August 2, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO — It was clear from the starting gavel: the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees convention here, July 28-Aug. 1, would be about reclaiming America for working people after eight years of the Bush administration.

I attended the big rally with Barack Obama here, July 24, not as a press representative but as one of the crowd. And what a giant crowd it was! The news reports counted “over 200,000” but to someone sandwiched in so tight I could hardly lift my hand to scratch my itching nose, much less applaud, it seemed like a million! The predictions had been for “anywhere between 10,000 and 100,000” and the official start was at 7, so I stupidly arrived at 6.30, too late to find anything but a tiny spot to stand on (when the pushing ceased), so far back from the monument where Obama spoke that I couldn’t even see the big screen. I saw only the heads and backs of those in front of me.

United Kingdom: Unions pressure Labor Party
South Korea: Labor actions sweep country
South Africa: Unions look at safety, wages & prices
Occupied West Bank: New settlement coming
Mexico: Monopoly has advantages
Cuba: U.S. stonewalls prisoners’ wives

In a dramatic speech recently, Al Gore upped the ante in the debate over oil prices, the economy and climate change. As Republicans tried to sell the public on handing over more public land to Big Oil drilling, Gore challenged the nation to take an immediate, giant step away from fossil fuels by producing all electricity from renewable, carbon-free energy sources within 10 years. Currently about 75 percent of our electricity is produced by burning coal and natural gas, spewing global warming carbon into the atmosphere.

The Barack Obama campaign’s nine day “Listening to America” project concluded July 27 after thousands of people gathered in at least 1,300 meetings to make recommendations for the 2008 Democratic platform.

MADISON, Ohio – Over 200 rallied here July 22 in a boisterous show of support for embattled school bus drivers whose jobs were terminated when their contract expired in June and the Board of Education implemented a plan to privatize transportation.

ST LOUIS – “This is a war of attrition,” said Glenn Burliegh, campaign coordinator for Robin Wright-Jones for state senate. “To win, we have to work harder, fight longer and overcome more obstacles than our opposition. But, we can do it.”

Bush continues to block job safety rules
Immigration raid killed a town, witnesses say
Letter carriers endorse Obama
Freedom of speech and assembly?

An average family is likely to spend an extra $750 this year on gasoline, compared with last year. My oil company has informed me it will cost $3,795 to heat my house this coming winter — three times the cost a few years ago. Cash-strapped local governments are trying to figure out how they will afford to operate police cars and heat schools.

Hundreds of nations will participate in the 2008 Olympics, many of whom are in conflict, even at war with each other. All will be part of a single, peaceful event. Politics and the Olympics have always been intertwined. This year, the Olympics will also take place in a political context.