Campaign for America's Future is doing alot of teaching through participation. They have opportunities to sign petitions, provide information on how and who to call, set up local events and inform about nationwide events. I find the clarity and simplicity of teaching people how to be an activist online and in person to be very interesting. Also, there is no political party demands on volunteers, they just have to act on an opportunity. I see this type of teaching as having the possibility to be sustainable political development because once people know who to call or visit they can continue even without the organization. But, getting the DC scoop on what senator or representative is doing, saying or voting in which direction is impossible for the nonpolitically employed Jane/Joe on the Street. So, without this organization to keep tabs on what is happening in the capitals, the activism could not be sustained.
Campaign for America's Future is many organizations: Democracy in Action, Campaign for America's Future, OurFuture.org,
Sign up for their newsletter at:
http://caf.democracyinaction.org/o/11002/t/43/content.jsp?content_KEY=39
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Mexican Reversal of Union Strength in Energy Industry
SME calls for general strike and civil disobedience
Mexico News and Analysis
Produced by the Mexico Solidarity Network
February 8-14, 2010
On Saturday, the Electrical Workers Union (SME) in conjunction with striking mineworkers called for a general strike and civil disobedience in response to the Calderon administration's labor policies. SME is struggling to recover 44,000 jobs lost when Calderon closed the government-owned Central Light and Power (LFC) last October, while the mineworkers suffered a blow from the courts this week after striking at the Cananea mines for two and a half years. The situation at Cananea is particularly tense after a federal court supported a move by Grupo Mexico, owner of the mine, to end its relationship with the union. Mineworkers braced for army or police intervention at the mine entrance. Labor attorney Arturo Alcalde called the court decision, "brutal. We are witnessing a cleansing operation by the federal government in support of Grupo Mexico, but the most depressing thing is that the Federal Courts supported this monstrosity. I have been a labor attorney for 40 years and I've never seen such a grotesque decision from a judicial point of view. It's a gross maneuver that will do away with the union, the collective contract and the strike and, as if this wasn't enough, it will dismiss the workers with only minimal indemnification."
Meanwhile, the Federal Electrical Commission (CFE), another government-owned entity that took over LFC operations, began to install new electrical meters that would force consumers to pre-pay for electricity, much like pre-paid cell phone cards. The move is apparently an effort by the Calderon administration to head off an expected consumer boycott of electrical bills to protest rapidly rising charges and in support of SME.
In related news, the wall of a canal crumbled in the southwest part of Mexico City leaving thousands of homes drenched in sewer water. Officials blamed the break on excessive rainfall, but many experts noted the canal is emptied by massive pumps that have been sporadically without electricity since the closure of LFC. Flooding also forced officials to shut down the Mexico City-Puebla highway for nearly a week.
Mexico News and Analysis
Produced by the Mexico Solidarity Network
February 8-14, 2010
On Saturday, the Electrical Workers Union (SME) in conjunction with striking mineworkers called for a general strike and civil disobedience in response to the Calderon administration's labor policies. SME is struggling to recover 44,000 jobs lost when Calderon closed the government-owned Central Light and Power (LFC) last October, while the mineworkers suffered a blow from the courts this week after striking at the Cananea mines for two and a half years. The situation at Cananea is particularly tense after a federal court supported a move by Grupo Mexico, owner of the mine, to end its relationship with the union. Mineworkers braced for army or police intervention at the mine entrance. Labor attorney Arturo Alcalde called the court decision, "brutal. We are witnessing a cleansing operation by the federal government in support of Grupo Mexico, but the most depressing thing is that the Federal Courts supported this monstrosity. I have been a labor attorney for 40 years and I've never seen such a grotesque decision from a judicial point of view. It's a gross maneuver that will do away with the union, the collective contract and the strike and, as if this wasn't enough, it will dismiss the workers with only minimal indemnification."
Meanwhile, the Federal Electrical Commission (CFE), another government-owned entity that took over LFC operations, began to install new electrical meters that would force consumers to pre-pay for electricity, much like pre-paid cell phone cards. The move is apparently an effort by the Calderon administration to head off an expected consumer boycott of electrical bills to protest rapidly rising charges and in support of SME.
In related news, the wall of a canal crumbled in the southwest part of Mexico City leaving thousands of homes drenched in sewer water. Officials blamed the break on excessive rainfall, but many experts noted the canal is emptied by massive pumps that have been sporadically without electricity since the closure of LFC. Flooding also forced officials to shut down the Mexico City-Puebla highway for nearly a week.
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