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OWS: The time has come DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 10/14/2011

Friday, October 14, 2011

OWS: The time has come

DIE HARD III
Herman Tiu Laurel
10/14/2011
The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protests in the US which started just two weeks ago in the “Big Apple” but already pummeled repeatedly by the New York Police Department with aggressive dispersals, including the arrest of some 800 protesters in one day, have now spread to 847 cities across that country. Protesters see themselves as part of the 99 percent ( i.e. the oppressed majority) versus the 1 percent on top that controls their nation’s wealth by continuously exploiting the system. Their movement calls on the rest of the 99 percent to gather at Wall Street and occupy it, until their government is forced to oust the bankers and investment sharks who have long controlled their country, and to return power to the people.

Despite efforts of US mainstream media to downplay (if not, totally ignore) these protests, such as reporting that only a few cities or a handful of participants have joined, these demonstrations have now spread to 847 cities and are still growing. The movement today even represents the greatest potential for a new American Revolution, much like an “American Autumn” in the vein of the so-called “Arab Spring.”

Autumn, by the way, is also called fall; and some have taken to calling the OWS phenomenon “America’s Fall” — the biggest mass mobilization since the anti-Vietnam War era. It has, in fact, gotten Wall Street “banksters” (banker-gangsters) scared. They have branded the movement as nothing but a “mob.”
Much to their consternation, though, a lot of noteworthy figures — or icons — of anti-capitalist and anti-Federal Reserve movements have already graced the OWS rallies, demonstrations, and “tent cities.”

Oscar winner and film producer of establishment myth-busting works, such as Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko, and Capitalism: A Love Affair, director Michael Moore, who appeared and spoke at OWS, was earlier heard over radio describing it “literally (as) an uprising of people who have had it… (and it) will continue to spread… (to) tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of people… (with a) majority of Americans… really upset at Wall Street... So you have already got an army of Americans who are just waiting for somebody to do something, and something has started.”

Consumer advocate and former presidential candidate, Ralph Nader, said of the OWS: “The frustration seen in the protests on Wall Street over the past few weeks demonstrates a widespread and growing citizen discontent with the two political parties in Washington DC and with a political system that is dominated by corporate interests. It is time for citizens to push their elected officials to break the corporate stranglehold on our economy.”

Major labor unions are joining the OWS, too, from the Amalgamated Transit Union and the Transport Workers Union, to the United Federation of Teachers, whose president Michael Mulgrew said, “The way our society is now headed it does not work for 99 percent of people; so when Occupy Wall Street started… they kept to it and they’ve been able to create a national conversation that we think should have been going on for years…”

Another prominent voice that bolstered the OWS protests came from former presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. One report (“Dennis Kucinich Tells Occupy Wall Street to Nationalize the Federal Reserve”) quoted the Ohio Democrat as saying, “We need a government of the people and for the people. We need a financial system that is of the people and for the people. It is time we take our nation back and take our monetary system back from the big banks… put the Federal Reserve under the Treasury… end the practice of fractional reserve banking and… take control of our monetary policy and make sure it works for the people. We can use our constitutional authority to coin money and spend it into circulation to put millions of Americans back to work in a way that is non-inflationary. The time for bold change is now.”

The Federal Reserve, or what many mistakenly take as the US central bank, is in fact a private bank controlled by private bankers hiding behind the term, “federal.” The Fed, as it is also called, is where these banksters manipulate the dollar for a handful of US oligarchs.

As one of the main targets of the OWS is to “End the Fed” and restore the power of the state over money, as in the time of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson, something very similar must be done here too. And I’m speaking of none other than restoring the Philippines’ 1972 constitutional provision on the Central Bank — removing the word “independent” added on to the 1987 Constitution in order to restore the people’s control over our Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

That has been one of the themes I have pounded on in this two-decade column writing of mine. But, I go further: We must declare money as a public utility; and major decisions such as incurring more borrowings should periodically undergo a people’s referendum.

Actually, the abuse and exploitation of the people by the global finance capitalists (as distinguished from real capitalist-entrepreneurs) is far worse here than in the US. It is therefore time for the Philippines’ own “Winter Storm” (or a “2nd First Quarter Storm” next year).

As I close this column, PressTV has just reported that the Occupy Wall Street protests have already spread to 1,000 US cities. I am thus hoping for a spillover to the Philippines very soon, starting with an “Occupy Malacañang Freedom Park” in the coming weeks against the Epira (Electric Power Industry Reform Act) and its extortionist 15.8-percent power rate pricing scheme, as well as the price gouging on water, the VAT (value added tax) on toll fees and pretty much everything else.

(Tune in to Sulo ng Pilipino/Radyo OpinYon, Monday to Friday, 5 to 6 p.m. on 1098AM; Talk News TV with HTL, Saturday, 8:15 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11 p.m., on GNN, Destiny Cable Channel 8 on “Occupy Wall Street: Lesson for RP”; visit http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com for our articles plus TV and radio archives)

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111014com5.html

Marcos-Aquino, Aquino-Marcos EDITORIAL 10/14/2011

Marcos-Aquino, Aquino-Marcos

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
10/14/2011
It seems the destinies of the Aquino and the Marcos families are umbilically linked, albeit at opposite ends and the debate over the fate of the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos is proof that the clans’ path is not possible to intersect.

Lately, the namesakes of the clans’ political patriarchs, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Benigno Aquino III, have taken positions that would assure more interesting turns between the political rivals that may lead in the future for a possible faceoff for the leadership of the country.

The fate of the families starting from the two political firebrands is the perfect paradox.

Marcos, the former President, and the elder Aquino were both born to political families but the similarity seems to stop there.

Marcos became president in 1965 in a period when nobody thought a more articulate figure can ever rise to match Marcos’ political savvy but soon after Ninoy Aquino shot to prominence that was said to have been matching the attributes of Marcos..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111014com1.html

Missed chance FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 10/14/2011

Missed chance

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
10/14/2011
Noynoy missed his chance at being seen as a statesman and more importantly, to be seen as a unifier, because a unifier for such a polarized nation is what is needed today.

But, as usual, Noynoy let his vindictive nature get the better of him, as he made it very clear before a media forum, that there would be no state honors and no state burial. And burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani is out, too.

He said there can never be such honors for Marcos during his watch.

But despite his stand, what is clear is that eventually, the late strongman will be buried at the Libingan and perhaps, he will also be granted state honors. It is really just a matter a time, and the Marcos past should be laid to rest by the nation..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111014com2.html

The lesson from Sirte: NATO protects civilians from terrorists by murdering them

The lesson from Sirte: NATO protects civilians from terrorists by murdering them

 Sirte must go down in history as one of the world's epic tales of heroism and bravery, the tremendous resistance of a handful of courageous and resolute warriors standing fast against the hordes of sheer evil, cowards cowering behind a relentless and inhuman NATO bombing campaign, strafing civilians and soldiers alike in support of terrorists.


The lesson from Sirte must go down in the annals of the collective identity of humankind as a classic and historic tale of resilience and virtue and determination, the fight to survive against the most tremendous odds - a handful of loyalists and Libyan Patriots standing fast against marauding gangs of cowards and traitors, foreign mercenaries, looters, rapists, murderers, torturers and terrorists which the TNC have revealed themselves to be throughout months of horrific human rights outrages.

The lesson from Sirte is an example in quite how low an evil invasion force - NATO - can become, for several reasons. How it can use military hardware to strafe anything that moves, how it can bomb civilian structures, how it can mow down Libyan heroes defending their homeland against foreigners and defending their homes and families against terrorists and rapists. It also shows up the connivance between NATO and Islamist terrorists (yet again visible since Afghanistan, since Kosovo, since Iraq) and it shows the callous cold-blooded disregard for human life demonstrated by a faceless and grey organization which thinks nothing of signing up desperate young men from across the Arab world, and beyond, and sending them to their deaths for a sign-on fee of 10,000 USD..... MORE

SourcePravda.ru

URL: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/12-10-2011/119311-sirte_nato-0/

Seville skyscraper threatens city’s world heritage status FEATURE 10/14/2011

Seville skyscraper threatens city’s world heritage status

FEATURE

10/14/2011
SEVILLE — Seville is famed for its imposing cathedral and whitewashed streets but the Spanish city may lose its UN World Heritage status because of a new 41-story skyscraper.
The 178-meter high, oval-shaped building, still under construction, will house the offices of savings bank Cajasol when completed in 2012.

It was designed by Argentine-American architect Cesar Pelli, who is responsible for some of the world’s tallest buildings, including the Petronas Towers which dominate the skyline of Kuala Lumpur.

Pelli’s office boasts the new skyscraper “will define the skyline of Seville.”

But that is a prospect that dismays the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) which since July has called in vain for work on the project to be stopped..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111014com6.html

Just do it C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 10/14/2011

Just do it

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S
Jonathan De la Cruz
10/14/2011
So, what else is new? Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary and newly designated Presidential Water Czar Babes Singson has been quoted as saying he has ordered his boys to review the performance of contractors working with the agency on various projects whether locally or foreign funded after that scathing Commission on Audit (CoA) report advising that we have lost millions, if not billions, of pesos as a result of the department’s inaction (foot dragging was the term used) on the implementation of its programmed projects. Did he not utter the same fighting words when he first came blazing through his office? He did. But the CoA said almost the exact opposite happened on the ground. In particular, the CoA advised that despite the availability of funds the DPWH failed to build and repair infrastructure destroyed by typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” in 2009, some of which may have been destroyed earlier when Typhoon “Frank” struck the country in late 2008 yet..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111014com4.html

China shows off its migration schemes FEATURE 10/14/2011

China shows off its migration schemes

FEATURE

10/14/2011
YONGNING — On a dry plain in China’s remote northern Ningxia region, thousands of neatly aligned, identical brick houses have sprung up from the dusty soil.

This is the Yongning Green Migration Scheme, where 3,000 two-room houses are being built to accommodate 17,800 villagers from the poorer, mountainous south of the region.

Bu Xing’ai, director of external affairs for Ningxia, said authorities planned to move 350,000 people within the autonomous region over the next five years as he showed off the project to journalists on a recent visit.

China’s breakneck economic growth has been accompanied by huge population movements, as exemplified by Ningxia, where new towns have been quickly built, sometimes at the heart of semi-arid zones..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111014com7.html

Senate tags Arroyo, Puno, Verzosa in fraud ‘conspiracy’ By Angie M. Rosales 10/14/2011

REPORT URGES OMBUDSMAN TO HOLD FURTHER PROBE ON IGGY

Senate tags Arroyo, Puno, Verzosa in fraud ‘conspiracy’

By Angie M. Rosales 10/14/2011

Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, retired Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Jesus Verzosa and 16 other ranking police officials were found to have “conspired” in supposedly defrauding the government of almost P63 million in facilitating the sale of two second-hand helicopters to the police organization in 2009, a Senate blue ribbon report transmitted to the Ombudsman showed yesterday.

In the 60-page Senate committee report which was furnished personally by blue ribbon committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, former presidential brother-in-law, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, is also facing possible liability.

The committee recommended further investigation to be conducted by the Ombudsman on Iggy Arroyo to determine his criminal liability due to his public admission, “in his attempt to cover up for (his brother) Mike Arroyo, that there was supposedly a lease agreement between LTA, Inc. and Lionair Inc.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111014hed1.html

Palace accuses Bongbong, Imee of lying over FM state burial deal By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 10/14/2011

Palace accuses Bongbong, Imee of lying over FM state burial deal

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 10/14/2011

Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos were lying in claiming that the Aquino administration agreed to facilitate a state burial for former President Ferdinand Marcos.

This was claimed yesterday by presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda who asserted that President Aquino has not given any commitment to accede the request of the Marcoses to give a state burial to the former strongman and therefore it is wrong to accuse the President of not keeping his word of honor.

“The statement, reason issued by the President yesterday was very, very clear: ‘you cannot divorce what happened during the Martial Law years with the totality of his public life’ and that’s quite a very clear statement coming from the President — the reasons for not allowing honors and a state burial. There was never any miscommunication; there was never any misunderstanding extended to the Marcos family. The recommendation of Vice President (Jejomar) Binay remained a recommendation until acted upon by the President. And so the President acted upon it — decided that in the best interest of the Filipino people, it would not be proper for the.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111014hed2.html

Pinoy, US Marine troops to hold joint military exercises in Spratlys By Mario J. Mallari 10/14/2011

Pinoy, US Marine troops to hold joint military exercises in Spratlys

By Mario J. Mallari 10/14/2011

Thousands of Filipino and American Marine troops will hold joint military exercises in the West Philippine Sea, where the disputed Kalayaan Islands Group (KIGs) or the Spratlys is located, as part of the yearly RP-US Amphibious Landing Exercise (Phiblex) which will open on Monday.

Marine spokeman Lt. Cherryl Tindog said three battalions from the Philippine Marine Corps will be participating in the boat raid exercises in Palawan on Oct. 27 with members of the US 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan province.

Tindog said that the US troops will use USS Germantown during the bilateral exercises. She, however, could not say how many American servicemen would be participating in the training under Phiblex 2012 which is slated to open at the PMC Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111014nat1.html

Two bells looted decades ago by US soldiers from Bulacan church returned By Michaela P. del Callar 10/14/2011

Two bells looted decades ago by US soldiers from Bulacan church returned

By Michaela P. del Callar 10/14/2011

After more than a century, two small bells taken by American soldiers as war booty from a church in Bulacan province have been returned to the Philippines.

According to the Omaha World Herald, the Sisters of Mercy from Omaha, Nebraska acquired the bells and turned it over to Philippine consulate officials in Chicago, but how it found its way to the nuns’ possession remains a mystery.

The bells are reminders of the bloody war between the United States and Philippines, which took place from 1899 to 1902. At the end of the more than four-decade Spanish colonial rule, the US took over the Philippines, but prompted a revolt as Americans failed to give Filipinos the independence they had anticipated.

The Herald said the bells are connected by a hard block of black wood with a handle on top. A placard on the block of wood says the bells were taken from a church in Meycauayan, Philippines, “after bombardment by Utah Battery on March 29, 1899 by P.O. Thomas, Co. A Battalion of Engineers.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111014nat3.html

Developed nations asked to relax immigration policies By Michaela P. del Callar 10/14/2011

Developed nations asked to relax immigration policies

By Michaela P. del Callar 10/14/2011

Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday urged developed nations to relax their immigration policies to allow families of overseas Filipino workers to join their loved ones abroad or family visits under liberal terms.

Binay said lifting immigration barriers must now be seriously considered, while retaining the necessary safeguards against human trafficking, illegal recruitment, international terrorism and other transnational crimes.

“What the World Trade Organization Treaty has done in terms of the free movement of goods around the world, despite some subsequent distortions from some economies, a new treaty must now do to guarantee the free movement of peoples across borders,” Binay told delegates and diplomats to the Asia-European Meeting (ASEM) interfaith dialog in Manila.

Due to widespread poverty and scarcity of jobs at home, close to 10 million Filipinos or one-tenth of the population leave their families behind and chose to work abroad for higher wages in the skilled and unskilled sectors..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111014met5.html

Motorcycle-riding men gun down PUP vice-president By Pat C. Santos 10/14/2011

Motorcycle-riding men gun down PUP vice-president

By Pat C. Santos 10/14/2011

The vice-president of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) was killed in an ambush by unidentified men Wednesday night in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Senior Insp. Joselito de Ocampo, head of the Manila Police District (MPD) homicide section, identified the fatality as Atty. Augustus Cezar, 64, PUP vice-president for administration and secretary of Board of Regents and a resident of 3677 Gen. A. Luna St., Bangkal, Makati City.

The unidentified suspects were riding an Enduro-type motorcycle and wearing closed helmets when one of them shot at close range the victim inside his car.

After shooting the victim, the gunmen fled the scene immediately.

Based on the report of SPO1 Charles Duran, case investigator, said it was around 10:30 p.m. last Wednesday when the shooting happened on Pureza Street corner Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Sta. Mesa..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111014met1.html

PCCI seeks transparency, economic roadmap from Noy 10/14/2011

PCCI seeks transparency, economic roadmap from Noy

10/14/2011
Transparency, lowering the cost of doing business particularly on power rates and a plan for President Aquino’s Private-Public Partnership (PPP) projects were the three foremost demands of local executives who converged for the 37th Philippine Business Conference (PBC).

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the largest local business organization, submitted its resolutions yesterday to President Aquino which contains a 14-point sectoral agenda ranging from agricultural development, education and skills development, energy and power reforms, environment, good governance, housing and construction, industry, intellectual property, mining, medium and small enterprise development, taxation, trade, transport and logistics.

The 37th PBC engaged business leaders, government partners and affiliates from PCCI’s 35,000 membership stronghold in more than 100 local chambers and 130 industry associations to finalize the resolutions..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/business/20111014bus1.html

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