions." She was extremely discouraged by the heavy police presence, on horseback and at roadblocks, and highly secured spaces with fences that kept the people from being able to participate. Discussion of peace, militarism and military expenditures, she said, were absolutely absent from COP26, while hope for the future is in the international solidarity movement.

In a news release November 13, Climate Network Action Canada reported on the reaction of Canadian civil society and environmental groups and said, "COP26 was not able to fix the disconnect between flashy greenwashing and real climate action. The biggest delegation at COP26 was a group of 500 fossil fuel industry lobbyists. The United Kingdom welcomed them with open arms. At the same time, Indigenous people, youth, unions, and environmental organizations who came to Glasgow to fight for integrity, ambition and transformative action faced consistent restrictions and roadblocks. We will continue to hold Canada responsible for delivering its fair share of the global climate effort and ending the colonial production of fossil fuels."

Neta Crawford, Co-Founder and Director of the Cost of War Project at Brown University in Boston was also present at COP26. "I am here because there are several universities in the UK which have launched an initiative to try to include military emissions more fully in the individual countries' declarations of their emissions," she said. Every year, every country that is a party to the treaty from Kyoto "have to put some of their military emissions in their national inventories, but it is not a full accounting. And that's what we'd like to see." She noted that the U.S. Department of Defense advised the White House back in 1997 at the time of the Kyoto Climate Summit, that if military missions were included in the climate protocols, the U.S. military might have to reduce its operations. A 10 per cent reduction in their emissions, the Defense Department officials said, among other things, would lead to a lack of readiness for war anytime, anywhere.

Aminath Shauna, Environment Minister for the Maldives, speaking about the needs of island nations, said "What is balanced and pragmatic to other parties will not help the Maldives adapt in time. For us, this is a matter of survival. We recognize the foundations that this outcome provides, but it does not bring hope to our hearts. The difference between 1.5 and 2 degrees is a death sentence for us."

Saleemul Hug, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development in Bangladesh, said, "As far as I am concerned, it is a failure.... [I've] come here with a single agenda which is to help the poorest people on the planet who are already suffering from the impacts of human-induced climate change. And we needed a Glasgow facility on loss and damage finance here. One hundred and thirty-eight developing countries put language in the text yesterday. It got removed overnight. It's not there anymore. It has been replaced by an offer for a dialogue ... absolutely disappointing and totally unacceptable."

Asad Rehman of the UK organization War on Want said, "It's a betrayal of the science, it's a betrayal of the realities of the climate impacts that are happening and devastating people's lives and livelihoods. The only people celebrating this outcome are the hundreds of lobbyists from the oil and gas industry, those whose vested interests basically say, we can't see any change, we can't move away from the fossil fuel addiction of our economy."

Glasgow, November 6, 2021

Amanda Mukwashi, CEO of Christian Aid, a UK organization, said, "We were told that COP26 was the last best chance to keep 1.5C alive but it's been placed on life support. Rich nations have kicked the can down the road and with it the promise of the urgent climate action people on the frontline of this crisis need.

"After two weeks of negotiations, the voices of those experiencing the harsh impacts of climate change have largely been excluded and not been heeded. Warm words on loss and damage and finance for developing countries to adapt to climate change are not good enough. Rich nations need to accept their responsibility, put their money where their mouths are, and provide the billions needed. Developing nations have done the least to cause this crisis but have shown commitment to tackling it."

More than 700 organizations and movements worldwide issued a call at the outset of COP26 for real solutions to solve climate change -- not a continuation of harm dressed up as "net zero" carbon budgeting. "We don't want to read about your promises to supposedly balance the emissions budget by mid-century, using techno-fixes, geoengineering, carbon markets, and accounting tricks," they wrote. "We demand that you put forward real plans to bring emissions and fossil fuel production down to Real Zero. These plans must be based on real transformation, backed by real resources, and implemented with the real urgency demanded by the current crises." Their statement is available online at realsolutions-not-netzero.org.

Opening session of the Peoples' Summit, November 7, 2021

(With files from Al Jazeera, Climate Action Network Canada. Photos: TML, COP 26 Coalition, Climate Action Network)

Main Points of Glasgow Climate Pact

Climate justice march on streets of Glasgow, November 6, 2021

Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, delegates to the Conference of the Parties (COP26) which was held in Glasgow from October 31 to November 13, adopted the Glasgow Climate Pact. The United Nations provided a summary of the decisions taken which are included in the formal document, as well as other "side deals" that were made at the Conference.

Highlights of the UN summation of the Glasgow Climate Pact include:

- Reaffirmation of the Paris Agreement goal of limiting the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit to to 1.3 degrees C.

- Countries stressed the urgency of action "in this critical decade," when carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced by 45 per cent to reach net zero around mid-century. The agreement calls on all countries to present stronger national plans next year at COP27.

- Countries agreed to a provision calling for a phase-down of coal power and a phase-out of "inefficient" fossil fuel subsidies. It was noted that many countries and NGOs considered the language on coal weakened, from phase-out to phase-down, and not as ambitious as it needs to be.

- Developed countries having fallen short on their promise to deliver U.S.$100 billion a year for developing countries, the pledge was reaffirmed and the urgency for the developed countries to fully deliver on the US$100 billion annually stressed.

- A doubling of finance to support developing countries in adapting to the impacts of climate change and building resilience.

- Completion of operational details for the practical implementation of the Paris Agreement including norms relating to carbon markets which allow struggling countries to purchase emissions reductions from other nations which have exceeded their targets, and on timelines and formats for countries to report on their progress.

-To strengthen the Santiago Network that connects vulnerable countries with providers of technical assistance, knowledge and resources to address climate risks.

The UN reports that other deals were made, outside of the Glasgow Climate Pact, which, if implemented, "can have major positive impacts." These include:

- The commitment by 137 countries to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, a pledge backed by $12 billion in public funding and $7.2 billion in private funding, and a commitment from CEOs of more than 30 financial institutions with over $8.7 trillion in global assets to eliminate investment in activities linked to deforestation.

- A Global Methane Pledge signed by 103 countries, including 14 major emitters, to limit methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, compared to 2020 levels.

- Acceleration of decarbonisation of road transport. Over 30 countries, six major vehicle manufacturers and other actors, like cities, set out their determination for all new car and van sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2040 globally and 2035 in leading markets.

- Leaders from South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany and the European Union announced a partnership to support South Africa with $8.5 billion over the next three to five years to transition from coal.

- Private financial institutions and central banks, including the Glasgow Financial Alliance for New Zero, with 450 firms across 45 countries that control $130 trillion in assets, announced moves to realign trillions of dollars towards achieving net zero emissions.

Developments in Latin America and the Caribbean

November 15, a Day of Celebration in Cuba

In Cuba, November 15 was the day of celebration it was meant to be. First and foremost, it was a celebration of what was accomplished through the herculean effort of its scientists, medical personnel, government and people as together they wrestled to the ground a months-long merciless third wave of COVID-19.

The tone had been set two days before with a 48-hour sit-in at Havana's Central Park organized mainly by young people who call themselves the Red Bandana collective. They describe themselves as social media activists, involved in community projects and civil society organizations, who have come together to demonstrate their support for the emancipatory Revolution, and to oppose the unconventional warfare methods being used against Cuba and any attempt to re-colonize the island.

Celebrations on November 15 began in the morning with the completion of the phased return to in-person classes for Cuba's elementary and secondary students. On the same day, Cuba's borders reopened to international tourism, along with other sectors of its productive economy, and social and cultural spaces, after months of being shut down as part of the national effort to bring the pandemic under control.

On November 14, President Miguel Díaz-Canel joined the Red Bandanas sit-in during a closing concert and sing-along.

Cuba Vive! Cuba Lives!

In August, new cases of COVID-19 reached well over 9,000 a day for a time in Cuba at the peak of the third wave, driven by the Delta variant. Some four months later, on December 10, active cases numbered 441. Cuba's success in dramatically reducing the number of new cases and deaths due to the pandemic has occurred simultaneously with a massive vaccination campaign that enjoys broad public support. Everyone from the age of two years and up has access to Cuba's own Abdala, Soberana 02 and Soberana Plus vaccines.

As of December 7, more than 82 per cent of the population were reported to be fully vaccinated and over 90 per cent had received at least one dose. In addition, those working in all aspects of the tourism industry who deal directly with international visitors, whether in airports, as part of the transportation network, or at hotels and resorts, have begun receiving booster shots.

Schools Reopened for In-Person Classes

School reopening ceremony in Havana attended by President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Celebrations and happy reunions of students with their teachers and classmates were the highlight of the return to in-person learning at elementary and secondary schools across the country. All classes had been delivered via television since January. The main ceremony launching the the school year for primary school students was held at Pedro Domingo Murillo elementary school in Ciudad Escolar Libertad in Havana with President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Education Minister Ena Elsa Velázquez and other dignitaries in attendance.

On November 15, the last group of the country's 1,700,000 students returned to in-person classes -- some 700,000 pupils from preschool to Grade 5 -- along with some students in higher grades in certain provinces where the start date had been delayed. The staggered return to school was linked to the vaccination schedules for children of different ages. The vast majority of students, teachers and education workers are now fully vaccinated. Other public health measures being followed in schools include masking, maintaining physical distancing, frequent hand washing and sanitizing and daily screening for symptoms. If necessary, the daily timetable will be adjusted to provide for two separate sessions in order to avoid crowded classrooms.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel greets returning students.

International Tourism Returns

Cuba also reopened its borders to international flights on November 15, with planeloads of tourists heading for destinations in selected areas. Twenty international flights were scheduled to arrive that day at Havana's José Martí International Airport with 60 more arrivals at airports around the island. By the end of December as the reopening of the tourism sector gradually progresses and expands, Cuba expects to receive more than 400 international flights a week.

One of the first groups to arrive on November 15 was a 75-member delegation of the 31st U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan, a project of the New York City-based Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO)/Pastors for Peace. Participants brought with them over two tons of medical aid collected from communities around the United States.

"We firmly believe that it is essential to lift up the tremendous progress that Cuba has been able to achieve despite the blockade and the pandemic," said IFCO Executive Director Gail Walker. "We applaud Cuba's ability to open schools and borders. We marvel at Cuba's fight against COVID with more than 70 per cent of its population fully vaccinated and 95 per cent of young people from age two to 18 having received one vaccine shot, despite the U.S. government blocking Cuba's ability to purchase the raw materials necessary to create the vaccine and preventing international shipments of syringes to the island."

On November 20, the 27th Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade, a project of the Canadian Network on Cuba arrived for a two-week stay in Havana and Varadero. Plans are also in place for the 28th Brigade to visit Cuba April 27-May 10, 2022. Anyone interested in joining the 28th brigade is invited to register. Information and the registration form can be found here.

"Marches for Change" Fail to Take Place

The much ballyhooed N15 "civic marches for change" that were supposed to take place all over the island on November 15 as a sequel to the violent disturbances of July 11 never materialized. The likes of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly egged on the Cuban people and prodded U.S. allies to support the protests despite Cuban authorities making clear that another round of street actions led by the same U.S.- funded "dissidents" responsible for the violence and vandalism on July 11 would not be permitted.

In a television interview, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez commented on the tranquility and celebratory mood that prevailed in Havana and other parts of the country on November 15. He said that in spite of attempts by toxic platforms -- based mainly in Southern Florida -- to create an artificial image, alien to what was actually happening in Cuba's streets, they did not succeed. Regarding his U.S. counterpart Blinken, Rodríguez obviously included him among those who on November 15 found themselves all dressed up with no place to go, as he put it.

And what of Yunior García Aguilera, leader of the Archipiélago Platform, outed agent of the U.S.-regime change apparatus and putative leader of the civil society "freedom" movement in Cuba? November 15 found him lamenting on social media that he and others of his ilk had been deprived of their rights, "blocked" inside their homes by fellow citizens who had gathered outside their doors to accuse them of working for the enemy of the Cuban people and its very real, very deadly blockade. Even though it may be but a small victory in the 62-year dirty war the U.S. has waged against their country, it gave Cubans another reason to celebrate on November 15.

By the next day Yunior was photographed walking through Havana's international airport on his way to board a flight to Spain, where he remains. There he has been giving press conferences and posing for photos with Leopoldo López, mentor of the U.S. puppet Juan Guaidó and reported mastermind of their multiple failed attempts to violently overthrow the Venezuelan government, and talking about the need for coup plotters like themselves and those in Nicaragua, to coordinate their efforts.

New York City, November 15, 2021

(With files from Granma, Radio Havana Cuba, Trabajadores, Juventud Rebelde)

Important Elections Held in Three Countries

Elections held during the month of November in Nicaragua, Venezuela and Honduras were an occasion for the democratic forces of those countries to affirm their desire to pursue their own sovereign nation-building projects free from foreign domination and interference. TML congratulates the people of Nicaragua and Venezuela for defending their revolutions in the face of repeated coup attempts, brutal economic sanctions, campaigns of lies, slanders and every kind of pressure applied against them by the U.S. imperialists and their Canadian appeasers to try and bend their will. It did not work.

Our congratulations as well to the people of Honduras for the victory they have won in the face of a dirty campaign waged against the Liberty and Refoundation (Libre) Party designed to instill fear of "communism" in voters. It did not deter citizens from coming out in record numbers to vote on November 28 and to cast their ballot for the (Libre) Party candidate for president, Xiomara Castro. They did so to put an end to the rule of the criminal, anti-national forces that have been imposed on them through foreign intervention, fraud and violence to plunder their resources and keep their country in bondage to foreign interests. For the last 12 years the people of Honduras have never resigned themselves to the fate assigned them by the neo-liberal oligarchy of their country and the foreign masters they serve. Following the 2009 coup against President Manuel Zelaya, the people's forces immediately mobilized and organized themselves to resist, and have remained in action ever since, forcefully asserting their rights under the most difficult conditions and circumstances.

Nicaragua Stays the Course

In the November 7 general election in Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) were re-elected by a large majority, with 76 per cent of the vote. The FSLN also won 75 of 90 seats in the National Assembly (83 per cent) and 15 of Nicaragua's 20 seats in the Central American Parliament. Voter turnout was over 65 per cent. From start to finish it was a sharp rebuke to the coup forces and their U.S. patrons who have ramped up their dirty war against the country after they tried but failed to bring about the violent overthrow of the Sandinistas in 2018.

Venezuela Continues to Resist

Regional and municipal "mega-elections" were held on November 21 in Venezuela resulting in candidates of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) being elected as governors in 20 out of 23 states. A re-run of the election for governor in Barinas state was ordered for January 9, 2022 after a complaint concerning the eligibility of one of the candidates to stand for election was upheld by the Supreme Court. The majority of mayors and municipal councillors elected were also candidates of the PSUV-led Great Patriotic Pole. Voter turnout was 42.3 per cent, an increase of 12 percentage points over last December's legislative election. Indigenous members of legislative and municipal councils in eight states were elected separately in keeping with their customs. With the exception of a few holdouts, the participation of opposition parties was more extensive than in any other election since the parliamentary elections of 2015. Despite increasing evidence of division in their ranks, and rejection of the fictitious "interim presidency" of Juan Guaidó, most opposition parties ran under the banner of the reconstituted Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD).

Big Win for the People in Honduras

The general election held in Honduras resulted in a resounding victory for the Libre Party and allied forces that joined it in an effort to ensure the defeat of the neo-liberal National Party installed in the wake of the 2009 coup, and maintained in power after that by two fraudulent elections.[1] On December 10, with over 95 per cent of the votes counted, Libre's candidate for president, Xiomara Castro had received 50.6 per cent of eligible votes, a commanding lead over the National Party candidate's 36.5 per cent and the Liberal Party's just under 10 per cent. Twelve other candidates each received under one per cent. Voter turnout in the election was a record-setting 68.5 per cent of registered voters, with Castro receiving the highest number of votes ever cast for president in the country's history. Even the night of the election, with only about a third of the votes counted, the huge lead she had over the National Party presidential candidate was deemed irreversible, sparking jubilant celebrations around the country and her declaration of victory. Two days later, with just over half of the votes tallied, and the trend continuing, the National Party candidate officially conceded defeat and congratulated Castro.

Castro will be the country's first woman president. She said that her administration would "work to recover the honour and dignity of the Honduran people, which has faced violence and state corruption since the 2009 U.S.-backed coup d'état against President Manuel Zelaya. From now on, the country's wealth will be in favour of our people."

In her victory speech on November 28 Castro stressed that she did not have enemies and intended to form a government of reconciliation -- "a government of peace and a government of justice. We are going to initiate a process throughout all of Honduras to guarantee a participatory democracy, a direct democracy, because we are going to be consulting the people. That will be a norm of governance at the level of local governments, mayors, Congress and the executive branch. Never again, Hondurans, will there be abuse of power in this country. From this moment on, the people will prevail eternally. Onward toward a direct democracy! Onward toward a participatory democracy!" She ended her speech saying, "No more war! No more hate! No more death squads! No more corruption! No more drug trafficking and organized crime! No more ZEDES [Special Economic Development Zones]! No more poverty and misery in Honduras! Until the final victory, united, the people, together we are going to transform our country!"

As of December 11, a recount of votes for the 128-member National Congress had not yet been completed. Indications are however that Libre and its ally, the Salvador de Honduras (Saviour of Honduras) Party will end up with a majority of seats, doing away with the National Party's ability to dominate the legislative agenda. Libre is projected to hold 50 seats, the most of any party.

On January 27, Xiomara Castro will be sworn in as president for the next four years and President Juan Orlando Hernández of the National Party will finally leave the scene, reflecting the will of Hondurans who since his fraudulent re-election in 2017 have united around the battle cry, "JOH Out!"

Note

1. See "Ten Years After the 2009 Coup d'Etat," TML Weekly, June 22, 2019.

Venezuelan Government Responds
to Canada's Interference

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly's statement that Canada rejects the results of Venezuela's November 21 election received a swift reply from her Venezuelan counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Félix Plasencia, who wrote:

"The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically rejects the interventionist statements of the Canadian government, in relation to the election of November 21, when the Venezuelan people came out freely to exercise their right to vote.

"It is regrettable that, in the absence of its own foreign policy and in order to comply with the expectations of the United States, the government of Canada resorts to the disqualification of an electoral process that was widely validated by more than 300 international observers, issuing what would more appropriately be called a political pamphlet than the statement of a sovereign state.

"It is ironic that Canada questions the context of the recent election when it was the only country that acted concretely to prevent Venezuelan voters resident in its territory from voting at the Venezuelan Embassy and Consulates during the 2018 presidential election.

"Similarly, Canada speaks of the impact on the economy and human rights, while applauding, supporting and promoting illegal coercive measures against the entire Venezuelan people, which constitute crimes against humanity.

"Faced with such cynicism, the government of Venezuela demands that Canada immediately end its illegal coercive measures and its political and material support for corrupt individuals who promote the embezzlement of assets belonging to the Venezuelan State.

"Unlike Canada, Venezuela is a country free from foreign tutelage, and demonstrates this in each election with the deepening of the model of participatory and protagonist democracy enshrined in the Constitution and backed by the democratic will of the Venezuelan people."

(Translated from the original Spanish by TML.)

Canadian Government Interferes in
Nicaragua's Affairs

The U.S. and Canada have been ramping up their interference in Nicaragua since 2018, demonizing the elected government and providing aid, through propaganda, training and finances, to the opposition and its storm troopers who over several months in 2018 engaged in acts of extreme violence and destruction in a failed attempt to overthrow the government of Daniel Ortega.

Two days after the U.S. imposed visa restrictions on 100 members of the Nicaraguan National Assembly and judicial system and some of their family members on July 12, Canada's then Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau announced Canada was sanctioning an additional 15 individuals in Nicaragua under its Special Economic Measures (Nicaragua) Regulations.

The statement issued by Global Affairs Canada on July 14 completely misrepresents the events of 2018, to conform to the usual narrative of U.S.-backed violent forces as "peaceful protesters" whose human rights are violated by the "regime" against which they are actively trying to incite an insurrection. When they are captured, tried and imprisoned for their crimes which include murder and wanton destruction of public and private property as part of terrorizing the population and sowing an atmosphere of anarchy and chaos, they become "political prisoners" whose freedom must be granted, with sanctions and demonization the punishment for governments and people that do not submit to this blackmail. It is the same movie we have seen many times before, in Venezuela and elsewhere, in which facts and eyewitness testimony count for nothing, no matter how much publicly available information disproves what the U.S. and Canada are pushing. The one thing that was true, and telling, in Canada's statement which echoed one issued around the same time by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was that "These new [sanctions] align with actions taken by Canada's international partners and add to previously imposed Canadian sanctions."

The interference by the U.S., Canada, the Organization of American States and others in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba and other countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean, including through the financing and training of opponents, including coup plotters, against governments that have been elected by the people, is aimed at overthrowing "regimes" that defend the sovereignty and right to self-determination of their peoples and refuse to bow to U.S. dictate.

It is noteworthy that on the same day that Canada announced its so-called targeted sanctions and condemned the government of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, Marc Garneau held meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Marta Lucía Ramírez, Colombia's Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He discussed the situation in Haiti with Blinken and Canada's "ongoing commitment toward Haiti, including by supporting Haiti to address ongoing security and governance challenges." Global Affairs reported that Garneau and Blinken "agreed to work together to support the Haitian people towards the development of a more stable, democratic and prosperous future." This was just one week after the assassination of Haiti's de facto president Jovenal Moïse, allegedly by retired members of the Colombian military in the employ of a U.S-based "security contractor."

In his meeting with the Colombian Foreign Minister, Garneau had high praise for Colombia's leadership in welcoming over 1.7 million Venezuelan migrants. With regard to the massive anti-government protests in Colombia which faced state repression that resulted in many deaths and injuries, Global Affairs did not report Garneau having anything to say. Nor did it mention anything he said about the social leaders, human rights defenders and unarmed former guerrilla members, signatories to the 2016 Peace Agreement, being murdered with impunity by dark forces now virtually on a daily basis. All that was reported is that Garneau "called on Colombia to keep its commitment to fully investigate and hold anyone who has violated human rights to account for their actions" and announced over $3 million in Canadian government funding for "Peace and Stabilization Operations."

The actions of the Canadian government in support of the brutal U.S. imperialist campaign against Nicaragua are in violation of the principle of non-intervention in the affairs of sovereign countries. The people of every country must be able to control the decisions that affect their economy and their social, cultural and political affairs without outside interference. The U.S. imperialist agenda of brutal sanctions and financing its own agents in various countries of the Americas to overthrow governments which do not kowtow to it, is at odds with the aspirations of the people, including the Canadian people, for freedom, democracy and human rights.

Dubious Credentials and Mission of Proposed
New U.S. Ambassador to Argentina

Marc R. Stanley, a Texas lawyer with longstanding links to the Democratic Party who worked on Joe Biden's presidential campaign has been chosen by Biden to become the next U.S. Ambassador to Argentina.

"Arrogant, provocative, contemptuous and scarcely concerned with concealing his intentions to interfere in internal affairs" is how Pagina 12 columnist Raúl Dellatorre described Stanley, after observing his performance during a confirmation hearing before a committee of the U.S. Senate on October 26. In his column, Dellatorre notes that despite his many years working for the Democratic Party, Stanley's arrogant and contemptuous style is more Trump-like than would be expected from someone nominated by Biden, with Stanley seeming more like a lobbyist for big business interests than a diplomat. In fact, Stanley who presents himself as a political activist and leader of the American Jewish community, has not had a diplomatic appointment before. His confirmation is still pending.

At his confirmation hearing Stanley described Argentina as "a beautiful tourist bus whose wheels are not working properly," then made a point of telling members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee what the government of Argentina was doing wrong or failing to do, and how he would intervene to address the situation if he is confirmed as the U.S. ambassador.

For example, he said Argentina had yet to "join the United States and others in pushing for meaningful reforms in countries like Venezuela and Cuba" and pledged to engage with the Argentine leadership at all levels "to seek ways to achieve our mutual goal of a hemisphere that honours our highest ideals." What this of course means is that Stanley will push Argentina to align itself more closely with the U.S. policy of isolating Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Asked by members of the Senate committee about his views on Argentina's relations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Stanley said he had pledged to both parties to "help Argentina restructure its IMF debt." "The IMF debt, at $45 billion, is huge," he said. "The problem, however, is that it is the responsibility of Argentina's leaders to come up with a macro plan to repay it, and they have not yet done so. They say one is coming soon." According to Dellatorre that last remark was made in an ironic, almost mocking tone.

Stanley told the Senate committee his determination to help Argentina address its economic challenges was because the country was "a great bilateral partner" in terms of trade and the economy, but first it needed to be economically healthy. Innocuous sounding words, but their implications for the Argentinian people who have a bitter experience with having to bear the burden of odious debts incurred by neoliberal rulers are anything but benign.

Dellatorre warns that Stanley's promise to insert himself into the Argentine government's negotiations with the IMF will be to push for an arrangement that guarantees, first and foremost, repayment of the enormous debt incurred by the previous government of Mauricio Macri and a payment plan current President Alberto Fernández has said is impossible to fulfil.

Nor did Stanley shy away from signalling his intent to interfere in Argentina's economic relations with China, in particular preventing it from gaining access to the latest Chinese advances in communications technology. He told senators: "As the United States sees increased competition with the People's Republic of China in Argentina and elsewhere, I will make it a priority to hold its feet to the fire, especially when products like 5G technology are entering the regional market, and allowing China access to all the data and information of the Argentine population."

In another Pagina 12 commentary about Biden's choice for the new U.S. ambassador, Argentine academic Atilio Borón writes, "Stanley's words oozed rancid interventionism, typical of the years of ‘gunboat diplomacy.' They confirm the validity of the Monroe Doctrine, which is about to turn 200 and continues to be the fundamental reference for the U.S. government when it comes to defining its relations with Latin America."

One thing may be how the U.S. defines its relations with Latin America in terms of a 200-year-old colonial doctrine. Another thing is how the people of both the U.S. and Latin America view them and what they will accept.

Mass Actions in Bolivia Defend Democracy, the Elected Government and Justice

On November 23, under the banner of "Marcha por la Patria" (March for the Homeland) several thousand Bolivians embarked on a seven-day 180-kilometre march from the town of Caracollo in the Oruro department to the capital city, La Paz. The aim of the march was to defend their democratic rights, their elected government and its nation-building project and the plurinational character of the Bolivian state. It was also to demand that the illegal de facto "president," Jeanine Áñez and other coup forces responsible for the massacres in Senkata, Sacaba and elsewhere, and injuring hundreds more during the 2019 coup, be brought to justice without further delay -- a message directed to the country's judicial authorities who have been accused of inaction. It also sent a message to the coup plotters and the racist oligarchy they represent that their attempts to stage another coup by dividing Bolivians and destabilizing the country through sabotage of the economy with blockades and coerced work stoppages, and by sending armed gangs to spread terror in the streets will not be tolerated.

Leading the march was former president Evo Morales who continues to serve as the leader of the Movement Towards Socialism-Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the People (MAS-IPSP). Accompanying him were the leaders of the workers', Indigenous, campesino and women's movements as well as many youth, students, professionals and others that constitute the main base of MAS-IPSP in the country's nine departments. They were joined at the launch and at different points of the march by President Luis Arce, Vice President David Choquehuanca, the presidents of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies and many other elected officials and members of regional and municipal governments. Local citizens came out in force to join in the march, attend rallies as it passed through their communities, as well as to offer food and lodging for participants who typically walked 30 kilometres or more per day in hot, cold and rainy weather.

On November 29, well over a million people from all parts of the country are said to have joined the last leg of the march, filling the streets from the city of El Alto to La Paz where a mammoth political rally and cultural celebration was held in San Francisco Square in front of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly.

In his address to the closing rally Evo Morales said that unlike in 2019 when they were caught off guard, this time the Bolivian people are organized and mobilized to defend their president. Juan Carlos Huarachi, leader of the Bolivian Workers' Central (COB) said the march was not bought and paid for, as propagandists for the coup forces like to claim, but was an act of conscience by the Bolivian people stemming from their convictions and principles. "We have not come to generate violence," he said, but warned the coup forces against provoking the people, saying they were united in their determination to defend their homeland, their democracy, their president and vice president, the process of change in Bolivia, and the votes they cast at the polls in 2020. The same sentiment was expressed by President Arce who warned those aiming to mount another coup, to loud applause and cheers: "Don't play with the people!"

(With files from Resumen Latinoamericano, Prensa Latina, Peoples Dispatch, Kawsachun News. Photos: L. Arce, Kawsachun News, MAS-IPSP )

Invigorating Success Achieved by Indian Farmers

Historic Success Is Sure to Lead to Historic Victory

- J. Singh -

On December 11, Indian farmers in their hundreds of thousands started their Fateh (Victory) March back from the morchas (encampments) to their homes after winning a historical success.

The Punjab contingent is moving forward as one, in a procession. People on both sides of the roads have arranged langars (community kitchens) and they are showering flowers from planes and shelters.

From the decks of the tractors, the songs of Morcha are blasting: Zindabad, Faslan De Faisle Kisan Karuga (The farmers will control their produce). Vibrant colours are everywhere. Nihangs on their horses are brandishing their traditional weapons; women are wearing their most colourful suits; trolleys full of people are wending their way with the sea of humanity as it marches triumphantly home. The sounds of Gurbani fill the air. Blue dresses, saffron, green, yellow, red and blue flags -- the colours of the farmers are everywhere. Shouts of Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal (in praise of victory) ring out.

Faces are glowing with the confidence and determination the farmers have acquired in their struggle to achieve the success of their demands. Trumpets and cauldron drums are played. People are dancing Bhangra and Giddha on the roads under the flying flags of the farmers. Posters bearing the portraits of Banda Singh Bahadur, Guru Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha and Bhagat Singh are held high while the old and the young dance together as the caravan moves forward.

On December 13, the victory march will reach the Golden Temple in Amritsar to offer prayers and thanks. Punjabis are calling it the 20th Delhi Fateh -- victory over Delhi. Between 1716 and 1799, Punjabis subdued Delhi 19 times. Speaker after speaker pointed out how arrogant Modi and other ministers are to believe they can impose their will on Punjab. Farmers' unity smashed their arrogance and brought them to their knees. Arde So Jharde (Arrogance Falls) is a common proverb in Punjab. One is reminded of what the leader Hardial Bains predicted in 1985 -- that a day will come when Punjabis will march to Delhi, force it to submit to their demands and open a new path for the people of all of India. He said that it will be a new Battle of Panipat under new conditions and with new forms. Since 1526, Panipat has been deciding the fate of India.

On December 15, all farmers' agitations will be suspended across India until further notice. In a press bulletin on December 9 the umbrella organization Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) said: "SKM formally announces the lifting of the morchas at Delhi Borders on national highways and various other locations in response -- current agitation stands suspended -- Battle has been won; the war to ensure farmers' rights, will continue."

SKM will hold its next meeting on January 15, 2022 to decide further action and assess the situation as concerns the negotiations with the central government.

Celebrations are also taking place around the world as members of Indian communities and their friends mark the success of the farmers' struggle. Along with speeches, songs and the shouting of slogans, speakers look forward to the announcements of the SKM and take their cue from it for future activities.

Many are also cursing the monopoly media for presenting farmers as terrorists, extremists and fringe elements. The farmers say that not only have they won their demands but also the hearts of the people of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and all of India, who the media insist are BJP fanatics, backward and not concerned about the plight of their brethren in the north. The facts belie all the disinformation promoted by the ruling class, day and night.

Young poets and singers have expressed the sentiments of people in new songs:

Chetey Rakhiyo Nahin Mukiya Ghol Kisani Da
Votan Vich Na Pai Jave Mul Sadi Qurbani Da

(Be vigilant, the farmers' struggle has not ended
Make sure our sacrifices do not become vote banks)

Kiyon Sarkaran Paundiyan Teri
Akhan De Vich Ghatta Ve
Leader Kiyon Teri Kismat Naal
Khelde Kyon Satta Ve

(Think why the rulers throw sand in your eyes
Why politicians play dice with your fate)

Kali Kali Gal Tustin Yaad Rakheyo
Votan Jinhan Nu Payiyan Khade Naal Nahin

(Remember everything when you get back
Those you voted for betrayed you)

Fikar Karin Na Baba Dekh Halatan Nun
Eh Dharti Hai Upjau, Ethon Khande Hi Ugange

(Do not worry Baba about the conditions
This fertile land will continue to produce fighters)

Asin Padhanga Kisan Mazdoor Ekta
Tera Chhutna Hai Khaida Zindabad Keh Ke
Tanun Dilliye Kath Pareshan Karuga
Fasalan De Faisle Kisan Karuga

(Our slogan is farmer-worker unity
You will be forced to say Zindabad
Our unity is the death-knell for the rulers
The farmers will decide about their produce)

(To access articles individually click on the black headline.)

PDF

PREVIOUS ISSUES | HOME

Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca

Accounting for Parliament's Irrelevancy

"Promoting Democracy" U.S.-Style in Nicaragua and Venezuela

Note

Remarks by South African President to Eighth Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator Facilitation Council Meeting

Vaccine Hoarding

Click to enlarge.

Lack of Reliable Access to Vaccines

What Imperialists Mean by Supporting Free and Independent Media

Fighting Corruption and Bolstering Democratic Reformers

Advancing Technology for Democracy

Defending Free and Fair Elections and Political Processes

Protest in Washington, DC, December 8, 2021 demands Pentagon budget be cut

Montreal action, November 6, 2021, one of some 300 actions held for Global Day of Action for Climate Justice.

October 26 to November 6 -- Global Days of Climate Action

Glasgow, Climate Justice March, November 6, 2021.

Glasgow, November 6, 2021

Opening session of the Peoples' Summit, November 7, 2021

Climate justice march on streets of Glasgow, November 6, 2021

On November 14, President Miguel Díaz-Canel joined the Red Bandanas sit-in during a closing concert and sing-along.

Cuba Vive! Cuba Lives!

Schools Reopened for In-Person Classes

School reopening ceremony in Havana attended by President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel greets returning students.

International Tourism Returns

"Marches for Change" Fail to Take Place

New York City, November 15, 2021

Nicaragua Stays the Course

Venezuela Continues to Resist

Big Win for the People in Honduras

Note

Remarks by South African President to Eighth Access to COVID-19
Tools Accelerator Facilitation Council Meeting

What Imperialists Mean by Supporting Free
and Independent Media