2019-12-04: News Headlines

John Wojcik (2019-12-04). NATO gathering this week did nothing for world peace and progress. peoplesworld.org This week, the heads of the NATO countries have been meeting in London to "celebrate" the 70th anniversary of the military alliance. The main news coverage coming out of the gathering revolves around Trump demanding that the members up their contributions to the alliance piggy bank, tales of how leaders of many countries are gossiping …

Mohamed Elmaazi (2019-12-04). 'NATO is a threat to the very survival of life on earth', says peace campaigner Medea Benjamin. thecanary.co Medea Benjamin, of the US-based peace group CODEPINK, joined hundreds of people in bitterly cold London on 3 December to denounce US president Donald Trump and the western military alliance of NATO. The demonstration and speeches began in Trafalgar Square and then slowly moved to Buckingham Palace where leaders of NATO countries, including president Trump, were reportedly having dinner. | 'NATO always needs an enemy': | Benjamin, a veteran peace activist, told The Canary she came to the UK to 'Say No to NATO' because: NATO is all about militarism and it [always] nee…

Elijah J. Magnier (2019-12-04). Iraq Protests: Who Holds the Initiative and Who Has the Power. globalresearch.ca There is little doubt that Sayyed Moqtada al-Sadr controls the streets in Iraq and can make peaceful protests violent when he chooses. Notwithstanding the presence of several smaller players and those genuinely asking for serious reforms, Sayyed Moqtada can move …

Lucas Koerner (2019-12-04). TIAR Countries Blacklist Top Venezuelan Officials as US Slaps New Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Venezuela of "hijacking" mass anti-neoliberal protests in "our own backyard."

teleSUR (2019-12-04). Colombians Make Third National Strike in Less Than Two Weeks. telesurenglish.net Thousands of Colombians Wednesday took to the streets to reject President Ivan Duque and perform their third nationwide strike in the last 14 days, which sets an unprecedented record in Latin America. | RELATED: | Colombia: TIAR Ministers to Plan New Actions Against Venezuela | In Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Nieva, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, Cartagena, a…

Staff (2019-12-04). "Alternative Nobel Prize:" Right Livelihood Award Celebrates 40 Years Honoring Grassroots Activists. democracynow.org The Right Livelihood Award is marking its 40th anniversary. The award was established in 1980 to honor and support those "offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us." It has since become known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize." Over the past four decades, the award has been given to activists and grassroots leaders around the globe. A number of them have gone on to win the Nobel Peace Prize. This year's winners are: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg; Sahrawi human rights leader Aminatou Haidar, who has challenged the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara for decades; Chi…

RT (2019-12-04). US envoy on Afghanistan peace talks makes surprise stop in Kabul. rt.com Washington's special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in the Afghan capital on Wednesday "to discuss the latest in peace efforts," a former Afghan deputy foreign minister said. | Hekmat Karzai, chairman of the Kabul-based Center for Conflict and Peace Studies, tweeted photographs of his meeting with Khalilzad in Kabul, saying they "spoke about the way forward." | A Taliban official said the group has held informal talks with the Americans, without specifying where or who participated, AP reported. | Khalilzad's visit comes days after President Donald Trump visited US troops in Afghanistan for the Thanksgiving…

The Tricontinental (2019-12-04). Dossier 23: Peace, neoliberalism and political shifts in Colombia. mronline.org Once again, the people of Colombia straddle two realities—the drums of war and the hope of peace. This tension has along, complex, and multi-dimensional historical process. This dossier from Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research examines the root causes of the crisis and the two realities of war and peace. | Source

teleSUR (2019-12-04). Venezuelan FM Condemns New Sanctions Imposed by TIAR Nations. telesurenglish.net Venezuelan Foreign MinisterJorge Arreaza condemned on Tuesday the activation of measures on sanctions against officials of the Venezuelan government during the meeting of the Inter – American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance ( Rio Treaty ), which was held in Bogotá, Colombia on December 3. | RELATED: | With Climate Change the Victims Are Always the Poorest: Venezuelan Gov't | Arreaza said that some of the allied regional governments of the United States seek to push for war again…

WSWS (2019-12-03). US carries out fresh massacre in Afghanistan, killing entire family with drone strike. wsws.org The bloody attack came in the wake of Trump's claim that peace talks with the Taliban had resumed.

United Nations (2019-12-03). South Sudan: UN calls for end to inter-communal clashes, attacks against aid workers. news.un.org Peacekeepers have been sent to the northern Lakes region in South Sudan in a bid to deter further violence between communities there, the UN Mission in the country, UNMISS, said on Tuesday.

Jason Ditz (2019-12-03). Pompeo: US Will Prevent Cuba, Venezuela From 'Hijacking' Protests in Latin America. theantimedia.com Pompeo positioned the US as in favor of "democratic" protests in the region, while accusing Cuba and Venezuela of trying to "hijack" them.

teleSUR (2019-12-03). Colombia: TIAR Ministers to Plan New Actions Against Venezuela. telesurenglish.net The Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR) Tuesday held a ministerial consultation meeting in Bogota, Colombia, to evaluate the application of new measures against Venezuela. | RELATED: | China Rejects TIAR Activation Against Venezuela | Colombia's Foreign Minister Claudia Blum explained that TIAR ministers will take decisions about non-military me…

Global Research News (2019-12-03). Selected Articles: A Future Without NATO? globalresearch.ca A future without independent media leaves us with an upside down reality where according to the corporate media "NATO deserves a Nobel Peace Prize", and where "nuclear weapons and wars make us safer". | . | . | | | If, like us, this is …

teleSUR (2019-12-03). With Climate Change Victims Are the Poorest: Venezuela Gov't. telesurenglish.net Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sent a letter Tuesday to the leaders of more than 196 countries gathered for two weeks at the Climate Summit (COP 25) in Madrid, Spain denouncing the effects of climate change on the global south. | RELATED: | There Can Be No Climate Justice Without Social Justice: Maduro | In his letter was read by Venezuelan Minister…

Paul Dobson (2019-12-02). Venezuela's PDVSA Secures Temporary Lease Extension for Curacao Refinery. venezuelanalysis.com Despite the extension, refinery owners are looking to end the 34-year cooperation under pressure from US sanctions.

Ted Glick (2019-12-01). How We Win via NVDA Campaigning. dissidentvoice.org Long-time peace, justice, democracy and lgbtq activist and trainer George Lakey has written a book, How We Win: A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning, about the strategic centrality to movement-building of the approach of nonviolent direct action campaigning. Built upon his decades of organizing experience going back to the '60s civil rights movement, there …

Lucas Koerner (2019-11-28). US Vows to 'Reinforce' Sanctions, Accuses Venezuela and Cuba of Stirring Regional 'Strife'. venezuelanalysis.com Elliott Abrams reiterated support for Guaido and denied that sanctions are damaging the Venezuelan economy.

Staff (2019-11-27). 20 Years After The Battle of Seattle: Vandana Shiva & Lori Wallach on Historic 1999 WTO Protests. democracynow.org Twenty years ago this week, tens of thousands of activists gathered in Seattle to shut down a ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization. Grassroots organizers successfully blocked world leaders, government trade ministers and corporate executives from meeting to sign a global trade deal that many called deeply undemocratic, harmful to workers' rights, the environment and Indigenous people globally. On November 30, 1999, activists formed a human chain around the Seattle convention center and shut down the city's downtown. Police responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets into the mostly peaceful cro…

Joshua Cho (2019-11-26). Media Wonder: Why Can't Venezuela Be More Like Bolivia? fair.org Western corporate media outlets have often cried foul when foreign elections don't go the way the US empire wants them to, and find roundabout ways to label the violent attempts by vocal right-wing minorities to use military forces to overthrow leftist governments as "protests" rather than coups (FAIR.org, 5/16/18, 5/1/19). But it's still rare to see them blatantly call for a right-wing coup without a hint of…

Paul Dobson (2019-11-25). Venezuela Unveils First Gold Processing Complex in Mining Arc. venezuelanalysis.com While already operational, the complex will reportedly be the 5th largest in the continent upon completion.

Staff (2019-11-25). Pope Francis Calls Nuclear Weapons Immoral as Catholic Activists Face Jail For U.S. Nuke Base Action. democracynow.org Over the weekend, Pope Francis visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the United States dropped the first atomic bombs in 1945, killing more than 200,000 people. Pope Francis said, "A world without nuclear weapons is possible and necessary." The leader of the Cathoilc Church met with survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and declared the possession of nuclear weapons to be immoral. The Pope's visit comes as a group of seven Catholic peace activists are awaiting sentencing for breaking into the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia on April 4, 2018. The activists, known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7,…

Lucas Koerner (2019-11-21). Colombia's US Ambassador Advocates 'Covert Actions' Against Venezuela in Leaked Audio. venezuelanalysis.com Top Colombian officials acknowledged failure of regime change in Venezuela and total disarray in Washington.

Ryan Cristián (2019-11-18). US Says Israeli Settlements Are Legal, 23 Killed In Bolivia As Violent Coup Ignored & Venezuela Flop. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (11/18/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Paul Dobson (2019-11-18). Venezuelans Protest Bolivia Coup After Diplomatic Break. venezuelanalysis.com The de facto government in La Paz has broken relations with Caracas and recognised Guaido.

Lucas Koerner (2019-11-14). Venezuelan Embassy Attacked in Brazil. venezuelanalysis.com Bolsonaro denied any prior knowledge of the attack.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-11-14). Venezuelan Oil Output Sees Modest Rise in October: OPEC. venezuelanalysis.com Reviving production has led Chevron convert a blending plant back to a crude upgrader for export of heavier grades.

Paul Dobson (2019-11-11). Venezuela Condemns Bolivia Coup d'État. venezuelanalysis.com Government forces and grassroots movements are holding vigils across the country in support of Evo Morales.

Jon Rainwater (2019-11-07). Take Action — Some actual, SANE legislation. peaceaction.org Trump has plans to spend nearly $2 TRILLION over the next 30 years on unneeded and unnecessary nuclear weapons and delivery systems. This makes no sense. This is insane. That's nearly $100 million wasted every day for thirty years on weapons we are supposed to be getting rid of. To put that amount in perspective, …

Ricardo Vaz and Lucas Koerner (2019-11-06). US Authorizes Tax Payments to Maduro Gov't, Sanctions Five More Venezuelan Officials. venezuelanalysis.com Washington has eased some of the restrictions imposed under its recent Venezuela embargo.

Paul Dobson (2019-11-04). Venezuela, El Salvador Break Relations as Maduro Applauds 'New Anti-Neoliberal Wave'. venezuelanalysis.com Guatemala's president-elect has similarly pledged to break with the Maduro government upon assuming office in January.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-11-01). Venezuelan Leftist Parties and Unions Stage Protest, Demand Gov't Answers. venezuelanalysis.com Dozens of activists demanded better wages and respect for collective bargaining rights.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-10-30). Venezuela: Opposition Demands Bond Annulment, Gov't Grants Rosneft Tax Breaks. venezuelanalysis.com Rosneft will reportedly invest in natural gas production in Venezuela.

Paul Dobson (2019-10-28). Venezuela Applauds Regional Leftist Victories. venezuelanalysis.com Caracas rejoiced at the "defeat of the IMF" in elections in Argentina, Uruguay, and swathes of Colombia this Sunday.

Lucas Koerner (2019-10-23). US Renews Chevron License as European Refiner Cuts Venezuela Ties over Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com Finnish-Venezuelan refiner Nynas is one of PDVSA's few remaining cash buyers.

Paul Dobson (2019-10-21). Venezuela Government Hosts International Commune Congress. venezuelanalysis.com Maduro affirmed that popular power is "the soul" of the Bolivarian project.

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2019-10-19). BCV: Venezuelan Economy Contracted by 23.7 Percent in First Trimester of 2019. venezuelanalysis.com The Venezuelan Central Bank also released inflation figures for the first time in six months.

Lucas Koerner (2019-10-17). Venezuela's Opposition Declares PDVSA 2020 Bond Void, Nixes Payment. venezuelanalysis.com Venezuela's CITGO could be seized by creditors.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-10-17). Venezuela Elected to UN Human Rights Council. venezuelanalysis.com The Maduro government was elected to a three-year term with backing of 105 out of 195 UN member-states.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-10-16). Venezuela: Gov't Increases Minimum Wage, Announces Public Spending. venezuelanalysis.com Governorships will manage gold mines as a direct source of revenue.

Paul Dobson (2019-10-14). Venezuela Denies Guatemalan President-Elect Entrance, Congratulates Ecuadorian People on IMF Defeat. venezuelanalysis.com President Nicolas Maduro also called on Chavista forces to prepare to "rescue" the National Assembly in the upcoming elections.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-10-10). Venezuelan Oil Output Falls as Inflation Reaches Six-Month Low. venezuelanalysis.com Inflation slowed down in September after crossing the hyperinflation threshold in August.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-10-09). Guaido Signs USAID Agreement as Adobe Suspends Venezuela Service. venezuelanalysis.com Financial company TransferWise likewise stopped servicing Venezuelan clients.

Paul Dobson (2019-10-07). Venezuela Arrests Oil Exec for Corruption, Receives $4bn in Russian Investment. venezuelanalysis.com Moscow and Caracas are reportedly working on a long-term cooperation agreement set to last at least until 2030.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-10-02). Venezuela's CITGO in Danger as Maduro Seeks Debt Renegotiation. venezuelanalysis.com US financial sanctions have stopped Venezuela from renegotiating foreign debt since 2017.

Jon Rainwater (2019-09-25). Take Action to Avoid War with Iran. peaceaction.org photo credit Dear Groundswell Readers, We have to keep pushing Congress this week if we want to avoid war with Iran. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said recently that the U.K. might join a U.S.-led military effort in the Gulf. When other nations step up to join the "coalition of the willing" it's often a bad sign. …

Paul Kawika Martin (2019-07-18). Diplomacy Instead of a Disaster in Iran. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — July 18, 2019 — In response to reports of the U.S. shooting down an Iranian drone, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Because of the Trump administration's policy of maximum provocation towards Iran, America stands on the precipice of another blunderous …

Peace Action (2019-07-11). Peace Action Endorses 'the Squad' — Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley and Tlaib for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — July 11, 2019 — Peace Action, the nation's largest grassroots peace organization, has endorsed four progressive champions for the House of Representatives in the 2020 election, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for New York's 14th district, Rep. Ilhan Omar for Minnesota's 5th district, Rep. Ayanna Pressley for Massachusetts' 7th district, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib …

Paul Kawika Martin (2019-06-28). Most Senators Oppose War with Iran Without Congressional Approval. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — June 28, 2019 — In response to the Senate voting 50-40 in favor of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to block funding for military action against Iran without congressional approval, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Because …

Peace Action (2019-06-25). Peace Action Endorses Ilhan Omar for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 25, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Ilhan Omar for Congress in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …