International

With the just completed Bali conference, the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, special reports in many newspapers and magazines, demonstrations in 50 countries on global warming, the new Australian government signing on to the Kyoto Accord, and many other events, the focus of the world’s attention is shifting to the need to decrease carbon dioxide emissions.

On New Year’s Day, the 13-year-old North American Free Trade Act linking the United States, Mexico and Canada will come into full bloom as the remaining tariffs on agricultural products, including corn, beans, sugar, milk and chicken, are lifted.

For lawyer Terry Collingwood, capital punishment has its place, especially if it means “the death of a truly evil corporation.” The reference was to Ohio-based Chiquita Corp., which last March pleaded guilty to making 100 payments over seven years totaling $1.7 million to the right-wing, paramilitary Colombian Self Defense Units — AUC in Spanish. The payoffs began in 1997. Observers say the aim was to suppress labor activism, bar left-wing insurgents and control territory.

The news about the Bali conference confirms the importance of the international agreements and the necessity of taking them very seriously.

POLOKWANE, South Africa — Progress was a central theme of South African President Thabo Mbeki’s address to the 52nd National Conference of the African National Congress, which opened here Dec. 16, in the capital of South Africa’s northern province of Limpopo. Over 4,000 delegates were attending.

MINSK, Belorusia — Fue alentador el sentimiento cuando se reunieron representantes de partidos comunistas y obreros de alrededor del mundo aquí del 3 al 5 de noviembre para intercambiar experiencias y celebrar el 90 Aniversario de la Gran Revolución de Octubre y que significa ese evento histórico hoy.

The vast majority of the people of Israel, Palestine, the United States and the world want something done to bring peace with justice to Israel and Palestine, and feel there is a chance the recently concluded Annapolis conference can accomplish something toward that aim.

For people you know who are impervious to what you tell them about the triumphs of the Cuban Revolution or the evils of U.S. Cuba policy, but who have good hearts and can be moved by stories of human tragedy and triumph, here is an excellent holiday present.

Terminó la campaña en Venezuela para reformar a la Constitución de 1999 en ese país hacia un futuro socialista con una estrecha derrota para el gobierno del presidente Hugo Chávez.

Fue “la primera vez que el caso de Luís Posada se ha tratado en el Congreso”, dijo José Pertierra, el abogado basado en Washington quien representa a Venezuela en la petición de aquel país en favor de la extradición de Posada.