Tag: Fast Food Wages Rally

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: 20th anniversary of the Zapatista uprising; Rally of Unity in Maine

Key Discussion Points:
a) Today we look at the Zapatista movement, on the 20th anniversary of the uprising in Chiapas, on the day the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect. The uprising was an accumulated response to centuries of colonization, poverty, repression and authoritarian and neo-liberal structures, particular to the experience of the indigenous people of Chiapas. However, it was not just a push back, or a call for government reform; it explicitly focused on the creation of alternative models. The analysis of the Zapatatista movement and it organizational examples has been profoundly impactful on social movements across the globe.
b) We look at the Zapatista Escuelitas, open to participants outside the community, for the purposes of application to the struggles in the places they’ve come from.
c) We look ahead to the second annual Rally of Unity, in Augusta, coordinated by a broad network of environmental, social justice and democracy groups “Alliance for the Common Good”.

Guests:

A) Tony Nelson, Mexico Solidarity Network, Centro Autonomo and the Autonomous University of Social Movements in Chicago.

http://www.mexicosolidarity.org/

http://enlacezapatista.ezln.org.mx/

http://desinformemonos.org/

http://roarmag.org/2013/08/escuelita-zapatista-10-year-autonomy/

B) Chris Buchanan, organizer with Defending Water for Life, and the Stop the East West Corridor

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Fraud and Repression in Honduran Elections; Fast Food Wages Rally

Key Discussion Points:

a) We look at Hondurans elections, rife with numerous instances of election fraud recorded by election observers. Despite this the European Union and the U.S. Have verified the oficial results, in favor of the National Party, the party behind the coup and who was declared the winner of the following elections.
b) Violence against social movement activists and journalist has been continuous since the 2009 military coup, and intensified against supporters of the LIBRE party preceding the elections, including at least 18 killed in the past year.
c) Today, fast food workers in 100 cities are walking off the job in a one day strike for higher wages. Supporting rallies were expected in close to 100 more cities, including Ellsworth.

Guests:
A) Grahame Russel, director of Rights Action, www.rightsaction.org/
B) demonstrators at Ellsworth rally for increased wages at fast food restaurants, including members of the Ellsworth Community Union. https://www.facebook.com/communityunionofellsworth

Additional links:
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=11164&updaterx=2013-12-08+15%3A13%3A10
http://upsidedownworld.org/main/honduras-archives-46/4584-the-results-of-the-elections-in-honduras-were-changed-says-european-union-observer-
http://upsidedownworld.org/main/honduras-archives-46/4590-honduras-beyond-the-eye-of-the-electoral-storm
http://upsidedownworld.org/main/honduras-archives-46/4580-the-different-souls-of-the-libre-party-and-repression-against-honduran-students
http://www.ips-dc.org/reports/fast-food_ceos_rake_in_taxpayer-subsidized_pay
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/05/us-usa-employment-fastfood-idUSBRE9B40WW20131205
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/12/05/fast-food-strike-wages/3877023/
http://www.thenation.com/blog/177451/fast-food-strikes-hit-100-cities-thursday#
http://upsidedownworld.org/main/honduras-archives-46/4601-international-election-monitors-in-honduras-do-they-ensure-clean-elections-or-whitewash-fraud