Feb 5, 2005

WASHINGTON — Citing soaring costs in lives and tax dollars, lawmakers, peace leaders and military families demanded this week that President George W. Bush bring the troops home from Iraq.
They rejected Bush’s boast in his State of the Union address that the Jan. 30 election in Iraq vindicates his war policy.

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil — From its opening march of 200,000 people — chanting slogans, singing, and carrying banners for an end to war, poverty and inequality — to the nightly rhythms of Brazilian samba, the fifth World Social Forum was an explosive mix of politics and culture that defies adequate description.

“With pride in our unity and fighting spirit,” the National Committee of the Communist Party USA has kicked off preparations for its 28th national convention, July 1–3, under the slogans, “The people can win! Defeat the Bush agenda! Build the CPUSA.”

The largest group of readers of the People’s Weekly World resides in the Empire State. Each year, New Yorkers take the responsibility to raise the largest amount of money for our reader-powered press. Elena Mora, New York State Communist Party chairperson, took the lead in helping to raise over $34,000 from readers and supporters. As of Feb. 2 these friends of the PWW were closing in on their $35,000 goal.

Global warming is leading towards a “tipping point,” where rising oceans, droughts, and weather change would become irreversible by the end of this century, says a new study by the International Climate Change Task Force.

SAN FRANCISCO — The labor movement and community organizations took on the financial institutions backing Social Security privatization as they held noontime demonstrations Jan. 26 in San Francisco and Boston to protest Charles Schwab and Co.’s leading role in trying to open up the system to Wall Street.

PITTSBURGH — At 5:30 a.m. Julie Burnett, 53, was busy at the US Airways ticket counter assisting passengers with the newfangled machines generating their boarding passes.
“These machines are taking our jobs along with those crooks in the front office and that judge,” she said. “It’s criminal. [Allegheny County Executive] Dan Onorato was right. Don’t give these thieves another dime. They are destroying our families and our neighborhoods.”

NEW YORK—Though elections won’t be held until November, the battle for the mayoralty here has already begun. Critics charge that Mayor Michael Bloomberg used an unrealistic “feel-good” State of the City address as a campaign tool. His challengers have come out swinging on a number of issues, ranging from labor to his failed school reforms to his proposed city budget.

NASHVILLE: Baptists call for Iraq war end, no-vote on Gonzalez / WASHINGTON: Victory for Guantanamo prisoners / COLUMBUS, Ga.: Freedom fighters sentenced / BALTIMORE: NAACP defies IRS Probe / MONTGOMERY, Ala.: State sues drug companies / WASHINGTON: Americans support legal status for immigrants

“Filipino migrants are all over the world. Why? Because they cannot make enough money to care for their families in the Philippines.