Daily Archives: November 16, 2019

2019-11-16: News Headlines

RT (2019-11-16). Palestinian journalist loses an eye after being hit by Israeli rubber bullet at West Bank land seizure protest (GRAPHIC). rt.com A Palestinian journalist lost his eye after being hit by an Israeli rubber-coated bullet. Moath Amarneh was mutilated despite wearing a 'Press' vest while covering a protest in the West Bank's Hebron governorate. | The incident happened on Friday near the town of Surif in Hebron, where dozens of Palestinians were protesting against the latest confiscation of land for the construction of Israeli settlements in the occupied territory. | My Friend journalist Moath Amarneh, I am very sad about the bad news I got now, he lost his left Eye today, the army shot him today during his work to cover a peaceful protest in…

United Nations (2019-11-16). UN film festival encourages young people to promote peace, dialogue and empathy. un.org Demonstrating empathy, humour and intelligence, a group of young film-makers have been recognized for their short videos, which tackle the weighty issues of discrimination, intolerance and misogyny in a creative and entertaining way, at a ceremony held at UN Headquarters.

Jon Britton (2019-11-16). Letter-Writing Session for Leonard Peltier; Demand an End to the Elder Unit Lockdown! indybay.org San Jose Peace & Justice Center | 48 S Seventh St., San Jose, CA 95112…

Susan Price (2019-11-16). Bolivia: Security forces open fire on protesters in Cochabamba. greenleft.org.au Bolivian elections Reposted from People's DispatchIssue 1246 Bolivia 2019 coup in Bolivia Movement Towards Socialism (MAS)November 16, 2019Bolivian security f…

Janine Jackson (2019-11-15). Missed Opportunity to Recall a Day to 'Perpetuate Peace'. fair.org CNN ( 11/11/19) offered vets a guide to "deals and freebies." | Media consumers were greeted on November 11 with stories like, "Veterans Served to Protect Our Country. Here's Where They Can Get Served With Deals and Freebies Today," on CNN ( 11/11/19). Newsweek ( 11/11/19) counseled readers thatunlike on Memorial Day, when i…

RT (2019-11-15). 'Meant to intimidate': Code Pink's Medea Benjamin slams bogus police raid as crackdown on peace activism. rt.com Peace activist Medea Benjamin slammed a recent police raid on her home after she was accused of "assaulting" a Democratic congresswoman, calling it an act of "intimidation" against those opposing US interventionist policies. | Over a dozen officers from the US Capitol Police surrounded Benjamin's home on Wednesday, alleging the activist assaulted Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Florida) at a press conference earlier that day, but Benjamin says the charge is phoney. | "This is selective prosecution and it's bogus," she told RT, adding "I'm a peace activist, I don't assault anyone." | They make up thin…

Lyn Neeley (2019-11-15). Interview with a Chavista: Temir Porras. workers.org Hands Off Venezuela PDX sponsored an Oct. 9 skype event with Temir Porras, a revolutionary Chavista who served as a former chief of staff to both President Hugo Chavez and President Nicolás Maduro. He is a knowledgeable economist, who also served as Venezuelan deputy minister for higher education and in . . . | Continue reading Interview with a Chavista: Temir Porras at Workers.org

Gershon Baskin (2019-11-15). Encountering Peace — A Personal Note of an Israeli Peace Activist During the Gaza Rockets. globalresearch.ca What does an Israeli peace activist do when the rockets are flying and the bombs are falling? | I have been going to demonstrations since I was 12 years old — that was 51 years ago. I can easily say that …

John Grant (2019-11-15). Drones, Guns and Abject Heroes in America. counterpunch.org A couple Saturdays ago I attended the monthly protest near the drone base located on what used to be the Willow Grove Naval Air Station in Horsham, PA, outside Philadelphia. The vigil has been going on monthly for a number of years, peopled by some of the most spiritual, peace-loving people I know. I'd say More

Nino Pagliccia (2019-11-15). Morales: Bolivia Suffers an Assault on the Power of the People. counterpunch.org As the military coup continues to entrench itself in Bolivia, the first goal of the perpetrators is to appear to be following the constitutional process. But the faàßade is not enough to hide the real disaster of yet another self-proclaimed president in Latin America. When you thought that the Juan Guaido experiment in Venezuela was More

United Nations (2019-11-14). Bolivia crisis: UN chief sends envoy to support peace, amidst renewed clashes. un.org UN chief António Guterres announced on Thursday that he had appointed a Personal Envoy who would be travelling to Bolivia later in the day, to offer support to national leaders, following the departure of former president, Evo Morales.

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

teleSUR (2019-11-14). Rio de Janeiro: 5-Year-Old Girl Dies During a Crossfire. telesurenglish.net A 5-year-old girl Brazilian girl died after been shot in the leg by a stray bullet while she was walking to school with her mother, in the populous Realengo district, west of Rio de Janeiro, local television media reported. | RELATED: | Venezuela Confirms Recovery of Its Embassy in Brazil | Her name was Ketellen Umbelino de Oliveira and after been injured was rushed to the Albert Schweitzer Municipal Hospital, in a critical satate but did not survive. Investigators believe she was caught…

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.

teleSUR (2019-11-14). Ceonfab: New Violation of Venezuelan Airspace By US Plane. telesurenglish.net The Strategic Operational Command of the Armed Forces of Venezuela (Ceofanb) denounced that Washington violated once again Bolivarian airspace with a spy plane of the United States Air Force. | RELATED: | Venezuelan Negotiation Table Appoints New Electoral Commission | "Once again the U.S. violates international aeronautical treaties when entering with a spy plane RC135 of the USAF in the FIR (region of flight information) controlled by the RBV (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela…

Peter Koenig (2019-11-14). China's vision for the future is "Give Peace a Chance" dissidentvoice.org China's vision for the future is "Give Peace a Chance". It is also the title of one of John Lennon's most prominent songs. It became the anthem for the anti-war movement, at the time of the US-waged war against Vietnam. John Lennon was a peace activist. No wonder he was ostracized, considered enemy number one by …

Fight Back (2019-11-14). "U.S. Hands Off Bolivia" protest planned for MN. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – Several Twin Cities area peace and justice groups have called for an emergency protest to show opposition to the U.S.-supported coup in Bolivia. The protest will be held Thursday, November 14 at 5 p.m. along the sidewalks at Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis action is one of many protests happening all over the world in solidarity with the progressive movements of Bolivia. | The event is co-sponsored by the Anti-War Committee and Women Against Military Madness. | A statement issued by organizers says, "We protest in Minneapolis to speak out against the military c…

Staff (2019-11-14). CodePink Founder Medea Benjamin Threatened with Arrest After Protesting U.S. Foreign Interventions. democracynow.org CodePink co-founder and longtime peace activist Medea Benjamin was threatened with arrest in Washington, D.C., Wednesday and accused of assaulting a sitting congressmember after being forcibly removed from a press conference for opposing the U.S.-backed coup and U.S. sanctions in Venezuela. Benjamin vehemently denies the accusations and says she was in fact the one assaulted when she and other activists demonstrated at a press conference hosted by Florida Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Florida Republican Mario Díaz-Balart announcing the launch of a Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus. We speak with Me…

United Nations (2019-11-13). 'Harmonized' plan launched to support millions of Venezuelan refugees and migrants. un.org A $1.35 billion appeal has been launched to meet the increasing humanitarian needs of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean and to support the communities hosting them.

United Nations (2019-11-13). Iraqis paying an 'unthinkable price' to be heard, UN envoy tells politicians in Baghdad. un.org Noting that the people of Iraq were at "a critical juncture", the top UN Envoy in the country told parliamentarians there on Thursday that over the past six weeks, hundreds of thousands have been peacefully voicing their "genuine, legitimate, demands, loud and clear".

United Nations (2019-11-13). 'No justification' for attacks against civilians, UN envoy says on mounting cross-border violence in Gaza. un.org Following Israel's targeted killing of a Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader inside Gaza on Tuesday, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has expressed his growing concern over increasing rocket fire across the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

United Nations (2019-11-13). Wednesday's Daily Brief: UN bid to aid diabetics, Israel-Gaza attacks, climate change in Nepal, Iraq envoy appeal to MPs. un.org A recap of Wednesday's stories in brief: UN leads plan for insulin supply boosts; 'No justification' for Gaza border violence; Iraqis paying 'unthinkable price' in protests; $1.35 billion needed for Venezuela crisis; Record flooding affects 100,000 Nigerians.

RT (2019-11-13). Code Pink founder raided by DC police on dubious charges of 'assault' at anti-Maduro 'Venezuela freedom' event (VIDEO). rt.com Police have tried to detain Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin without a warrant on mysterious charges of 'assaulting' a Democratic congresswoman at an anti-Maduro press event in support of the "freedom for the Venezuelan people." | Benjamin was accused of assaulting Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Florida) when over a dozen officers surrounded her home on Wednesday in Washington, DC. | In footage she posted to Facebook, Benjamin strenuously denies the accusations, explaining that she was the one assaulted — pushed and pulled by right-wing Venezuelans ("big guys") supporting the US-backed oppositi…

Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers (2019-11-12). On Armistice Day, Work For And Celebrate Peace. dissidentvoice.org Today is Armistice Day — the day that World War I, a brutal and devastating war, ended. After World War I, people hoped nothing like that would ever happen again and a large peace movement developed in the United States. Sadly, just over two decades later, World War II began. The US arose in the …

Ken Klippenstein (2019-11-11). The U.S. Military Is Monitoring Interfaith Group Opposed to Child Separation, Leaked Document Reveals. theintercept.com U.S. military forces deployed to the southern border are monitoring domestic protesters, including anti-border wall groups, according to an internal Pentagon document obtained exclusively by The Young Turks and The Intercept. The military, the document reveals, has focused particular attention on an interfaith group peacefully protesting the Trump administration's child separation policy. | The document includes what's called a "threat estimate," an assessment detailing the risk of perceived border threats.

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.

Staff (2019-11-08). 'Massacre' of Indigenous Leaders in Colombia Is Result of Broken Peace Agreement. therealnews.com Yet another massacre of indigenous leaders in Colombia has sparked outrage across the country, as the right-wing government of President Ivan Duque faces increasing challenges to his already weakened leadership.

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.

TeleSUR English (2019-09-30). Venezuelan ANC President Visits Vietnam, North Korea. venezuelanalysis.com National Constituent Assembly President Diosdado Cabello went on a Far East tour to strengthen political ties.

Paul Dobson (2019-09-30). Wave of Xenophobia Against Venezuelans in Peru Sparks Diplomatic Spat. venezuelanalysis.com The brutal beating of a young Venezuelan girl by Peru's police and a nationalist march have sparked outrage.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-09-26). Venezuela: Trump Imposes Travel Ban, Putin Backs Dialogue. venezuelanalysis.com US officials and the Venezuelan opposition have also lobbied the EU to impose harsher sanctions against Caracas.

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2019-09-25). Washington Gives Guaido $52M in Funding, Slaps Venezuela with New Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com The new aid package dovetailed with fresh sanctions targeting Venezuela-Cuba oil shipping.

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 Dobson (2019-09-23). Venezuela: Dueling Delegations Sent to New York as TIAR Treaty Invoked. venezuelanalysis.com Colombian President Ivan Duque raised tensions on the eve of the UN General Assembly when he compared Maduro to Slobodan Milosevic and Al Qaeda.

2019-11-16: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Letter-Writing Session for Leonard Peltier; Demand an End to the Elder Unit Lockdown!
Jon Britton | indybay.org | 2019-11-16
San Jose Peace & Justice Center | 48 S Seventh St., San Jose, CA 95112…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/11/13/18828089.php

UN film festival encourages young people to promote peace, dialogue and empathy
United Nations | un.org | 2019-11-16
Demonstrating empathy, humour and intelligence, a group of young film-makers have been recognized for their short videos, which tackle the weighty issues of discrimination, intolerance and misogyny in a creative and entertaining way, at a ceremony held at UN Headquarters.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/11/1051511

Palestinian journalist loses an eye after being hit by Israeli rubber bullet at West Bank land seizure protest (GRAPHIC)
rt.com | 2019-11-16
A Palestinian journalist lost his eye after being hit by an Israeli rubber-coated bullet. Moath Amarneh was mutilated despite wearing a 'Press' vest while covering a protest in the West Bank's Hebron governorate. | The incident happened on Friday near the town of Surif in Hebron, where dozens of Palestinians were protesting against the latest confiscation of land for the construction of Israeli settlements in the occupied territory. | My Friend journalist Moath Amarneh, I am very sad about the bad news I got now, he lost his left Eye today, the army shot him today during his work to cover a peaceful protest in…
rt.com/news/473607-journalist-eye-israeli-bullet/

'Meant to intimidate': Code Pink's Medea Benjamin slams bogus police raid as crackdown on peace activism
rt.com | 2019-11-15
Peace activist Medea Benjamin slammed a recent police raid on her home after she was accused of "assaulting" a Democratic congresswoman, calling it an act of "intimidation" against those opposing US interventionist policies. | Over a dozen officers from the US Capitol Police surrounded Benjamin's home on Wednesday, alleging the activist assaulted Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Florida) at a press conference earlier that day, but Benjamin says the charge is phoney. | "This is selective prosecution and it's bogus," she told RT, adding "I'm a peace activist, I don't assault anyone." | They make up thin…
rt.com/usa/473503-medea-benjamin-intimidation-attempt/

Drones, Guns and Abject Heroes in America
John Grant | counterpunch.org | 2019-11-15
A couple Saturdays ago I attended the monthly protest near the drone base located on what used to be the Willow Grove Naval Air Station in Horsham, PA, outside Philadelphia. The vigil has been going on monthly for a number of years, peopled by some of the most spiritual, peace-loving people I know. I'd say…
counterpunch.org/2019/11/15/drones-guns-and-abject-heroes-in-america/

Missed Opportunity to Recall a Day to 'Perpetuate Peace'
Janine Jackson | fair.org | 2019-11-15
CNN ( 11/11/19) offered vets a guide to "deals and freebies." | Media consumers were greeted on November 11 with stories like, "Veterans Served to Protect Our Country. Here's Where They Can Get Served With Deals and Freebies Today," on CNN ( 11/11/19). Newsweek ( 11/11/19) counseled readers thatunlike on Memorial Day, when i…
fair.org/home/missed-opportunity-to-recall-a-day-to-perpetuate-peace/

Encountering Peace — A Personal Note of an Israeli Peace Activist During the Gaza Rockets
Gershon Baskin | globalresearch.ca | 2019-11-15
What does an Israeli peace activist do when the rockets are flying and the bombs are falling? | I have been going to demonstrations since I was 12 years old — that was 51 years ago. I can easily say that …
globalresearch.ca/encountering-peace-a-personal-note-of-an-israeli-peace-activist-during-the-gaza-rockets/5695022

Morales: Bolivia Suffers an Assault on the Power of the People
Nino Pagliccia | counterpunch.org | 2019-11-15
As the military coup continues to entrench itself in Bolivia, the first goal of the perpetrators is to appear to be following the constitutional process. But the faàßade is not enough to hide the real disaster of yet another self-proclaimed president in Latin America. When you thought that the Juan Guaido experiment in Venezuela was…
counterpunch.org/2019/11/15/morales-bolivia-suffers-an-assault-on-the-power-of-the-people/

Interview with a Chavista: Temir Porras
Lyn Neeley | workers.org | 2019-11-15
Hands Off Venezuela PDX sponsored an Oct. 9 skype event with Temir Porras, a revolutionary Chavista who served as a former chief of staff to both President Hugo Chavez and President Nicolás Maduro. He is a knowledgeable economist, who also served as Venezuelan deputy minister for higher education and in . . . | Continue reading Interview with a Chavista: Temir Porras at Workers.org
workers.org/2019/11/44409/

Bolivia crisis: UN chief sends envoy to support peace, amidst renewed clashes
United Nations | un.org | 2019-11-14
UN chief António Guterres announced on Thursday that he had appointed a Personal Envoy who would be travelling to Bolivia later in the day, to offer support to national leaders, following the departure of former president, Evo Morales.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/11/1051401

Venezuelan Embassy Attacked in Brazil
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-11-14
Bolsonaro denied any prior knowledge of the attack.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14723

Venezuelan Oil Output Sees Modest Rise in October: OPEC
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-11-14
Reviving production has led Chevron convert a blending plant back to a crude upgrader for export of heavier grades.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14724

Ceonfab: New Violation of Venezuelan Airspace By US Plane
telesurenglish.net | 2019-11-14
The Strategic Operational Command of the Armed Forces of Venezuela (Ceofanb) denounced that Washington violated once again Bolivarian airspace with a spy plane of the United States Air Force. | RELATED: | Venezuelan Negotiation Table Appoints New Electoral Commission | "Once again the U.S. violates international aeronautical treaties when entering with a spy plane RC135 of the USAF in the FIR (region of flight information) controlled by the RBV (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela…
telesurenglish.net/news/ceonfab-new-violation-of-venezuelan-airspace-by-us-plane-20191114-0013.html

Rio de Janeiro: 5-Year-Old Girl Dies During a Crossfire
telesurenglish.net | 2019-11-14
A 5-year-old girl Brazilian girl died after been shot in the leg by a stray bullet while she was walking to school with her mother, in the populous Realengo district, west of Rio de Janeiro, local television media reported. | RELATED: | Venezuela Confirms Recovery of Its Embassy in Brazil | Her name was Ketellen Umbelino de Oliveira and after been injured was rushed to the Albert Schweitzer Municipal Hospital, in a critical satate but did not survive. Investigators believe she was caught…
telesurenglish.net/news/rio-de-janeiro-five-year-old-girl-dies-during-a-crossfire–20191114-0015.html

China's vision for the future is "Give Peace a Chance"
Peter Koenig | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-11-14
China's vision for the future is "Give Peace a Chance". It is also the title of one of John Lennon's most prominent songs. It became the anthem for the anti-war movement, at the time of the US-waged war against Vietnam. John Lennon was a peace activist. No wonder he was ostracized, considered enemy number one by …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/11/chinas-vision-for-the-future-is-give-peace-a-chance/

"U.S. Hands Off Bolivia" protest planned for MN
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-11-14
Minneapolis, MN – Several Twin Cities area peace and justice groups have called for an emergency protest to show opposition to the U.S.-supported coup in Bolivia. The protest will be held Thursday, November 14 at 5 p.m. along the sidewalks at Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis action is one of many protests happening all over the world in solidarity with the progressive movements of Bolivia. | The event is co-sponsored by the Anti-War Committee and Women Against Military Madness. | A statement issued by organizers says, "We protest in Minneapolis to speak out against the military c…
fightbacknews.org/2019/11/13/us-hands-bolivia-protest-planned-mn

CodePink Founder Medea Benjamin Threatened with Arrest After Protesting U.S. Foreign Interventions
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-11-14
CodePink co-founder and longtime peace activist Medea Benjamin was threatened with arrest in Washington, D.C., Wednesday and accused of assaulting a sitting congressmember after being forcibly removed from a press conference for opposing the U.S.-backed coup and U.S. sanctions in Venezuela. Benjamin vehemently denies the accusations and says she was in fact the one assaulted when she and other activists demonstrated at a press conference hosted by Florida Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Florida Republican Mario Díaz-Balart announcing the launch of a Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus. We speak with Me…
www.democracynow.org/2019/11/14/activist_medea_benjamin_faces_threats_of

'Harmonized' plan launched to support millions of Venezuelan refugees and migrants
United Nations | un.org | 2019-11-13
A $1.35 billion appeal has been launched to meet the increasing humanitarian needs of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean and to support the communities hosting them.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/11/1051271

'No justification' for attacks against civilians, UN envoy says on mounting cross-border violence in Gaza
United Nations | un.org | 2019-11-13
Following Israel's targeted killing of a Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader inside Gaza on Tuesday, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has expressed his growing concern over increasing rocket fire across the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/11/1051251

Iraqis paying an 'unthinkable price' to be heard, UN envoy tells politicians in Baghdad
United Nations | un.org | 2019-11-13
Noting that the people of Iraq were at "a critical juncture", the top UN Envoy in the country told parliamentarians there on Thursday that over the past six weeks, hundreds of thousands have been peacefully voicing their "genuine, legitimate, demands, loud and clear".
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/11/1051311

Wednesday's Daily Brief: UN bid to aid diabetics, Israel-Gaza attacks, climate change in Nepal, Iraq envoy appeal to MPs
United Nations | un.org | 2019-11-13
A recap of Wednesday's stories in brief: UN leads plan for insulin supply boosts; 'No justification' for Gaza border violence; Iraqis paying 'unthinkable price' in protests; $1.35 billion needed for Venezuela crisis; Record flooding affects 100,000 Nigerians.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/11/1051301

Code Pink founder raided by DC police on dubious charges of 'assault' at anti-Maduro 'Venezuela freedom' event (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2019-11-13
Police have tried to detain Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin without a warrant on mysterious charges of 'assaulting' a Democratic congresswoman at an anti-Maduro press event in support of the "freedom for the Venezuelan people." | Benjamin was accused of assaulting Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Florida) when over a dozen officers surrounded her home on Wednesday in Washington, DC. | In footage she posted to Facebook, Benjamin strenuously denies the accusations, explaining that she was the one assaulted — pushed and pulled by right-wing Venezuelans ("big guys") supporting the US-backed oppositi…
rt.com/usa/473371-medea-benjamin-detained-venezuela-assault/

On Armistice Day, Work For And Celebrate Peace
Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-11-12
Today is Armistice Day — the day that World War I, a brutal and devastating war, ended. After World War I, people hoped nothing like that would ever happen again and a large peace movement developed in the United States. Sadly, just over two decades later, World War II began. The US arose in the …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/11/on-armistice-day-work-for-and-celebrate-peace/

The U.S. Military Is Monitoring Interfaith Group Opposed to Child Separation, Leaked Document Reveals
Ken Klippenstein | theintercept.com | 2019-11-11
U.S. military forces deployed to the southern border are monitoring domestic protesters, including anti-border wall groups, according to an internal Pentagon document obtained exclusively by The Young Turks and The Intercept. The military, the document reveals, has focused particular attention on an interfaith group peacefully protesting the Trump administration's child separation policy. | The document includes what's called a "threat estimate," an assessment detailing the risk of perceived border threats.
theintercept.com/2019/11/11/border-protest-groups-surveillance/

Venezuela Condemns Bolivia Coup d'État
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-11-11
Government forces and grassroots movements are holding vigils across the country in support of Evo Morales.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14722

'Massacre' of Indigenous Leaders in Colombia Is Result of Broken Peace Agreement
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-11-08
Yet another massacre of indigenous leaders in Colombia has sparked outrage across the country, as the right-wing government of President Ivan Duque faces increasing challenges to his already weakened leadership.
therealnews.com/stories/massacre-indigenous-leaders-colombia-result-broken-peace-agreement

Take Action — Some actual, SANE legislation
Jon Rainwater | peaceaction.org | 2019-11-07
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, …
peaceaction.org/2019/11/07/take-action-some-actual-sane-legislation/

US Authorizes Tax Payments to Maduro Gov't, Sanctions Five More Venezuelan Officials
Ricardo Vaz and Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-11-06
Washington has eased some of the restrictions imposed under its recent Venezuela embargo.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14719

Venezuela, El Salvador Break Relations as Maduro Applauds 'New Anti-Neoliberal Wave'
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-11-04
Guatemala's president-elect has similarly pledged to break with the Maduro government upon assuming office in January.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14717

Venezuelan Leftist Parties and Unions Stage Protest, Demand Gov't Answers
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-11-01
Dozens of activists demanded better wages and respect for collective bargaining rights.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14714

Venezuela: Opposition Demands Bond Annulment, Gov't Grants Rosneft Tax Breaks
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-10-30
Rosneft will reportedly invest in natural gas production in Venezuela.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14712

Venezuela Applauds Regional Leftist Victories
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-10-28
Caracas rejoiced at the "defeat of the IMF" in elections in Argentina, Uruguay, and swathes of Colombia this Sunday.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14709

US Renews Chevron License as European Refiner Cuts Venezuela Ties over Sanctions
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-10-23
Finnish-Venezuelan refiner Nynas is one of PDVSA's few remaining cash buyers.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14702

Venezuela Government Hosts International Commune Congress
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-10-21
Maduro affirmed that popular power is "the soul" of the Bolivarian project.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14700

BCV: Venezuelan Economy Contracted by 23.7 Percent in First Trimester of 2019
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-10-19
The Venezuelan Central Bank also released inflation figures for the first time in six months.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14698

Venezuela's Opposition Declares PDVSA 2020 Bond Void, Nixes Payment
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-10-17
Venezuela's CITGO could be seized by creditors.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14695

Venezuela Elected to UN Human Rights Council
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-10-17
The Maduro government was elected to a three-year term with backing of 105 out of 195 UN member-states.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14696

Venezuela: Gov't Increases Minimum Wage, Announces Public Spending
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-10-16
Governorships will manage gold mines as a direct source of revenue.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14694