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The nation’s capital played host to over 10,000 elected delegates of the National Education Association’s 87th annual representative assembly July 1-6. Teachers, educational support and administrative personnel were joined by thousands of other allied professionals and trade unionists and guests at what was billed as the world’s largest democratic deliberative body.

The assembly’s festive atmosphere did not diminish the fact that teachers were acutely aware that public schooling and its future is a main item on the nation’s domestic agenda, especially in this presidential election year.

Brazil, the world’s 10th largest economy, has adopted an increasingly assertive role in world politics as it promotes Latin American unity, justice for the poor world especially in regard to food supplies, and Brazil’s place in the global market economy. The recent travels of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president since January 2003, make the point.

The National Theater in central Baghdad was packed with an enthusiastic audience waving the Iraqi flag and red banners, July 12. The event, organized by the Iraqi Communist Party, was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the July 14, 1958.

Cincinnati's Fountain Square was the site of an enthusiastic public several thousand strong wide screen viewing of Democratic hopeful Barack Obama's speech before the 99th annual conference of the NAACP Monday night. The Cincinnati's Inquirer's Jeff Peale wrote this morning that: “At Fountain Square, where a sizable crowd watched on the big-screen TV, applause and cheers erupted when Obama appeared.

The League of United Latin American Citizens, LULAC, which was founded in 1929 and has more than 100,000 members, met here July 7-12 for its 79th National Convention. Topics ranged from Latinos in the military to education reform to Election Day mobilization, and speakers ranged across the politico-ideological spectrum. Many of the speakers addressed the topic of immigration, including both major party presidential candidates.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still struggling to track the Salmonella SaintPaul food poisoning outbreak that has sickened more than 869 people in 36 states and the District of Columbia since the first reported case in New Mexico April 10.

The financial crisis that has been sweeping the United States and much of the capitalist world since last summer reached a new phase when mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac moved near insolvency. This unfolding crisis may be the worst threat to the U.S. economy since the Great Depression.

“Power, Justice, Freedom, VOTE!” are the themes resonating through Cincinnati this week as over 9000 participants converge on this southern Ohio city for the NAACP annual conference. The civil rights organization will celebrate its 100th birthday later this year.

The analysis published by Seymour Hersh in The New Yorker recently [“Preparing the battlefield: The Bush administration steps up its secret moves against Iran”] is revealing in a number of respects regarding the position of the Bush administration in relation to Iran.