There is also an emerging campaign for a rent strike scheduled for April 1 and the following collection of demands have already begun to circulate on social media:
- Free healthcare, testing, and COVID-19 treatment for all.
- Universal food stamps and paid sick leave.
- Indefinite suspension of mortgage, rent and debt payments.
- Waiver of payments to utility companies, such as those providing electricity, gas and internet.
- Emergency shelter in hotels, dormitories and vacant homes for the unhoused.
roarmag.org/essays/from-mutual-aid-to-dual-power-in-the-state-of-emergency/
- Free healthcare, testing, and COVID-19 treatment for all.
- Universal food stamps and paid sick leave.
- Indefinite suspension of mortgage, rent and debt payments.
- Waiver of payments to utility companies, such as those providing electricity, gas and internet.
- Emergency shelter in hotels, dormitories and vacant homes for the unhoused.
roarmag.org/essays/from-mutual-aid-to-dual-power-in-the-state-of-emergency/
ROAR Magazine
From mutual aid to dual power in the state of emergency
The COVID-19 public health crisis is rapidly devolving into a vast, multi-faceted crisis of social reproduction with no end in sight. How can we seize this moment to build dual power?
History says, Don’t hope
on this side of the grave.
But then, once in a lifetime
the longed for tidal wave
of justice can rise up,
and hope and history rhyme.
So hope for a great sea-change
on the far side of revenge.
Believe that a further shore
is reachable from here.
Believe in miracles
and cures and healing wells.
— Seamus Heaney, “The Doubletake”
roarmag.org/essays/no-return-to-normal-for-a-post-pandemic-liberation/
on this side of the grave.
But then, once in a lifetime
the longed for tidal wave
of justice can rise up,
and hope and history rhyme.
So hope for a great sea-change
on the far side of revenge.
Believe that a further shore
is reachable from here.
Believe in miracles
and cures and healing wells.
— Seamus Heaney, “The Doubletake”
roarmag.org/essays/no-return-to-normal-for-a-post-pandemic-liberation/
ROAR Magazine
No return to normal: for a post-pandemic liberation
Today, new forms of solidarity, mutual aid, and common struggle are emerging in the pandemic. How will they shape tomorrow’s struggles for a post-capitalist world?
Forwarded from Strike Force
COVID_SupplyDistro_MASafetyPracticesZine_PRINT.pdf
725.1 KB
Safety practices for mutual aid food and supply distribution during the pandemic (zine)
Bad news can and should be delivered in artistic form, but it can be equally bracing and inspiring to tell and embrace stories where the apocalypse is met with solidarity, with care, with love.
theoutline.com/post/8869/post-apocalypse-coronavirus-nightbreed?utm_source=&zd=1&zi=jdztkquj
theoutline.com/post/8869/post-apocalypse-coronavirus-nightbreed?utm_source=&zd=1&zi=jdztkquj
The Outline
Imagine there’s no apocalypse
Movies like Clive Barker’s ‘Nightbreed’ show how the erosion of society need not mean the erosion of our shared humanity.
Good Guys with Guns: Why the left should arm itself
harpers.org/archive/2020/04/good-guys-with-guns-socialist-gun-club/
harpers.org/archive/2020/04/good-guys-with-guns-socialist-gun-club/
Harper's Magazine
Good Guys with Guns
Why the left should arm itself
Iran's Geoeconomic Project
After years of isolation, Iran is reasserting itself as a bridge between East and West. Iran plans to add nearly 2,000 kilometers of railway every year for the next five years. Through its position between Moscow to Mumbai, Iran aspires to become a transit hub. It also envisions new east-west connections with its neighbors, Iraq and Afghanistan. To facilitate trade and transport with Central Asia, Iran has joined the Ashgabat Agreement.
source
After years of isolation, Iran is reasserting itself as a bridge between East and West. Iran plans to add nearly 2,000 kilometers of railway every year for the next five years. Through its position between Moscow to Mumbai, Iran aspires to become a transit hub. It also envisions new east-west connections with its neighbors, Iraq and Afghanistan. To facilitate trade and transport with Central Asia, Iran has joined the Ashgabat Agreement.
source
Japan’s Geoeconomic Project
Prioritizing east-west connections, Japan’s vision stems from decades of investing in Southeast Asia, where existing infrastructure reflects the needs of Japanese supply chains.
source
Prioritizing east-west connections, Japan’s vision stems from decades of investing in Southeast Asia, where existing infrastructure reflects the needs of Japanese supply chains.
source
... this year’s Sanders candidacy is comparable to the failed Goldwater campaign of 1964, which foretold the eventual triumph of neoconservatism with Reagan’s election in 1980.
https://theoutline.com/post/8858/bernie-sanders-left-movement-youth
https://theoutline.com/post/8858/bernie-sanders-left-movement-youth
The Outline
Left to ourselves
Whatever happens, the Bernie Sanders campaign matters because it's part of a movement.
Russia’s Geoeconomic Project
Russia’s vision combines soft and hard infrastructure. The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is Russia’s primary vehicle for regional economic integration, and officials have suggested it could be linked with OBOR. Reinforcing its economic and diplomatic pivot to the east, Russia is tapping into the Chinese energy market with a series of proposed natural gas pipelines. To its south, Russia aims to increase connectivity with Azerbaijan, Iran, and India through the North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC). To its north, Russia is planning additional projects to advance its energy and defense interests as the Arctic becomes more accessible.
source
Russia’s vision combines soft and hard infrastructure. The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is Russia’s primary vehicle for regional economic integration, and officials have suggested it could be linked with OBOR. Reinforcing its economic and diplomatic pivot to the east, Russia is tapping into the Chinese energy market with a series of proposed natural gas pipelines. To its south, Russia aims to increase connectivity with Azerbaijan, Iran, and India through the North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC). To its north, Russia is planning additional projects to advance its energy and defense interests as the Arctic becomes more accessible.
source
Forwarded from Syndiegram (socialist raccoon)
I strongly, strongly suggest reading it. I would've written down many of the things that it said here, but they are too many. Do yourself a favor and read this.
theintercept.com/2020/03/27/coronavirus-stimulus-package-spending/
theintercept.com/2020/03/27/coronavirus-stimulus-package-spending/
The Intercept
As Congress Pushes a $2 Trillion Stimulus Package, the “How Will You Pay For It?” Question Is Tossed in the Trash
When all of this is behind us, to the extent that it ever can be, let’s not forget what we’ve learned: Congress knows how to spend money when it wants to.
As part of the ongoing global debate over how to understand this crisis and how to move forward, the International Peoples Assembly and Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research have developed a 16-point plan:
1) Immediate suspension of all work, except essential medical and logistical personnel and those required to produce and distribute food and necessities, without any loss of wages. The State must assume the cost of the wages for the period of the quarantine.
2) Health, food supply, and public safety must be maintained in an organised manner. Emergency grain stocks must be immediately released for distribution amongst the poor.
3) Schools must all be suspended.
4) Immediate socialization of hospitals and medical centres so that they do not worry about the profit motive as the crisis unfolds. These medical centres must be under the control of the government’s health campaign.
5) Immediate nationalization of pharmaceutical companies, and immediate international cooperation amongst them to find a vaccine and easier testing devices. Abolishment of intellectual property in the medical field.
6) Immediate testing of all people. Immediate mobilization of tests and support for medical personnel who are at the frontlines of this pandemic.
7) Immediate speed-up of production for materials necessary to deal with the crisis (testing kits, masks, respirators).
8) Immediate closure of global financial markets.
9) Immediate gathering of the finances to prevent the bankruptcy of governments.
10) Immediate cancellation of all non-corporate debt.
11) Immediate end to all rent and mortgage payments, as well as an end to evictions; this includes the immediate provision of adequate housing as a basic human right.
12) Decent housing must be a right for all citizens guaranteed by the state.
13) Immediate absorption of all utility payments by the State – water, electricity, and internet provided as part of a human right; where these utilities are not universally accessible, we call for them to be provided with immediate effect.
14) Immediate end to the unilateral, criminal sanctions regimes and economic blockades that impact countries such as Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela and prevent them from importing necessary medical supplies.
Urgent support for the peasantry to increase the production of healthy food and supply it to the government for direct distribution.
15) Suspension of the dollar as an international currency and request that the United Nations urgently call a new international conference to propose a common international currency.
16) Ensure a universal minimum income in every country. This makes possible to guarantee support from the state for millions of families who are out of work, working in extremely precarious conditions or self-employed. The current capitalist system excludes millions of people from formal jobs. The State should provide employment and a dignified life for the population. The cost of the Universal Basic Income can be covered by defence budgets, in particular the expense of arms and ammunition.
www.socialisteconomist.com/2020/03/the-cost-of-this-pandemic-must-not.html
1) Immediate suspension of all work, except essential medical and logistical personnel and those required to produce and distribute food and necessities, without any loss of wages. The State must assume the cost of the wages for the period of the quarantine.
2) Health, food supply, and public safety must be maintained in an organised manner. Emergency grain stocks must be immediately released for distribution amongst the poor.
3) Schools must all be suspended.
4) Immediate socialization of hospitals and medical centres so that they do not worry about the profit motive as the crisis unfolds. These medical centres must be under the control of the government’s health campaign.
5) Immediate nationalization of pharmaceutical companies, and immediate international cooperation amongst them to find a vaccine and easier testing devices. Abolishment of intellectual property in the medical field.
6) Immediate testing of all people. Immediate mobilization of tests and support for medical personnel who are at the frontlines of this pandemic.
7) Immediate speed-up of production for materials necessary to deal with the crisis (testing kits, masks, respirators).
8) Immediate closure of global financial markets.
9) Immediate gathering of the finances to prevent the bankruptcy of governments.
10) Immediate cancellation of all non-corporate debt.
11) Immediate end to all rent and mortgage payments, as well as an end to evictions; this includes the immediate provision of adequate housing as a basic human right.
12) Decent housing must be a right for all citizens guaranteed by the state.
13) Immediate absorption of all utility payments by the State – water, electricity, and internet provided as part of a human right; where these utilities are not universally accessible, we call for them to be provided with immediate effect.
14) Immediate end to the unilateral, criminal sanctions regimes and economic blockades that impact countries such as Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela and prevent them from importing necessary medical supplies.
Urgent support for the peasantry to increase the production of healthy food and supply it to the government for direct distribution.
15) Suspension of the dollar as an international currency and request that the United Nations urgently call a new international conference to propose a common international currency.
16) Ensure a universal minimum income in every country. This makes possible to guarantee support from the state for millions of families who are out of work, working in extremely precarious conditions or self-employed. The current capitalist system excludes millions of people from formal jobs. The State should provide employment and a dignified life for the population. The cost of the Universal Basic Income can be covered by defence budgets, in particular the expense of arms and ammunition.
www.socialisteconomist.com/2020/03/the-cost-of-this-pandemic-must-not.html
Socialisteconomist
The Cost of This Pandemic Must Not Bankrupt the People
✑ Vijay Prashad & Manuel Bertoldi. If we look at the example of previous crises—such as the Financial Crisis of 2008-09—then we know that the costs of these crises are rarely borne by the very rich. A 16-point plan, intended to encourage discussion.
South Korea’s Geoeconomic Project
Announced in 2017, President Moon Jae-in’s vision has a northern and a southern component. The New Northern Policy expands South Korea’s cooperation on infrastructure projects and is focused on Russia, but also includes North Korea, Belarus, Ukraine, Mongolia, China, and the five Central Asian countries.
The New Southern Policy aims to bolster South Korea’s economic cooperation with ASEAN countries.
source
Announced in 2017, President Moon Jae-in’s vision has a northern and a southern component. The New Northern Policy expands South Korea’s cooperation on infrastructure projects and is focused on Russia, but also includes North Korea, Belarus, Ukraine, Mongolia, China, and the five Central Asian countries.
The New Southern Policy aims to bolster South Korea’s economic cooperation with ASEAN countries.
source
Over the last two decades, corporate America’s credit rating has collapsed. In the early ’90s, more than sixty companies held AAA credit ratings. Today, only two US firms are AAA rated: Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft. In 2001, fewer than one in five “investment-grade” firms were rated BBB. Today half of all investment-grade corporate debt belongs to firms rated “triple-B” (BBB) or lower. A third of those firms are rated triple-B minus (BBB-), one notch away from speculative or “junk” status.
jacobinmag.com/2020/03/corporate-debt-crisis-coronavirus-financial-covid-19/
jacobinmag.com/2020/03/corporate-debt-crisis-coronavirus-financial-covid-19/
Jacobin
Corporations Are Broke. It’s Time to Cut Up Their Credit Cards.
After a decade-long, worldwide corporate debt binge, the bill has come due: huge swaths of the corporate world are now at risk of default, with only governments able to save them. This time, any bailouts must place corporate investment under public control.