The Marxist-Leninist Weekly

The annual CANSEC weapons fair is being held in Ottawa May 29 and 30. Anti-war activists are holding a protest during the opening speech by Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan on May 29. This is an opportunity for everyone to oppose the arms trade, war production, the militarization of life and Canada's integration with U.S. war production and wars of aggression and regime change. This "weapons fair" glorifies war and Canada's role in the global arms trade and its own massive increases in military spending in response to U.S. pressure for NATO members to do so.

Working people are confronted with all-sided pressure to submit to Canada's integration into the U.S. war machine, and the militarization of life that comes with it. Within this scenario, weapons fairs are presented as just another business convention, rather than the unacceptable convergence of war profiteers, seeking profit from the destruction of the natural and social environment, in support of U.S. imperialist aims. It must not pass!

To underscore Canada's role in appeasing and supporting U.S. imperialist aggression worldwide, one need look no further than a 2017 report tabled in Parliament, which blithely declares that because Canada is so integrated into the U.S. war machine, it is of no interest to inform Canadians of the extent of arms sales to the U.S.:

"Global Affairs Canada does not collect data on most military exports to the United States. Canada and the U.S. have had a Defence Production Sharing Agreement in place since the 1950s, which has helped create an integrated North American technological and industrial base and supported Canada-U.S. trade. As a result, most military items shipped between Canada and the U.S. do not require permits and are therefore not included in the data presented in this report."

Manufacturing Yes! Nation-Wrecking No!

In Canada, the slogan of nation-building has been taken up with the demand that manufacturing benefit the people, not the rich. It is not acceptable to have the government and its foreign affairs department, as well as military personnel, act as brokers and intermediaries for arms manufacturers operating in Canada, so that they can sell their wares abroad including to regimes such as that of Saudi Arabia waging a genocidal war against Yemen. It is working people the world over who suffer the consequences of Canada's destructive role in the global arms trade.

The website of the Department of National Defence (DND) lists various forms of government support for arms exporters. "Learn how the Department of National Defence can assist in connecting Canadian industry to foreign markets," explains one section. Another notes: "Learn how the Department of National Defence keeps Canadian companies informed of business opportunities at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)."

Based in 30 diplomatic posts around the world (with cross-accreditation to many neighbouring countries), Canadian Defence Attachés promote military exports. According to DND's website, Defence Attachés assist "Canadian defence manufacturers in understanding and accessing foreign defence markets [...] facilitate Canadian industry access to relevant officials within the Ministries of Defence of accredited countries [...] support Canadian industry at key defence industry events in accredited countries [...] raise awareness in accredited countries of Canadian defence industrial capabilities [...] provide reports on accredited country defence budget information, items of interest, and trade issues to Canadian industry."

DND representatives often promote Canadian military equipment as part of delegations to international arms fairs, such as the UK's Defence Security and Equipment International exhibition. In February, representatives of DND helped 50 Canadian arms companies flog their wares at the Abu Dhabi-based International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX), the largest arms fair in the Middle East, according to a FrontLine Defence story titled "Representing Canada in the UAE IDEX."

Working people should reject arms production in Canada and work to have an economy that serves the needs of Canadians, not the warmongers. It fundamentally requires taking up the work for democratic renewal, to break the stranglehold of the cartel parties on political power, so that Canadians can exercise control over the direction of the economy.

No! to the global arms trade and Canada's participation in it!

Nothing Is More Destructive to the Natural and Social
Environment than War

Great concern is being expressed by all sectors, especially the youth, about the state of the natural environment and its effect on human society and the entire planet earth. It is said to be one of the most pressing issues facing humanity at this time.

Faced with such a situation, it is more important than ever to emphasize the tremendous pollution and outright destruction caused by war, and that the planet's biggest polluter is the worldwide U.S. war machine, which includes the activities of countries like Canada that are appeasers of U.S. imperialism. The U.S. military is one of the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters. U.S. bases around the globe have resulted in 19 million hectares of land being heavily contaminated with materials that include depleted uranium, oil, jet fuel, pesticides, defoliants such as Agent Orange, and lead. Canadian bases are also contaminated and the U.S. routinely refuses to decontaminate the bases it leaves behind. The U.S. military is said to produce more hazardous waste than the five largest U.S. chemical companies together. The U.S. has conducted more nuclear weapons tests than all other nations combined, and is also responsible for the massive amount of radiation that continues to contaminate many islands in the Pacific Ocean.[1] And this is to say nothing about the massive destruction caused by open warfare the U.S. has carried out all over the world, including conflicts where Canada has been an active participant. In Iraq, for example, U.S. military action has resulted in the desertification of 90 per cent of Iraqi territory, turning it from a food exporter into one that has to import 80 per cent of its food.[2]

For governments, such as the Trudeau Liberals, to portray themselves as defenders of the natural environment by promoting carbon tax schemes while integrating Canada into the U.S. war machine is not acceptable, while those in waiting openly tout militarization and war.

To be effective in defending Mother Earth, Canadians must empower themselves politically, so that the issue of protecting the natural environment can be considered in a profound way and the need to oppose war and related activities, like the CANSEC weapons fair, argued out with conviction.

Make Canada a Zone for Peace!

Canadians, and especially Quebeckers, in the main reject Canada's involvement in U.S.-led aggression and war -- they want Canada to be a genuine force for peace in the world. So too must they reject Canada's involvement in weapons manufacturing and sales to feed the U.S. war machine.

The working class of Canada is made up of the sons and daughters of the countries of the world. Many have even come to Canada to escape war and conflict. They do not want to be part of the U.S. war machine or involved in war production.

Working people do not accept the Canadian government's refusal to defend the manufacturing jobs Canada needs, while its Cabinet ministers and military personnel serve as brokers for the arms industry. They want a manufacturing sector in Canada that provides for what Canadians require, and reject nation-wrecking by companies that treat Canada's economy as an outpost in their global empire. They reject the nation-wrecking of the arms manufacturers and war profiteers who destroy other peoples, countries and the natural environment so as to line their pockets.

Making Canada a Zone for Peace, which ends war production and destruction of the natural and social environment, and upholds the cause of peace everywhere requires taking up the work for political empowerment and making a break from the cartel party system that blocks the people from speaking in their own name. These anti-democratic parties of the rich give rise to governments over which the people can exercise no control and whose aim is to serve narrow private interests -- as seen in the SNC-Lavalin scandal -- or to serve NATO and the U.S. war machine. Governments in which the people have no say can only mean more misfortune for the people. The times are crying out for new arrangements.

Notes

2. "U.S. Department of Defense is the Worst Polluter on the Planet," Project Censored, October 2, 2010.

Global Arms Trade

Worldwide total military spending amounts to some $1.69 trillion per year. Of this, about $375 billion goes to buying arms.

The volume of international transfers of major arms in the period 2014-18 was 7.8 per cent higher than in 2009-13 and 23 per cent higher than in 2004-2008, according to data on arms transfers published in March by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The trend in international transfers of major weapons, 1979-2018. Data and graphic: SIPRI.

The five largest exporters in 2014-18 were the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China. Together, they accounted for 75 per cent of the total volume of arms exports in 2014-18. Of these, the U.S. is far the largest.

U.S. arms exports grew by 29 per cent between 2009-13 and 2014-18, and the U.S. share of total global exports rose from 30 per cent to 36 per cent. The gap between the top two arms-exporting states also increased: U.S. exports of major arms were 75 per cent higher than Russia's in 2014-18, while they were only 12 per cent higher in 2009-13. More than half (52 per cent) of U.S. arms exports went to the Middle East in 2014-18.

"The U.S. has further solidified its position as the world's leading arms supplier," says Dr Aude Fleurant, Director of the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme. "The USA exported arms to at least 98 countries in the past five years; these deliveries often included advanced weapons such as combat aircraft, short-range cruise and ballistic missiles, and large numbers of guided bombs."

Arms exports by Russia decreased by 17 per cent between 2009-13 and 2014-18, in particular due to the reduction in arms imports by India and Venezuela. Between 2009-13 and 2014-18 France increased its arms exports by 43 per cent and Germany by 13 per cent. The combined arms exports of European Union member states accounted for 27 per cent of global arms exports in 2014-18.

A small number of countries outside Europe and North America are large arms exporters. China was the fifth largest arms exporter in 2014-18. Whereas Chinese arms exports rose by 195 per cent between 2004-2008 and 2009-13, they increased by only 2.7 per cent between 2009-13 and 2014-18. Israeli, south Korean and Turkish arms exports increased substantially -- 60 per cent, 94 per cent and 170 per cent, respectively -- between 2009-13 and 2014-18.

The U.S. role as the number one arms manufacturer in the world is reflected in the chart below that shows the world's top 10 arms companies by sales, location, and arms as a percentage of sales, based on data from SIPRI:

Click to enlarge.

Of the top ten companies by sales, seven of these are U.S. The other three are Airbus, which gets 17 per cent of its sales from arms production, as well as the UK's BAE Systems and Italy's Leonardo.

Considering the top 100 list of arms companies by sales, U.S. companies accounted for a 58 per cent of total arms sales (this figure does not account for sales by Chinese companies, for which complete data was not available). This figure is said to provide a rough approximation of the percentage of global arms sales by U.S. arms manufacturers. In 2016, of the top 100 arms manufacturers, U.S. firms sold $217.2 billion worth of arms, up 4.0 per cent over the previous year.

Doubling of Arms Imports by Middle East States in 2014-18 Period

SIPRI informs that arms imports by states in the Middle East increased by 87 per cent between 2009-13 and 2014-18 and accounted for 35 per cent of global arms imports in 2014-18.

Saudi Arabia became the world's largest arms importer in 2014-18, with an increase of 192 per cent compared with 2009-13. It has been carrying out military aggression against neighbouring Yemen since 2015.

Arms imports by Egypt, the third largest arms importer in 2014-18, tripled (206 per cent) between 2009-13 and 2014-18. Arms imports by Israel (354 per cent), Qatar (225 per cent) and Iraq (139 per cent) also rose between 2009-13 and 2014-18. However, Syria's arms imports fell by 87 per cent.

SIPRI notes that weapons from the U.S., UK and France are in high demand in the region, also noting that Russia, France and Germany have dramatically increased their arms sales to Egypt in the past five years.

Asia and Oceania Region Imports the Most Arms

SIPRI reports that states in Asia and Oceania received 40 per cent of global arms imports in 2014-18, but there was a decrease of 6.7 per cent compared with 2009-13. The top five arms importers in the region were India, Australia, China, south Korea and Vietnam.

Australia became the world's fourth largest arms importer in 2014-18 after its arms imports increased by 37 per cent compared with 2009-13. Indian arms imports decreased by 24 per cent between 2009-13 and 2014-18. Russia accounted for 58 per cent of India's arms imports in 2014-18. Chinese arms imports decreased, but it was still the world's sixth largest arms importer in 2014-18.

"India has ordered a large number of major arms from foreign suppliers; however, deliveries are severely delayed in many cases," says Siemon T. Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme. "In contrast, Chinese arms imports decreased because China has been more successful in designing and producing its own modern weaponry."

Canada's Role in the Global Arms Trade -- 2017 Figures Excerpted
from Global Affairs Report

This report covers exports of goods and technology designed for military purposes, and does not include data on dual use or strategic items.

Global Affairs Canada does not collect data on most military exports to the United States. Canada and the U.S. have had a Defence Production Sharing Agreement in place since the 1950s, which has helped create an integrated North American technological and industrial base and supported Canada-U.S. trade. As a result, most military items shipped between Canada and the U.S. do not require permits and are therefore not included in the data presented in this report. [...]

- For the 2017 calendar year, Canada's total exports permitted under the Export and Import Permits Act of military goods and technology amounted to approximately $1.031 billion.

- The major share ($962.1million or 93.3 per cent) went to member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or other countries included on Canada's Automatic Firearms Country Control List (AFCCL). See Annex B for the list of AFCCL countries.

- Saudi Arabia was the largest non-U.S. export destination in 2017, receiving approximately $497.5 million in Canadian military exports (accounting for 48.25 per cent of the total value of non-U.S. military exports).

- The United Kingdom was the second largest non-U.S. destination of Canadian military exports, receiving approximately $89.47 million in military exports (accounting for 8.68 per cent of all non-U.S. military exports from Canada).

- Seven NATO countries were in the top ten destinations for the same period: United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey, France, Netherlands, Norway and Luxembourg.

Table 1: 2017 - Total Value of Exports for Military Goods and Technology to Destinations by Defence Relationship

Chart 1: 2017 - Exports of Military Goods and Technology Categorized by Defence Relationship

Chart 2: 2017 - Export Value of Military Goods and Technology - Percentage by Region

Table 3: 2017 - Canada's Top Ten Destinations for Military Goods and Technology (outside of the U.S.)

May 27 National Day of Action

Rally for Indigenous Rights

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

First Nation chiefs from Treaties 6, 7 and 8 are organizing a national day of action on May 27 to oppose genocidal attacks against the Indigenous peoples, following regional protests.

One form this takes is the Trudeau government's Bill C-92, which is legislation to overhaul the Indigenous child welfare system. The bill is currently before the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, which tabled its report on May 13.

The bill is promoted as a means to tackle the overrepresentation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit children in foster care ostensibly by handing over control of services to Indigenous governments. But First Nation chiefs from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario say the bill does not respect First Nations' sovereignty and future generations. One of the problems, they say, is that funding under the new legislation will still be given to provinces rather than First Nations.

"Until the provinces are out of the picture, nothing will change," said Chief Craig Makinow of Ermineskin Cree Nation, south of Edmonton. "It should be a bilateral process with the federal government, and the province shouldn't be involved at all in this whole drafting of this legislation," he said.

Demonstration against Bill C-92 in Winnipeg, May 10, 2019.

Related to this, on May 16, APTN released a 2012 video which highlighted the issue of sexual abuse suffered by young people, particularly Indigenous girls, in the foster-care system. The video shows an officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police interrogating a young Indigenous woman disclosing sexual abuse in BC foster care. In the video, the officer can be heard asking her questions, including whether she was "at all turned on [...] even a little bit" during the abuse she is describing.

At least 109 girls were victims of sexualized violence while in government foster care, 74 of them Indigenous, a 2016 report by BC's then-child representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond said. The case of the teen in the 2012 video released by APTN was among them. Following the video's release, Turpel-Lafond said the video is far from an isolated case, noting that provincial and federal politicians know well there has been "major difficulty" with this issue for some time.

"The heinous way in which this young person was treated, being alone in an interrogation room, being treated as though she was a criminal, not a victim, and also the poor training, the suggestion that somehow a victim of sexualized violence is enjoying the sexualized violence, this is so fundamentally offensive but is a pattern I've seen again and again," she said.

Trudeau's White Paper 2.0

Rally outside Assembly of First Nations policy conference in Edmonton, May 1, 2019, demands
the Assembly involve all Indigenous peoples in any discussion and decisions on any proposed federal government legislation which will impact their rights.

The National Day of Action called for May 27 and related regional events also oppose what has been dubbed "Trudeau's White Paper 2.0." This includes Bill C-86, an omnibus budget implementation bill that contains amendments to legislation, including the First Nations Land Management Act and the First Nations Fiscal Management Act. With the changes the government is introducing come plans to replace policies dealing with modern treaties (which it refers to as comprehensive claims) and self-government (which it calls its Inherent Right Policy). Due to the opposition expressed by First Nations chiefs, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett backed down from the scheduled June introduction of these changes, which are a blatant violation of the hereditary rights of all Indigenous peoples.

"Canada won't be introducing new comprehensive land claims and inherent rights policies just yet, Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett told the Assembly of First Nations (AFN)" on May 2.

"The announcement comes a day after hundreds of grassroots people, chiefs and Elders marched on an AFN policy forum to demand their involvement in any changes to federal policies impacting their rights.

"Demonstrators condemned a June deadline by which government previously indicated to some First Nations it wanted to have the two key policies replaced.

"The comprehensive claims policy applies to cases where Indigenous rights and title haven't been addressed by treaties, while the inherent rights policy addresses the right of Indigenous peoples to govern themselves in their own communities and nations."

"Instead, she announced, the Liberals will issue a cabinet directive to federal officials by the end of June, 'in which we would ensure that cede and surrender and extinguishment are no longer part of the conversation as we work on the path of self-determination.'

"She said the directive will respect the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and that government will support a process 'that is led by First Nations rights and treaty holders [to] co-develop rights-based policies that can replace the comprehensive land claims policy and inherent right policies.'"

Speaking about the national day of protest and regional protests, Okimaw Henry Lewis, Chief of Onion Lake Cree Nation on the Saskatchewan-Alberta border, said: "We are working with a network of nations chiefs across the country to alert our people about what's happening, and to tell the government that they can't continue to proceed unilaterally in the development of law policies and agendas that directly attack our inherent and treaty rights, and sovereign jurisdiction."

Lewis clearly set the record straight: "Canada has never stopped trying to implement their 1969 White Paper policy, which is meant to domesticate our international treaties, turn us into municipalities and remove us from our lands," adding "We must stand in unity as chiefs and peoples to fight off this agenda for our children and future generations."

This is all the more true given the irony that today even the authority of municipalities is being wiped out so that they no longer have any say over the matters currently under their jurisdiction.

The first White Paper introduced in 1969, by the then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his Justice Minister Jean Chrétien sought to abolish the Indian Act in the name of high ideals but, in effect, sought to expunge hereditary right. The Indigenous peoples find the Indian Act an abhorrent racist piece of legislation that maintains the colonial relations which place sovereignty in the Crown. Their just demand is for nation-to-nation relations that hold Canada and the provinces fully accountable for the crimes of genocide committed against them in a manner which provides redress for all the abuse the Indigenous peoples have suffered and continue to suffer. Canada's plan is to disarticulate the opposition of the Indigenous peoples to such an extent that the narrow private supranational interests which have usurped state power can get phony consent from private interests which claim to represent First Nations, along with the consent of those who are representatives of the Crown on reservations which were established on "Crown Lands." But no matter what fraud governments try to pull off, rights cannot be given, taken away or forfeited in any way. They belong to the holder as a matter of right grounded in the holder's being.

CBC News reports that, in an e-mail, "officials with the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada said the government is continuing to work on the recognition and implementation of Indigenous rights and the path to self-determination in close partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis rights-holders.

"Our First Nations partners have been clear that the Comprehensive Claims, Specific Claims and Inherent Rights Policies pose major barriers to communities fully exercising their inherent rights to self-determination, including self-government," the statement reads.

"We agree. That is why we [are] working in close partnership with First Nations partners to replace these policies, based on timelines and processes designed by First Nations."

The email also stated that the Assembly of First Nations has drawn up a proposal for a First Nations-led process, and the government is working with the group to help implement it, CBC reports.

This, of course, does not take into account that the Assembly of First Nations itself receives most of its funding from the federal and provincial governments and is beholden to them. It does not speak for the Indigenous title holders based on hereditary right. Try as it might, on the basis of the current constitution which vests sovereignty in the Queen of England, not the people of Canada, no government of Canada will manage to get acquiescence for the robbery of Indigenous territories.

(Photos: C. Evers, First Nations Family Advocacy Office, A. McIvor, Idle No More, theresistancecampaign.ca, Post Millenial)

Class Action Lawsuit on Child Welfare Filed
Against Federal Government

A class action lawsuit seeking $3.05 billion in damages was launched against the federal government on March 8 on behalf of tens of thousands of Indigenous youth "who suffered or died" due to government neglect or discrimination. It alleges longstanding discrimination when it comes to their treatment by government agencies, including children and youth being removed from families or being denied the services available to their non-Indigenous counterparts.

The lawsuit is being brought by two law firms, Sotos LLP (Toronto) and Kugler Kandestin LLP (Montreal). Their March 8 press release states in part:

"The discrimination has taken two forms. First, the Government's chronic underfunding of First Nations Child and Family Services has led to epidemic numbers of First Nations youth being removed from their homes and communities and placed into out-of-home care -- a practice known as the 'Millennial Scoop.'" The statement of claim in the suit explains that not only are these services for First Nations communities underfunded, but what funding exists is tied to the number of children taken off reserve and put into care. "The funding incentive to remove First Nations children from their homes accounts for the staggering number of First Nations children in state care," says the statement of claim. The statement of claim also notes, "There are approximately three times the numbers of First Nations children in state care now than there were in residential schools at their apex in the 1940s."

The second major point of the lawsuit concerns "the Government's failure to honour and abide by Jordan's Principle, which it states "has resulted in tens of thousands of First Nations youth being denied necessary services and products due to bureaucratic wrangling over which level of government (federal or provincial) or which department within the Federal Government will cover the costs. Both practices were found by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ('Tribunal') to constitute systemic discrimination against First Nations youth in the landmark decision of First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada et al. v. Canada, 2016 CHRT 2."

Jordan's Principle is an important legal rule established in 2005. It is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson, a child from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba who spent more than two years in a hospital because of a jurisdictional dispute between the federal and provincial government. The five-year-old boy died in hospital without ever going home. It is a child-first principle intended to resolve jurisdictional disputes within, and between, provincial/territorial and federal governments concerning payment for services to Indigenous children, and to ensure they have the same access to government services as all other children in Canada, and that these services are provided immediately. In the intervening years, the federal government has been repeatedly called to order by various offices and agencies, as well as international bodies, for its negligence in ensuring that it upholds Jordan's Principle.

Rather than acknowledge the dire conditions Indigenous peoples face, especially the youth, due in no small part to the Canadian state's genocidal assault and failure to honour its Constitutional and treaty obligations, the press release states that for the past nine years Canadian governments have contested at the Tribunal "whether its funding of child and youth services on Reserves and its failure to comply with Jordan's Principle were discriminatory."

The law firms explain that the "[Government] lost on both counts. The Tribunal found that the Government had engaged in systemic discrimination against First Nations youth contrary to section 5 of the Canadian Human Rights Act. This case asserts legal claims that rest on the same factual findings as were made by the Tribunal and seeks compensation for First Nations youth who have been harmed by the conduct."

The lead plaintiff in the case is Xavier Moushoom, whose situation is indicative of that of many other Indigenous youth across Canada. Moushoom is an Algonquin man from the Lac Simon Anishnabe Nation in Quebec. From the ages of nine to 18, he lived in 14 foster homes. "By the time he became an adult, Mr. Moushoom had lost his roots, his culture and his language," reads the statement of claim.[1]

The situation indicates that whatever apologies the Canadian state has given to the Indigenous peoples, in practice it is effectively continuing the policy of genocide and assimilation of Indigenous peoples that are part of the basis on which Canada was brought into being.

This is the third class action brought against the Canadian government over the treatment of Indigenous children over several generations. One regarding survivors of the residential school system, in place from 1879 to 1996, was settled in 2005/2006. The second concerned the infamous "Sixties Scoop" in which Indigenous children were effectively kidnapped en masse, and placed into foster care with non-Indigenous families, resulting in the loss of culture, language, and identity. It did not cover claims for abuse while in care. That lawsuit was settled in 2017.

Note

Unist'ot'en File Legal Action Against Coastal
GasLink Archaeological Plan

Land in area known as Camp 9A where artifacts were found in February 2019.

The Unist'ot'en House group, a.k.a. Dark House, has filed an application for judicial review in the BC Supreme Court in relation to the proposed Coastal GasLink pipeline project. The judicial review challenges the decision of the BC Oil and Gas Commission (BCOGC) and provincial Archaeology Branch to accept an archaeological mitigation plan prepared by Coastal GasLink without undertaking any consultation with Dark House.

On February 13, several lithic stone tools were found on Dark House territory within the portion of the proposed project known as Camp 9A. In total, six artifacts were recovered, including two biface projectile points, three projectile point fragments, and a core fragment.

Camp 9A is indisputably within Wet'suwet'en territory and subject to their Aboriginal title and rights. Collectively, these artifacts are important evidence confirming the longstanding use and occupation of Wet'suwet'en people in the area. As such, Coastal GasLink continues to disturb a significant archaeological site that informs Wet'suwet'en history, occupancy, and potential evidence for rights and title.

Since the artifacts were first discovered, Dark House has repeatedly asked both the Archaeology Branch and the BCOGC to consult about the protection and preservation of the disturbed archaeological site, and the high potential for other sites to be impacted by Coastal Gaslink given that no impact assessment was conducted in the territory. Despite this, the Commission and Archaeology Branch accepted Coastal GasLink's mitigation plan for the archaeological sites and authorized work in Camp 9A to resume without consulting Dark House. To date, no attempt has been made to include Unist'ot'en people in the archaeological work conducted on their own territory.

Dark House's archaeologist has identified a number of significant deficiencies with the plan, and has consulted with Dark House hereditary leaders concerned about the loss and destruction of their cultural inheritance. Due to the decision of the Archaeology Branch and the BCOGC to approve Coastal GasLink's mitigation plan without consultation, there is a serious risk that Wet'suwet'en culture and heritage will be damaged or destroyed.

Dark House made the decision to file the judicial review in order to protect its territory and cultural heritage in accordance with Wet'suwet'en law, and to ensure that the Crown's constitutional obligations are fulfilled.

"We expect, as we always have, that our Aboriginal rights and laws are respected. It is unacceptable for the Crown to continue to act through its agents in ways that completely dismiss and ignore the duty to consult with us on matters related to our unceded traditional territories. The Province's willful refusal to honour us on a Nation-to-Nation level condones the destruction of vestiges our ancestors left that maintain their presence on our Yintah [Territory]. It marks another example of continued oppression and violence against the First Peoples of this land. We aim to hold Canada accountable through its legal system, and with this judicial review we are giving Canadian courts an opportunity to uphold justice, and honour its own laws," stated Dr. Karla Tait, Dark House Member & Healing Centre Director of Clinical Programming.

Union of BC Indian Chiefs and Wet'suwet'en
Send Message to UN

Indigenous peoples from around the globe gathered at the United Nations headquarters in New York City for the 18th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to discuss matters pertaining to the recognition of their internationally recognized human rights, particularly their rights to languages, traditional knowledge and self-determination.

Representatives from the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) and the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Leadership travelled to the United Nations to make it clear to the Governments of Canada and BC that there can be no development of natural resource projects or of legislation or policy that affects Indigenous peoples without their free, prior, and informed consent.

Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, Secretary-Treasurer of the UBCIC, stated, "It is crucial that States, when they move to implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, do so meaningfully and as a whole, not selectively based on what is politically convenient. Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project, Site C Dam, and the Mount Polley Mine disaster are all examples of how Canada continues to violate the rights of Indigenous peoples, despite warnings from the international arena. It is clear that Canada is maintaining a pattern of distorting facts and claiming that they are engaged in dialogue with First Nations only as a means to cement their foothold in lucrative corporate projects." Reflecting on the theme of Traditional Knowledge, Kukpi7 Wilson drew attention to Indigenous languages and stated, "There is an urgent need for States to support the revitalization of our languages and knowledge systems to the same degree by which they attempted to destroy them, this includes the provision of permanent, on-going, sustainable funding."

Na'Moks, Hereditary Wet'suwet'en Chief, invited UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz to Wet'suwet'en territories, and stated to the Forum, "We Indigenous peoples have the right to protect and defend our homes and territories. We have the right to free, prior, and informed consent for any industrial activities in, and affecting, our lands and territories, through our own representative institutions. We are the government on our land. We should not be threatened or criminalized for the exercise of these established rights."

Opposition Gathers on a Massive Scale

Mass opposition to Trump's visit to Britain, July 2, 2018.

The organization Together Against Trump is mobilizing for the biggest possible protests against the official state visit of Donald Trump to Britain, June 3-5. Together Against Trump has called a national protest for June 4 from 11:00 am, assembling in Trafalgar Square. There will be music and a rally in the Square starting around noon and then a march to wherever Trump is at the time. Trump's itinerary has not been announced so the plan is flexible. There will also be other protests from the day Trump arrives through to three days of his visit. Trump is also to travel to France on June 6 for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. A visit to Ireland is as yet unconfirmed. What is confirmed is that Trump has not been invited to address the British House of Commons due to the opposition of many MPs as well as members of the House of Lords.

Workers' Weekly and other newspapers report that the opposition to Trump's visit is set to be even greater than in July 2018, when the U.S. President avoided London altogether. "The opposition is directed not only to the warmongering and anti-human behaviour synonymous with Trump's Presidency. It is also directed against the British government and the Queen as head of state, which have issued the invitation. It is this that people are declaring is Not In Our Name!"

"Stand Up to Trump" is the slogan the anti-war movement is organizing around. Workers' Weekly points out: "It is being emphasized that it is the people's forces, the human power, which must and will hold the U.S. imperialists and their cohorts in check. Not only this, but the people have their own agenda. This is to take a stand for those things which make for peace and against aggression. It is to fight for an anti-war government, with a democratic personality consistent with the human factor, and to ensure an end to aggression and for the establishment of relations of peace between peoples."[1]

"As the Trump presidency ramps up its aggressive build-up against Iran, and as it attempts to bring about regime change in Venezuela, as it imposes illegal sanctions against progressive regimes, the imperative to take a stand and build the movement against crimes against the peace becomes ever stronger," Workers' Weekly states. "The stand of the peoples of the world for peace will prevail, as the peoples fight for their own empowerment. This is a focus of priority on the people's agenda."

Another important demand of the people's movement in this context is to remove all U.S./NATO bases from Britain. Workers' Weekly writes: "The peoples of Britain cannot countenance such bases of aggression, imperialist domination and 'hard power' on their soil. They fly in the face of the work for peace and an end to the Anglo-U.S. doctrine of chaos, 'controlled' or otherwise. Furthermore, in pursuance of this 'hard power,' both in Britain and the U.S., Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has stated that stepping up this 'hard power' is one of three pillars in the government's vision of a future Britain. Like Trump, he has urged an increase in military spending, and has pledged to do the same, praising the military might of 'our great ally' the United States and its 'unquestioned dominance.' This, in itself, cannot go unquestioned. It is certain that when the British government hosts in December the NATO 70th anniversary meeting, opposition to this warmongering institution, whose raison d'être cannot be justified, will be manifest. Certainly NATO is opposed, among other reasons, for its attempt to impose U.S. 'hard power' both in Europe and globally."

London, July 2, 2018, during Trump's visit to the city.

"Just as in the United States, where the people's forces are taking a stand against the direction in which the U.S. is headed, so too people in Britain are saying No to crimes against humanity, and in particular are affirming that any 'special relationship' with Trump's United States is not in their name. Rather, they are saying that the struggle for their rights and for the rights of all must prevail against the efforts of the ruling elites within Britain and the U.S. to trample on these rights.

"This is crucial, since all attempts to blame sections of the people for what is the responsibility of those pursuing the global neo-liberal agenda and creating chaos must be rejected. It is precisely this agenda and those responsible for implementing it that are generating such anarchy and violence. In this respect, and in the context of defending the rights of all, the people are rejecting as not in their name the attacks on the rights of immigrant working people, refugees and those seeking asylum. It is clear that it is the global marauding of the ruling elites representing the oligopolies and their exploitation of the peoples and material resources globally, as well as "regime change" and their destructive activities against what they cannot control, that is and has been creating the crisis of displaced persons, human trafficking and an international reserve army of cheap labour.

"As part of the opposition to Trump's state visit, the anti-war and people's movements are opposing unjust wars and big power intervention and interference which goes by the name of nation-wrecking and from which the plight of people seeking a better life, demanding asylum and fleeing conflict cannot be separated. Ultimately, the demand is that these very people, as an integral part of the international working class, be empowered to be able to control their own lives and find stability. The movement is very aware of the stands of working people in the U.S. itself which will not countenance Trump's all-out attack on the rights of all."

Develop the Movement against War and for an Anti-War Government!
All Out to Build the Opposition to Trump's State Visit!

Note

Anti-War Movement Continues to Demand the
Closure of U.S. Bases in Britain

For some 75 years and since World War II, the U.S. continues to maintain five major U.S. Air Force Bases in Britain: at Fairfield, Molesworth, Alconbury, Lakenheath and Mildenhall[1] in spite of the massive opposition of the anti-war movement for decades, which saw many U.S. bases closed, including Greenham Common, which was returned to public parkland in 1997.

In 2015, the United States European Command (EUCOM) had announced plans to close RAF Mildenhall as part of a military review that will see it shut 14 other European bases, including RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth, with thousands of U.S. personnel transferred to other bases in Britain and Germany. However, in 2017, RAF Mildenhall Squadron Leader Rick Fryer said: "The [Ministry of Defence] has been advised that the full divestitures of RAF Mildenhall and RAF Alconbury/Molesworth will now occur no earlier than 2024." In a report by Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament,[2] they pointed out that the April 17, 2017 edition of Stars and Stripes (a U.S. Department of Defense newspaper) said that the political and military climate has changed since the decision was taken two years ago under the administration of President Obama; under President Trump, it suggests, the Pentagon is looking at the plans again.

Also in recent years, alongside its air bases, the U.S. has expanded and constructed its openly-known "intelligence" bases at[3]: RAF Croughton; Morwentsow (Bude), a joint base with GCHQ; RAF Digby; RAF Fylingdales; and RAF Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire, which is a key link in the U.S. missile "defence" and drone programmes involved in extra-territorial killing worldwide. Britain's own drone command is RAF Waddington in Lincoln. This year, Menwith Hill and the other U.S. "intelligence" bases have become even more significant with the missile defence review, which Trump unveiled in January[4] at the Pentagon, and which announced a major upgrade in land- and sea-based missile interceptor systems, as well as the development of a layer of satellite sensors in low orbit that would help track new types of cruise missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles.

In June 2017, Trump made headlines by withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement. At the same time, it was also reported that the U.S. had deployed its full range of strategic bombers to Britain for the first time in history at RAF Fairford.[5] Two B-2 stealth bombers, three B-52H Stratofortress aircraft and three B-1B Lancers were exhibited at the Fairford Air Show that year.

As the largest U.S. Air Force base in Britain, RAF Lakenheath, where in 2003 it was reported it stored some 30 nuclear weapons, today hosts the 48th Fighter Wing and supports three combat-ready squadrons of F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft. Two squadrons of U.S. F-35 jets (48 of them) will be arriving there by 2020 -- the first in Europe. It has played a role since 2001 flying combat missions and providing combat support in operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and across the Middle East.

It should also be noted that Britain helps the U.S. maintain some of its 800 military bases abroad -- some jointly such as at Ascension Island -- and it continues to lease to the U.S. strategic military bases that it had previously seized for itself abroad, such as Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands. The British government carried out this international crime in 1965 when it was forced to decolonize Mauritius but kept the Chagos Islands for itself, expelled the population and handed Diego Garcia over to the U.S. for a military base occupied by them to this day. Now the British government is ignoring the 2019 instruction by the United Nations' highest court to properly finish the process of decolonization, and return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and to the people who were expelled. It has also been reported that Gibraltar, presently a British Navy base, is to be made a "strategic military base"[6] for the U.S. with the vital role for the U.S. Navy's operations underlined.

Today, the fight of the anti-war movement against the U.S. bases is inspired by the heroic fight against the U.S. Cruise Missiles at Greenham Common in the 1980s, and those who fight now against nuclear weapons, against U.S. spy bases at Fylingdales and Menwith Hill and the whole anti-war movement that stands up to say that this is not in their name. The working class and people alongside the peoples of the world will continue this fight to realize their aspiration for peace. The people have always opposed turning Britain into a launchpad for U.S. interventions and wars abroad, just as they have opposed the warmongering and military interventions of successive British governments abroad. Making Britain a zone for peace means the dismantling of all U.S. Air Force and spy bases at home and also those under Britain's control abroad. This is central to the fight to bring about an anti-war government in Britain.

Mildenhall Peace Camp

Notes

1. "U.S. Military Bases in the UK," Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, October 24, 2018; militarybases.com; "UK RAF Stations Map," Royal Air Force Website, 2019; A Guide to Military Airshows in the UK; www.aeroresource.co.uk.

3. "U.S./UK Spy and Communications Bases in the UK," Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, October 26, 2018.

4. "Trump announces huge expansion of U.S. missile defense system," Julian Borger, Guardian, January 17, 2019.

6. "Why Gibraltar Matters To The British Military," Forces Network, October 31, 2018; "Gibraltar wins with Brexit: London to make the Rock a strategic military base," Simon Osborne, Express, February 18, 2018; "Gibraltar's vital role for the U.S. Navy's operations is underlined," MercoPress, February 26, 2015.

For Your Reference

In 2014 on the 70th anniversary since U.S. bases were established in Britain, Seumas Milne wrote in the Guardian an article, reproduced by the Stop the War Coalition when Jeremy Corbyn was its President, entitled "After 70 years of U.S. troops in Britain, time to send them home and close the bases." He pointed out that "Successive governments have mortgaged Britain's security and independence to a foreign power -- and placed its armed forces, territory and weaponry at the disposal of a system of global domination."

U.S. Threatens Iran with Economic Strangulation, Aggression and War

Delegation of U.S. anti-war activists visiting Iran in March, shown here outside the
Tehran Peace Museum.

Given the unilateral U.S. abrogation of the deal last year and its intensification of sanctions against Iran, Iran said it has to take practical measures toward ensuring Iran's interests. One of the measures taken by the U.S. is to revoke waivers that had permitted some countries to continue buying Iranian oil, a measure rejected by the five remaining members who signed the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

In reaction, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK and EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini released a joint statement rejecting the deadline given by Iran, while reiterating their commitment to the implementation of the nuclear deal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif later criticized the EU statement, saying that it is unjust to demand that Iran unilaterally abide by a multilateral accord which has already been abrogated by the United States. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi said in an interview on May 8, "We have not left the JCPOA so far, but we have put such a move on our agenda and that would happen step-by-step."

"No country can accuse Iran of breaching or leaving the nuclear deal," the minister pointed out. He added that all the measures his country has adopted so far, including this one, have been within the deal's framework.

On May 10, the U.S. Air Force acknowledged that B-52H Stratofortress bombers the White House ordered to deploy to the Persian Gulf to counter unspecified threats from Iran had arrived at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar the previous night. Images were released by the U.S. Air Force's Central Command to confirm this. Trump said Iran had been "very threatening."

"We have information that you don't want to know about. They were very threatening, and we just want to have -- we have to have great security for this country," Trump said.

On May 12, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton announced the deployment of an American carrier strike group to the Middle East, citing a "credible threat" from Iran.

U.S. Aim to Provoke Confrontation with Iran

"The United States is moving dangerously forward in what appears to be a deliberate attempt to provoke a war with Iran, apparently based on threat intelligence provided by Israel," former U.S. counter-terrorism specialist and CIA military intelligence officer Philip Giraldi wrote in an article published May 9.

"The claims made by National Security Advisor John Bolton and by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that there is solid evidence of Iran's intention to attack U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf region is almost certainly a fabrication, possibly deliberately contrived by Bolton and company in collaboration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," he stated.

"It will be used to justify sending bombers and additional naval air resources to confront any possible moves by Tehran to maintain its oil exports, which were blocked by Washington last week. If the U.S. Navy tries to board ships carrying Iranian oil it will undoubtedly, and justifiably, provoke a violent response from Iran, which is precisely what Bolton, Pompeo and Netanyahu are seeking," he noted.

Scott Bennett, a former U.S. military psychological warfare officer and political commentator, also said the CIA and Israel's Mossad are conflating and distorting intelligence to push the United States into a military conflict with Iran.

U.S. Contradiction with Europeans Regarding
Sanctions and Use of Force

On May 13, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the UK met in the EU headquarters in Brussels to discuss Iran's announcement. EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini was also present. Before the meeting, Mogherini told reporters, "We continue to support [the JCPOA] as much as we can with all our instruments and all our political will."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cancelled his visit to Moscow going to Brussels instead where he held bilateral meetings to share purported intelligence about Iran with UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. Pompeo also met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Mogherini. The U.S. position is to put "maximum pressure" on Iran, with the threat of force made clear by the military deployments to the region.

State Department special representative for Iran Brian Hook said that Pompeo "shared information and intelligence with allies and discussed the multiple plot vectors emerging from Iran." While Iran was the principle topic of the bilateral meetings, Pompeo was also reported to have discussed Venezuela, Ukraine, Syria, Libya and "issues relating to NATO."

However, reports on the May 13 meetings indicate that the U.S. was not able to sway EU countries to back its threat of military force, or even its stepped up sanctions regime. Following her meeting with Pompeo, Mogherini remarked, "The most responsible attitude to take should be that of maximum restraint and avoiding any escalation on the military side."

"We are very worried about the risk of a conflict happening by accident, with an escalation that is unintended really on either side," British Foreign Secretary Hunt stated. "What we need is a period of calm to make sure that everyone understands what the other side is thinking. Most of all, we need to make sure we don't end up putting Iran back on the path to renuclearization."

German Foreign Minister Maas said of his meeting with Pompeo, "I once again made it clear that we are concerned about developments and tensions in the region." He also stated that "We are concerned about the developments and the tensions in the region," and that "We do not want it to rise to a military escalation." Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Le Drian stated that the U.S. move to step up sanctions against Iran "does not suit us."

(Strategic Culture Foundation, CNN, Washington Post, Radio Free Europe. Photo: M. Benjamin.)

War of Sanctions Against Iran (III)

The escalation of the conflict over Iran hampers the German government's efforts to pursue an independent global policy, even contrary to U.S. interests. Following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement [that] he would impose punitive measures on all countries planning to purchase Iranian oil, Teheran responded by declaring it may begin to enrich uranium again, if the partners of the nuclear agreement continue to breach their commitments and refuse to allow Iran to sell its goods freely. This is actually the case, due to U.S. threats to impose punitive measures. Berlin's efforts to salvage trade with Iran by means of a barter-based financial vehicle does not bear fruit. Washington is now preparing new threats against this vehicle ("INSTEX" [Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges]). Despite the de facto trade blockade in violation of the nuclear agreement, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas is demanding that Teheran must "fully" comply with the nuclear agreement. In the meantime, U.S. President Trump is increasing pressure with new sanctions.

The Oil Boycott

Over the past few days, the Trump administration has intensified its aggression against Iran in two ways. On the one hand, it has insisted, since the beginning of the month, that all countries, without exception, comply with the sanctions against Teheran and cease the purchase of Iranian oil. Recently, oil sales have comprised nearly 40 per cent of Iran's revenue. With a total loss of its oil revenue, the country is threatened with economic ruin. This is precisely Washington's aim, to incite hunger revolts within the population, the overthrow of the government and the installation of pro-U.S. forces. Whether the Trump administration can achieve Iran's economic strangulation is uncertain. Particularly China and Turkey have protested the U.S. threats to punish those purchasing Iranian oil in the future. India has clearly shown its resentment, however, has notably begun to reduce its oil imports from Iran. In April it imported nearly a third less than it had in March and more than half less than its imports in March 2018. TÜPRAS, Turkey's largest refinery operator, announced yesterday that it will reduce imports from Iran to zero. The EU countries have already completely halted their oil imports. How much oil Iran will be able to sell on the "grey market" remains unclear.

The Struggle Against "INSTEX"

It is also not clear whether Germany, France, Great Britain, and the EU will succeed in their plans to sustain their trade with Iran by way of the financial vehicle, "INSTEX." Until now, INSTEX was seen as inoperable.[1] Brussels has announced it would significantly increase the financial volume of this instrument and otherwise intensify its efforts to trade with Iran. Washington, however, is already planning to apply measures against INSTEX. A senior official of the U.S. Department of Finance pointed out that Iranian authorities, who cooperate with EU countries within the INSTEX framework, do not comply with the rules of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a Paris-based body founded in 1989 to prevent money laundering and -- since 2001 -- also terror financing. The latter is particularly relevant, because the Trump administration has recently classified the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC a "terror organization." Because the IRGC maintains a huge economic empire, its "terrorist" classification offers new options for sabotaging trade with Iran. Every opportunity will be seized upon to halt business with Iran, the senior official of the U.S. Department of Finance announced.[2]

Gunboat Diplomacy

Alongside Washington's presumption of a right to globally impose punitive measures on those importing Iranian oil, it is now also making military threats. In addition to the "Abraham Lincoln" aircraft carrier strike group, which was already scheduled to sail for the Middle East, the Trump administration has now hastily dispatched a squadron of B-52 bombers to the region under the pretext of undefined Iranian "threats."[3] This heightens the risks of military escalation even more.

Western Breachers of Contract

Teheran has now reacted, not so much because Washington is placing it under heightened military pressure, but primarily because the nuclear agreement has de facto become obsolete. The United States has officially broken it; the European countries have, under pressure of U.S. sanctions, dramatically reduced their trade with Iran, promised in return for the termination of the nuclear program, and completely ceased buying Iranian oil. Even in the cases of Russia and China, it remains unclear whether the Trump administration's threats of sanctions can also force sharp declines in trade. With this in mind, the Iranian government has issued the nuclear agreement signatories a 60-day time limit to uphold their part of the trade bargain. Now, the government is preparing to halt its sale of excess enriched uranium, and, in 60 days, will again begin enriching uranium, announced Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani. "We have not withdrawn from the nuclear agreement. We are merely exercising our legitimate right, to respond to the breach of contract."[4] As soon as the parties to the agreement uphold their side of the bargain, Iran will uphold its, announced Rouhani.

The German Dilemma

Berlin has a dilemma. The German government had backed the nuclear agreement, not least of all, because it held the promise of reopening Iranian -- alongside Arab -- markets to German industry. The Iranian markets are considered potentially one of the most lucrative throughout the region.[5] Recently, in the dispute over the Trump administration's breach of the agreement, the German government had taken an offensive stance in relationship to Washington, thereby elevating the conflict to a touchstone of its claim to global policy making "at eye-level" with Washington.[6] Since Berlin is in no position to protect its trade with Iran, including its oil trade, against U.S. sanctions -- German business interests in the USA are overwhelming -- this policy is doomed to failure. Yesterday, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas flamboyantly proclaimed, "we want to salvage the agreement." However, Berlin is not even living up to its own commitments to expand its economic cooperation with Iran. All the same, Maas declares that Berlin "expects" ... "that Iran will fully implement the agreement -- to the letter."[7] Maas did not explain why Teheran should abide by the agreement's stipulations, when the western powers do not.

The Next Sanctions

At the same time, the situation is getting worse. Yesterday [May 8], U.S. President Donald Trump announced new sanctions, under which Iran is not supposed to export its second most important export item -- various metals. These sanctions are supposed to apply to all nations. Washington is seeking to speed up Iran's strangulation. Teheran must eventually react to the economic aggression. The nuclear agreement's complete collapse is therefore drawing nearer. If Berlin cannot prevent this, it would mean that its first attempt to oppose the USA on the world stage and making its mark as a global player would have been a failure.

Notes

1. German Foreign Policy reported. See also "War of Sanctions against Iran (II)," German Foreign Policy, May 6, 2019.

2. "EU-Iran trade vehicle unlikely to meet anti-money-laundering norms: U.S." Francois Murphy, reuters.com, May 7, 2019.

3. "B-52 bombers are off to rebuff Iran after threats to U.S. troops; DoD won't say what those were," Kyle Rempfer, militarytimes.com, May 8, 2019.

5. German Foreign Policy reported. See also "Competing for Business with Iran," German Foreign Policy, April 29, 2016.

6. See also "Die Tauschbörse der EU," German Foreign Policy, September 26, 2018.

7. "Außenminister Maas zur Wiener Nuklearvereinbarung mit Iran," Pressemitteilung des Auswärtigen Amts, Berlin, May 8, 2019.

Declaration of the XVIII Political Council
of ALBA-TCP

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Heads of Delegations of the member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America -- Peoples' Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP)[1], meeting in Havana on the occasion of their XVIII Political Council;

Inspired by the independence ideals of Simón Bolívar and José Martí, by the legacy of the leaders of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, and the Bolivarian Revolution of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez Frías, whose thinking and works confirm the full validity of the struggle for the emancipation of the peoples, the necessity of preserving the peace, of civilized coexistence and of unity within diversity in the region;

1. We express our concern about the aggressive escalation against Our America, the actions against peace and regional security, especially the threats of the use of force against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which constitute dangers for regional peace in opposition to the precepts contained in the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace signed by the Heads of State and/or Government at the Second CELAC Summit held in Havana on January 28 and 29, 2014.

2. We emphasize the resistance of the Venezuelan Government and people against external interference and the unilateral coercive measures against their country.

3. We renew our support for the Constitutional President Nicolás Maduro Moros, the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution and the civilian-military union of its people.

4. We reject the violation of the premises of diplomatic missions, in total violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

5. We call for support for the Montevideo Mechanism initiative made up of Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia and CARICOM which seeks to preserve the peace in Venezuela, based on the principles of non-intervention in domestic affairs, the sovereign equality of States and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

6. We demand strict observance of the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations Charter and International Law, the peaceful settlement of disputes, the prohibition of the use of force and the threat of use of force, respect for self-determination, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the non-interference in the domestic affairs of States.

7. We insist that the implementation of unilateral coercive measures, rejected by numerous resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, is contrary to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of that organization and in International Law, violate the freedom of trade and navigation, threaten international peace and security and restrict the enjoyment of the human rights of the peoples of the States against whom they are implemented.

8. We ratify our support for the process of dialogue and negotiation of the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity of Nicaragua in its decision to continue defending its sovereignty, the peace, the notable social and economic advances, and the security and national unity attained.

9. We reject the interventionist conduct of the Government of the United States which is once more using the [Organization of American States] and its Secretary General in its interventionist policy against the sovereignty, self-determination and constitutional order of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Republic of Nicaragua and the Republic of Cuba.

10. We repudiate the Monroe Doctrine, the old reflection of the hegemonic and imperialist ambitions of the United States upon the lands and peoples of the Americas, which has been revived today and which poses the most serious and urgent threat to the peace of the hemisphere.

11. We reiterate the claims of the international community to lift, unconditionally, the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba, which constitutes a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of the Cuban people and whose extraterritorial nature affects all States.

12. We reject the recent decision of the Government of the United States to activate Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, legislation that reinforces the extraterritorial nature of the blockade against Cuba and harms the international economic and trade relations of Cuba and the trade relations of the international community with Cuba.

13. We welcome the approval of the new Constitution of the Republic of Cuba which expresses its revolutionary commitment, its solidarity and its integrationist conviction.

14. We reaffirm the need of strengthening the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) as a mechanism for regional political coordination based on the strict observance and defence of the principles of International Law, including the peaceful settlement of disputes, prohibition of the use and the threat of the use of force, respect for self-determination, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the domestic affairs of States.

15. We support the pro tempore presidency of the Plurinational State of Bolivia of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

16. We reaffirm our committed support for the people and Government of Bolivia in their historic and just right to a seaport with sovereignty.

17. We strongly reject the measures adopted against our sister countries in the Caribbean, considering them as non-cooperative jurisdictions, at the same time as we urge a review of the graduation criteria as "middle income countries," a condition that makes it difficult for them to access loans and international cooperation.

18. We reaffirm our ongoing support for the Caribbean countries in their claims for compensation and reparatory justice for the genocide of the native population and the horrors of the slave trade and chattel slavery.

19. We reject the selective and politically motivated utilization of the human rights issue for the purpose of creating conditions to destabilize legitimate governments, justify interference in internal affairs and impose regime changing policies.

20. We welcome the XXV Forum of Sao Paulo to be held July 25 to 28, 2019, as an event that will contribute to the constant dialogue among the progressive political forces and the social movements of the region.

21. We also welcome the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement, to be held in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, from July 20 to 21 2019, under the theme "Promotion and consolidation of peace through respect of International Law."

22. We renew the commitment for political coordination, cooperation and integration, and for the defence of unity to confront political and economic interference and domination.

Note

1. Ten countries are members of ALBA-TCP: Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela. El Salvador and Suriname, both observers, participated in the meeting as guests. Haiti has the status of a permanent guest of the Alliance.

(MINREX, Cubadebate. Slightly edited for grammar and style by TML. Photo: Communist Party of Cuba)

Three Years After the Coup Against Dilma,
the Country Is in Chaos

Mass rally in defence of education in Fotaleza, May 15, 2019, one of hundreds held
acrosss the country.

Three years after the coup against former president Dilma Rousseff, Brazil is facing a serious financial and economic crisis and a devastating horizon for the future of the country. With democracy at risk and attacks against freedom of expression and opinion under Jair Bolsonaro's government of destruction, it has been proven that removing Dilma did nothing to improve the country. Passage of Constitutional Amendment 95, the cruel public spending cap, and the labour reforms were the supposed solutions for a return to growth. What we can see, however, is Brazil going downhill, with hunger making a comeback, a paralyzed economy on the verge of a new recession, and the rule of law mutilated.

Dilma was removed in a fraudulent impeachment process orchestrated by the Brazilian elite upset with the social changes that had taken place in recent years. In her last speech, as she was leaving the presidency on May 12, 2016 after the Senate initiated the impeachment process and removed her, Dilma predicted that the accomplishments of the past 13 years were at stake. In Lula and Dilma's [Workers' Party] PT administrations there were breakthroughs: poverty alleviation, expansion of the middle class, a child protection network, young people in college and technical schools, an increase in the minimum wage, doctors taking care of the population, the dream of having one's own house [realized] for 6 million people, discovery of the pre-salt [oil] reserves. "What is at stake is the future of the country, the opportunity and the hope to keep moving forward," she said.

The dismantling project -- with the attacks on fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, and Lula being prevented from taking part in the 2018 elections with his conviction and incarceration without evidence -- was put into practice.

The illegitimate government of Michel Temer froze public spending for 20 years and brought Getulio Vargas's CLT [Consolidated Labour Laws] to an end. Then came the spurious sale of Brazilians' strategic patrimony and attempts to fully privatize the oil and electricity sectors, natural riches of the country, essential for any nation, in an unprecedented affront to national sovereignty.

Bolsonaro supported Temer's labour reform, which had promised the modernization of labour relations and the generation of 2 million new jobs, with the outcome today being 13 million unemployed and half the country's workforce engaged in informal work or looking for jobs. This disastrous fiasco, in addition to slashing workers' rights, led to an increase in informality and "pejotización" (forcing workers to become service providers that bill companies as self-employed contractors), which caused Social Security contributions to fall on account of an informalized labour market.

After an election based on lies and without any debate of ideas by the candidates, Bolsonaro is continuing the coup and destroying the democratic achievements of the Brazilian people. His government acts in favour of a minimalist State, under a retrograde and backward ideological cloak to conceal wrongdoings, revealing its inability to return to the road of economic growth and reduced inequality. The incitement to hatred and violence, compounded by the political persecution of those who think differently, also shows Bolsonaro's sick behaviour and what his priorities are.

Moreover, he promoted the criminal cutting of Bolsa Família [financial aid program to poor families so their children attend school and are vaccinated -- TML Ed. Note] ended Mais Médicos [More Doctors] by firing the Cuban professionals who are a worldwide reference when it comes to health care, stifled Minha Casa Minha Vida [My House My Life], and is promoting the dismantling of public health care. As well, Bolsonaro extinguished the National Council for Food and Nutrition Security (Consea), the main body in charge of designing policies to fight hunger.

Bolsonaro is now preconditioning the economy's growth on sharp blows to the workers' retirement pensions. It is not just the opposition that is criticizing the pension reform. Experts show that the constitutional amendment bill will hurt the poorest seniors, rural workers and women. More than that, the proposal ends Social Security as provided for in the Constitution, which made it possible to set up the social welfare safety network. As if that were not enough, the Minister of the Economy, Paulo Guedes, also wants to exempt the government from investing in health and education.

Brazil's unemployment rate is at 12.7 per cent; 13.4 million Brazilians are looking for a job, 28.5 million people are underemployed and 4.8 million are discouraged, that is, have given up looking for work. With the economy at a standstill and lack of confidence in a president who has no national project and a government of nation-wrecking, Brazilian industry has put the brakes on its activities. The wheels of the economy have stopped and all forecasts signal, just five months into the new government, that this will be another lost year for Brazilians.

What's more, the government has decided to cut critical resources, jeopardizing the functioning of public services, chiefly in the areas of human rights, culture, education and the environment. The 30 per cent cut to the budget and investments in Brazilian universities, reducing public education to bare bones and compromising research and science, represents the end times.

We are facing a dismantling of the State as never before seen in the country. The strength of students and teachers is a landmark in the resistance and struggle against this destructive government. The opposition is solidary. We shall be together on this May 15 to fight against retrogression in Brazilian education and the abuses committed by Bolsonaro.

Gleisi Hoffmann, a Federal Representative and National President of the Workers' Party (PT).

Massive Demonstrations Oppose Bolsonaro Government's Cuts to Education Funding

São Paulo, May 15, 2019, at least 250,000 in the streets to protest education cuts.

On Wednesday, May 15 massive demonstrations took place all over Brazil against the funding cuts to higher as well as basic education announced by the government of President Jair Bolsonaro on April 30. News reports indicate that demonstrations -- part of what was billed as the Education Tsunami (#TsunamiDaEducação) -- were held in 27 states of the Republic and in almost 200 cities. Attendance nationwide is estimated to have totaled anywhere from one to two million. In São Paulo and Belo Horizante at least 250,000 people are said to have marched, along with 200,000 in Rio de Janeiro and 100,000 in Fortaleza. Classes were suspended at federal universities and colleges around the country for the day.

The demonstrations were organized by the National Union of Students (UNE) and the Brazilian Union of Secondary Students (Ubes), along with teachers, education workers, the association of deans, trade unions, and other movements. Marianna Dias, president of the UNE, said May 15 was a "historic day" and a "victory" that will be remembered as "one of the biggest demonstrations" in Brazil's recent history, Brasil de Fato reported.

Government's Attacks on Public Education

On April 30, Brazil's Education Minister announced budget cuts to all levels of public education, saying 30 per cent of federally-funded universities' budgets for so-called discretionary spending would be cut, which covers such things as cleaning and security services, construction and equipment, as well as water, electricity, phone and internet. Spending considered mandatory is protected from cuts by legislation.

A survey done by Brazil's National Association of Directors of Federal Higher Education Institutions shows that half of the country's federal universities will actually suffer cuts higher than 30 per cent. At least two are slated for cuts of over 50 per cent and others almost 50 per cent the survey showed.

Responding to the widespread opposition the cuts gave rise to, the Education Minister tried to backtrack, saying they were not cuts, just "contingencies" as part of the government's austerity plan. All the funding could be reinstated, he said, if the economy registered any growth. Many have denounced this as attempted blackmail to gain support for the government's regressive agenda.

In addition to denouncing the education cuts, those who marched on May 15 protested the theft of workers' pensions that will result if Bolsonaro's neo-liberal pension reform is passed. He and his U.S.-trained economy minister Paulo Guedes are desperate to get it approved in the Congress, something they have so far not accomplished, prompting Guedes to threaten that he will pack up and leave the country should the reforms be watered down. Another demand of the demonstrators was that former President Lula, who continues to be held as a political prisoner, be freed.

Showing his contempt for the masses of Brazilian youth who were in the streets all over the country defending their right to education, Bolsonaro said: "The majority are militants. If you ask them what's the formula for water, they don't know. They are a bunch of useful idiots, a bunch of morons who are being used as pawns by a minority of smartasses who constitute the core of many federal universities in Brazil."

The same day, in another act of retaliation, Bolsonaro issued a decree giving his administration new powers to control the selection of senior administrators at public universities -- who are currently appointed or elected by their academic communities -- doing away with a longstanding tradition of autonomy enjoyed by universities. The decree, which takes effect July 25, establishes that the university president, or their delegates, have the authority to appoint the deans and presidents at these institutions. It also provides for the Brazilian Intelligence Agency to participate in investigating the background of candidates. Since anyone who has been involved in illegal activities is already prohibited under existing legislation from serving in an academic post, concern is being expressed that such things as candidates' political involvement and their membership in social movements and unions will now be probed. Bolsonaro is already on the record as considering such things as sociology and philosophy "communist" and fair game for defunding.

New Demonstrations Called for May 30

Feirade de Santana

Based on the massive response to their call for the May 15 demonstrations, the same student unions, joined by the National Association of Graduate Students (ANPG) have called for a Second National Day in Defence of Education on May 30. The central demand will once again be to reject the cuts to funding for public education. The president of UNE said the students' struggle has just begun and will continue until they get the cuts reversed.

Brasil de Fato reports that Matias Cardomingo, a master's student in economics and the coordinator of the Association of Graduate Students of the University of São Paulo explained that researchers will hold a number of activities in the coming weeks to invigorate "the relationship between the academy and society," by means other than just demonstrations. He said building links in defence of public education and making people aware of contributions made by the country's public universities is important in view of their being targeted both financially and politically by the government.

Porto Alegre

Florianopolis

Curitiba

Rio De Janeiro

Belo Horizonte

Porto Velho

Recife

João Pessoa

São Luis

Fortaleza

Belém

Chapecó

Maranhao

(Brasil de Fato, teleSUR, Brasil Wire, Vermelho, Eyes on Latin America. Photos: Brasil de Fato, UBES, Latuff, R. Lima, G. Prates, M. Cabral, Amorin, C. Garcia)

Struggle for Peace in the Philippines Discussed at Public Event in Toronto

Left to right: Coni Ledesma, member of the peace negotiating panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines; Attorney Edre Olalia, President of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers-Philippines; and Rhea Gamana, Secretary-General of Bayan Canada.

"The National Democratic Front and the Struggle for Peace in the Philippines" was the topic of discussion at a public event held in downtown Toronto at the OPSEU Membership Centre on May 14. The meeting was part of a national tour of prominent spokespersons in the movement for peace, progress and respect for human rights in the Philippines.

The first speaker, Attorney Edre Olalia, President of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers of the Philippines, pointed out the dark significance of the results of the election held the previous day in the Philippines. Olalia noted that President Duterte's ruling party had probably gained control of the Senate, which would strengthen the hand of the government in its "war on drugs." This campaign, he said, is actually a war on the poor, on human rights defenders and especially on the New People's Army, led by the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has made substantial gains in the struggle for national liberation in recent years.

Olalia explained that it has been a favoured tactic of the Duterte dictatorship to malign various groups in the society, including lawyers, journalists and activists, by publishing for each group a matrix showing the connections among members of the group and then accusing each group falsely of being conspirators, coup plotters and a Communist front. He revealed that 37 lawyers have been killed in the 35 months since Duterte came to power, including prosecutors and even some judges.

In the Philippines, Olalia said, the government serves foreign capital and the domestic oligarchy, and its neo-liberal policies have distorted the economy. He noted that 1.1 million people are unemployed or underemployed, resulting in 5,750 people leaving the country each day to find work. He vowed that the Filipino people will stand together and not let these things pass.

The second speaker, Coni Ledesma, is a member of the peace negotiating panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, which has reached several agreements with the government of the Philippines in the past to ensure respect for human rights in the country. In 1992, for example, a declaration was made that had four points: observance of human rights and international humanitarian law; socio-economic reforms; political reform and, an end to hostilities. The promised reforms were both agricultural reform -- involving free distribution of land to tenants -- and industrial development, which is still badly needed to achieve independence from imperialist domination of the economy.

Today, Ledesma said, there has been intensive militarization all over the country. Duterte terminated the peace talks in November 2017, disbanded the government negotiating panel and appointed an army general as the representative of the government side. The Duterte regime has favoured local negotiations, instead of peace talks on a national level, and has refused to recognize previous agreements. Some peace consultants have been killed, she revealed, and others arrested. The military prefers to concentrate on winning the war against the insurgency but, she said, this will never bring peace. What we need, she said, is to address the roots of the armed conflict, such as poverty and the lack of industry to provide employment.

Ledesma stated that the democratic forces will continue the struggle for human rights, for a just and lasting peace, for jobs and for land. She affirmed that "We'll win liberation from foreign and domestic exploitation."

The main presentations were followed by a lively discussion as the speakers responded to questions from participants about the current situation in the Philippines and how, in Canada, supporters can best show solidarity with the Filipino people's struggle for peace and human rights. Ledesma pointed out that military aid from Canada and other countries contributes to the attacks on the people, as does so-called development aid. She called on Canadians to challenge their candidates on these issues in the upcoming federal election and ask them where they stand.

Rhea Gamana, secretary-general of Bayan Canada, the organizing group for the meeting, announced that a new alliance is being formed in the name of a Malaya Movement (meaning "free"), uniting Filipinos in Canada to support the struggle of the people in the Philippines. Gamana called on all members of the Filipino community to join.

Founding Conference of International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines-Canada
Held in Ottawa

On May 11 and 12, activists from Canadian organizations working in the Philippines, along with human rights activists and social justice advocates gathered in Ottawa to launch the Canadian chapter of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP).[1]

On the first day, the conference was addressed by several guest speakers from front-line human rights organizations, as well as religious leaders and human rights lawyers active in the Philippines. The speakers addressed the main theme of the Conference, "Supporting Voices at Risk: Defending Human Rights in the Philippines."

In their presentations, the speakers shared their own experiences of the situation in the Philippines and the dangerous circumstances faced by the people. Human rights defenders and government critics and all those working to improve the lives of Filipinos are more and more in grave danger. Every day the situation is worsened with new measures by the Duterte regime to oppress, harass and murder social and human rights activists.

In the afternoon, the Conference broke into five workshops to involve all the participants in discussing the issues raised in the morning session. The workshop themes were:

1) War on Drugs;
2) War on Human Rights Defenders, Martial Law and the Rise of Tyranny;
3) Political Prisoners;
4) Mining, Environment and Resource Development; and
5) Peace Talks.

The second day of the conference received reports from the thematic workshops and deliberated on a Draft General Program of Action, as well as a proposed Constitution and Structures.

Following this a successful Conference to establish the Canadian Chapter of ICHRP it was announced the Third General Assembly of ICHRP is to be held in Hong Kong, June 27-29, 2019.

Notes

1. The ICHRP was founded in 2013 as a global alliance of human rights advocates raising international visibility of the ongoing violation of peoples' rights in the Philippines and generating political pressure on the governments of the Philippines, the U.S., Canada, Europe and other parties with interests in the Philippines. Subsequently, national and regional chapters have been organized in the U.S., Europe and Canada.

Manufacturing Yes! Nation-Wrecking No!

Protest in Saint John, NB, December 22, 2018, against Canada's multi-billion dollar sale of armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia for use in its war against Yemen. The vehicles are produced in London, ON.

Nothing Is More Destructive to the Natural and Social Environment than War

Make Canada a Zone for Peace!

Notes

The trend in international transfers of major weapons, 1979-2018. Data and graphic: SIPRI.

Click to enlarge.

Doubling of Arms Imports by Middle East States in 2014-18 Period

Asia and Oceania Region Imports the Most Arms

Canada's Role in the Global Arms Trade -- 2017 Figures Excerpted from Global Affairs Report

Demonstration against Bill C-92 in Winnipeg, May 10, 2019.

Trudeau's White Paper 2.0

Rally outside Assembly of First Nations policy conference in Edmonton, May 1, 2019, demands the Assembly involve all Indigenous peoples in any discussion and decisions on any proposed federal government legislation which will impact their rights.

Note

Land in area known as Camp 9A where artifacts were found in February 2019.

Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, Secretary-Treasurer of the UBCIC, speaks at UN.

Mass opposition to Trump's visit to Britain, July 2, 2018.

London, July 2, 2018, during Trump's visit to the city.

Note

The Five Major U.S. Air Force Bases. Click to enlarge

Mildenhall Peace Camp

Notes

For Your Reference

Delegation of U.S. anti-war activists visiting Iran in March, shown here outside the Tehran Peace Museum.

U.S. Aim to Provoke Confrontation with Iran

U.S. Contradiction with Europeans Regarding Sanctions and Use of Force

The Oil Boycott

The Struggle Against "INSTEX"

Gunboat Diplomacy

Western Breachers of Contract

The German Dilemma

The Next Sanctions

Notes

Note

Mass rally in defence of education in Fotaleza, May 15, 2019, one of hundreds held acrosss the country.

Gleisi Hoffmann, a Federal Representative and National President of the Workers' Party of Brazil.

Investments in education increased for 12 consecutive years during the Presidencies of Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff.

São Paulo, May 15, 2019, at least 250,000 in the streets to protest education cuts.

Government's Attacks on Public Education

"You will not shut us up!"

New Demonstrations Called for May 30

Feirade de Santana

Porto Alegre

Florianopolis

Curitiba

Rio De Janeiro

Belo Horizonte

Porto Velho

Recife

João Pessoa

São Luis

Fortaleza

Belém Chapecó

Maranhao

Left to right: Coni Ledesma, member of the peace negotiating panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines; Attorney Edre Olalia, President of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers-Philippines; and Rhea Gamana, Secretary-General of Bayan Canada.

Notes

Nothing Is More Destructive to the Natural and Social
Environment than War

Canada's Role in the Global Arms Trade -- 2017 Figures Excerpted
from Global Affairs Report

Rally outside Assembly of First Nations policy conference in Edmonton, May 1, 2019, demands
the Assembly involve all Indigenous peoples in any discussion and decisions on any proposed federal government legislation which will impact their rights.

The Five Major U.S. Air Force Bases.
Click to enlarge

Delegation of U.S. anti-war activists visiting Iran in March, shown here outside the
Tehran Peace Museum.

U.S. Contradiction with Europeans Regarding
Sanctions and Use of Force

Mass rally in defence of education in Fotaleza, May 15, 2019, one of hundreds held
acrosss the country.

Gleisi Hoffmann, a Federal Representative
and National President of the Workers' Party
of Brazil.

Belém

Chapecó