The exquisite municipal market in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Stopped by this blog in Brazil I check out occasionally, Leaves of Grass, and found a wonderful post about this beautiful municipal market they have in Sao Paulo. It's just exquisite, beautifully and tastefully designed, with 55 large stained glass windows as the crowning touch. Check out the post, the photos are great, especially one in particular, this panoramic view.








The Silence of the Blondes.

The Black Commentator has a nice article by Jamaican guest columnist John Maxwell, called The Silence of the Blonds. He discusses how it is possible for people in the global elite to avoid confronting the horrific realities of their actions; even if they are, like Annan, African, or like Powell and Rice, African-American.


Bascially he's saying they've become the modern equivalent of Hitler's mythical blonde, blue-eyed Aryan, an archetype that just doesn't exist in the real world, and so can pretend to live in a fantasy, ignoring all of the ugly realities around them. A long and interesting article on some of the implications of imperialism, past and present, full of the bitterness appropriate in discussing actions that use violence and lies to enrich a very few at the expense of tens of millions.

Via Avedon Carol's Sideshow.






Russia plans arms sales to Venezuela.

A Washington Times article reports that Russia is moving ahead with plans to sell arms to Venezuela, despite US objections. The initial sale is of AK-47 rifles plus ammunition, with more expected to follow.

Venezuela is setting up some new military units, and otherwise arming to defend against an expected American invasion. It also has been moving to help organize other Latin American governments to do the same.

While Russia seems to be moving vigorously to help contain America, recently offering arms to and making security agreements with India, China, and Iran, among others. But given the history of US relations with Latin America and of the Monroe Doctrine, under which the US has always vigoroously opposed any foreign involvement in the Americas (other than its own, of course), it is an especially extraordinary move, and highlights the degree to which the US has lost influence in the region.


Be aware that the Washington Times is an extremely right-wing paper, one owned I believe by the Reverend Syung Moon, and vigorously anti-Communist. They consider Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to be in alliance with Cuba's Fidel Castro and other Latin American "Marxists", with a plan to overthrow democracies and establish dictatorships. Despite the fact that Chavez himself is quite democratically elected, several times now, and despite the fact that it is the US which has the history of overthrowing democratically elected governments in the area (Chile and Nicaragua, for instance). So take their analysis with more than a few grains of salt.

Given their bias however, it is notable that they note that the US really needs Venezuelan oil, and that this gives the Venezuelans substantial leverage in the matter. Mostly the conservative media tries to hide the fact that the US has become increasingly dependent on foreign money and products to help prop up its rapidly aging house of cards.

The news that the Venezuelans are trying to set up an Al-Jazeera type of news media in Latin America is new to me. A rather interesting development. Al-Jazeera is turning into quite a reliable source of information, much more so than the American media at least.






Columbia exempts US from war crimes.

Another article from the Post-Intelligencer, curiously also dealing with legal liability, reports that the government of Columbia has agreed to exempt the US from possible prosecution for war crimes so that it can continue to receive aid and military assistance.


This move is essential to continued American involvement in Columbia, where, in point of fact, the US is heavily engaged in military operations, including many that most observers would consider illegal under both American and international law.






Columbia most dangerous country for labor unions.

The Guardian reports on a new study which states that Columbia is hell on earth for trade unionists.


Holding union rights in disdain? I'd say the current US government also would match that description. A number of other countries I can think of as well. I hear France is practically paralyzed by trade-union strikes at the moment. But let's keep the focus on non-western (read 'poor') countries, shall we. Easier to applaud rising stock prices by corporations which downsize and cut wages that way.

It gives the impression that the leftists are somehow responsible. But I've heard that Coca-Cola and some other international corporations have death squads, in fact large private armies, in Columbia devoted to full time war against trade unions. I'd go search for links and such but it's all too depressing.

A Google search on the topic, however, finds quite a bit. [Disclaimer: many links to radical leftist organizations, whose opinions I very definitely don't necessarily share, and whose reporting I personally would take with as many grains of salt as I do that of the corporate media. But a fascinating slice of the modern world, nevetheless.] The Guardian also has a special section on Columbia, not quite so radical.

All media attention is on Iraq, Korea , the Congo, Zimbabwe, and other spots around the world. But there's a whole set of major wars going on down in South America, which are rapidly spreading to Columbia's neighbors.

Since I'm quoting Dylan song's today, Union Sundown would seem to be fit here. Note the double meanings in the title. I like the way he manages to trash both the corporations and the large unions simultaneously, and somehow seems to both sympathize with and criticize the American people. The so-called progressives won't like that part, but such is life. Gotta love that Bob.


I especially like the final stanza, but I won't quote it here, since folks of all political stripes would probably kill me.






Peru declares state of emergency.

The NY Times reports that the President of Peru has declared a state of emergency.


Once again, human needs are sacrificed to the IMF and World Bank policies, and without any evidence that so-called "fiscal discipline" will solve the problem. The "fastest growing economy in Latin America?" That's not saying much.


It sounds in fact as though people are doing worse, not better. But I'll bet the American bankers behind the IMF and the World Bank are making money off of them. Just a guess. And even if there is short term growth, if the schools are closed, then that means that the long term prospects are bad. Education is the foundation of any modern economy.

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End of entries.