[PEN-L:9614] Job openings at QMW
-- Forwarded message -- Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 10:24:19 +0100 (BST) From: "S.Mohun" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Job openings at QMW snip Dear Colleague Please find below an advertisement for at least 3 Lectureships which I would be grateful if you would bring to the attention of your PhD students and junior staff. (At least) Three Lectureships in Economics at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London Since its establishment in 1965, the Department of Economics has secured a national and international reputation in teaching and research. Around 20 staff teach an undergraduate programme to around 370 students, and a modular Master's programme to about 50 postgraduate students (on four programmes, Economics, Financial Economics, Development Economics and Econometrics). There are also around 30 research students on the M.Phil./Ph.D. programme. With these numbers, the Department sustains a high level of activity in a friendly and informal atmosphere, which is conducive to effective and serious study, and to creative research. The Department of Economics received a 4A rating in the 1996 Research Assessment Exercise, and is now seeking to improve its position with at least three permanent appointments. Applications are welcomed from those with expertise in any area of Economics. Applications are particularly encouraged from those with expertise in financial economics. Additionally, with the appointment of George Yarrow as Visiting Professor, and the anticipated establishment of the European Regulatory Research Institute under his direction at QMW, the Department is seeking to strengthen its applied microeconomics, particularly in the area of regulation. There are also expanding opportunities for health economics in association with the medical school. Candidates should have completed (or be near completion of) a doctorate in Economics. The salary will be on the Lecturer A scale in the range 17,727-22,558 pounds sterling p.a., depending on experience. The closing date for applications is 9 May 1997. It is anticipated that interviews will be held on 9 and 11 June 1997. The post is tenable from 1 September 1997. Informal enquiries may be made to Dr. Simon Mohun (Head of Department) by telephone (0171-975-5089) or by email ([EMAIL PROTECTED]). For further particulars, please telephone 0171-975-5171 (24 hour answerphone), or email [EMAIL PROTECTED], quoting reference 97033/LPC. Further particulars are also available on the Economics web page at http://www.econ.qmw.ac.uk. Six copies of a completed application form with a c.v. including the names and addresses of three referees should be returned by 9 May, 1997 to Non-Clinical Recruitment, Personnel Office, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London E1 4NS. Thank you. Simon Mohun Dr. S. Mohun Dept. of Economics, Queen Mary and Westfield College, Mile End road, London E1 4NS Tel.: 44-171-975-5089 Fax.: 44-181-983-3580
[PEN-L:9615] Re: civil society
On Tue, 22 Apr 1997, Wojtek Sokolowski wrote: In that capacity, the nonprofit sector has nothing to do with the role of civil society envisioned by deTocqueville (and later Gramsci). The former is merely an ancilliary mechanism of manufacturing public goods, the latter -- the mechanism facilitating participatory democracy. As I understand it, it is the latter that inspired many Eastern European "velvet revolutionaries" -- but let us not confuse it with the Reaganite-Thatcherite notion of charity as a solution to social problems. The problem is that it *is* being confused throughout Latin America. Fidel Castro made a speech not too long ago about the invasion of US sponsored NGO's into Cuba. These NGO's are funded by elite foundations and universities and have impeccable progressive credentials in nearly all cases. These are the same funding sources, by the way, that Alex Cockburn took aim at in his splendid Nation magazine article. Under the name of liberalism, they are marginalizing the left at places like the Nation, Pacifica, In These Times, etc. Getting back to Cuba, these NGO's are propogandizing heavily for a "mixed economy". They are for privatizing much of the Cuban economy and their economic rationale is not that different from the Reaganites: markets are more efficient than the antiquated Soviet model. The introduction of a mixed economy and growth of civil society are meant to cure Cuba's ills. Castro took action against these NGO's and the expected hue-and-cry appeared. NACLA magazine which has been shifting to the right over the past several years identified itself with the injured parties. These questions are not just theoretical. They revolve around major problems facing the socialist movement. Louis Proyect
[PEN-L:9616] Re: German liberalism
Rieter and Smolz. 1993. "The Idea of German Ordoliberalism " European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, 1: 1. Other sources on the subject take note that part of the German context was a much more paternalistic corporate system. In this sense, we can compare them with the U.S. Welfare Capitalists of the 1920s. Back to Weinstein ... -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 916-898-5321 E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[PEN-L:9617] Re: civil society
Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Doug Henwood [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [PEN-L:9594] civil society . . . market. Since so much of the "third sector" is ruled by big-money foundations, it seems to me that present usage is unconsciously acknowledging the term's origins, while still professing to offer balance to the "market." I hate to encourage foundation-bashing. Obviously I think the work of those so funded is frequently more useful than some believe, since EPI, among others, would not exist without foundation dough. But I thought you would be interested in the following: Date sent:Tue, 22 Apr 1997 23:38:25 -0400 Send reply to:welfare reform research [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Jackie Chu [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Welfare resources To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: welfarem-l participants From: Jackie Chu, IWPR A couple of announcements: 1) DHHS has a new resource they're posted this month (April 1997) entitled "Welfare Reform Implementation Package." It has a variety of welfare related web links and other resources. Web address follows: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/news/welfare/wrpack.htm 2) A little while back, someone had asked about welfare reform and privatization. The Welfare Information Network has a a newsletter devoted to this issue. The web address is www.welfareinfo.org/hot.htm. 3) For those of you who may not have seen the following announcement, your organization may be able to apply for funding through a new grants program for Groups Working on State Welfare Redesign. Please read the info. below to see if your organization is eligible: Three national nonprofit organizations concerned about the impact of "welfare reform" on low-income people have obtained foundation funding with which to provide grant support to a limited number of nonprofit organizations providing policy analysis and/or a base for grassroots action on state decisions on redesigning welfare programs. To be eligible, policy analysis groups generally must be working at the state level; grassroots organizations and coalitions can be working in a smaller geographic area, but should be willing and able to work in a larger statewide effort or be preparing to play a leadership role in organizing low-income involvement in such an effort. SECOND DEADLINE FOR STATE WELFARE REDESIGN GRANTS is approaching. The grants committee awarded $800,000 in the first round of funding. The next deadline for proposals is May 15, 1997. Applications should be postmarked no later than May 15 to be considered. Decisions will be announced no later than July 15. The grants committee continues to strongly encourage applications that involve collaboration between policy analysis groups at the state level and grassroots organizations and coalitions. To receive an RFP and additional information about the first round of grant awards, please dial Fax on Demand at 703/716-7349 and request document # 1233. The RFP is also available on HandsNet in the Resources/What's Available Folder. You may also contact CCC at 202/342-0567, x 363. STATE WELFARE REDESIGN GRANTS POOL OVERVIEW The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (HN0026), the Center for Law and Social Policy (HN3067) and the Center for Community Change (HN0688) have sought and secured foundation funding for a project to fund state organizations. The project will fund nonprofit organizations and coalitions in a number of states to conduct policy analysis, to educate and inform low-income constituencies and their allies about the recently enacted federal welfare law and to engage them directly in the state policy debates and decisions concerning the implementation of the new law. Policy and direction for the project is set by the three sponsoring organizations. The project will be administered by the Center for Community Change. Under the new welfare law, states will be responsible for making virtually all decisions that will determine the nature and scope of income support programs for poor families in their jurisdictions. For example, states will decide: -whether to provide cash assistance, and if so, to whom and at what levels; -whether parents will be allowed to enroll in job training and education programs or whether mandated work activities will be limited to job search and work placements; -whether work programs are waged-based or are workfare programs in which recipients work off their grants' for minimum wage or less; -whether child care assistance will be provided to many of the parents who must comply with work requirements; -whether low-wage earners will be eligible for any kind of income supplement either through the welfare system, a state earned income credit, or other program; -whether to retain welfare and Medicaid eligibility for poor legal immigrants who entered the United States before the enactment of the new welfare law and whether to provide state-funded
[PEN-L:9621] FW: BLS Daily Report
BLS DAILY REPORT, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1997 The inflation-adjusted median weekly earnings of the nation's 90.7 million full-time wage and salary workers edged up 0.1 percent in the first quarter of 1997, BLS reports (Daily Labor Report, page D-1). Budget negotiations are seriously considering assuming a 0.4 percentage point reduction in the CPI, perhaps by fiscal year 1999, that would yield about $48 billion to $50 billion in savings over five years, sources familiar with the negotiations told BNA April 18. In the year 2002, which is target date for both sides to balance the budget, savings from the CPI would be about $18 billion Budget negotiators are contemplating increasing funding for BLS and assuming that, with the additional funding, BLS is likely to lower the CPI by 0.4 percentage points, the source explained. A budget resolution can assume such an adjustment in its baselines, the source explained. If BLS does make the adjustment, legislation would have to be introduced to adjust COLAs for federal benefits and adjustments to tax brackets, the article says. But, if BLS does not make such an adjustment, the source said there would be a $50 billion deficit by 2002. "This is a very dangerous assumption to make," the source warned (Daily Labor Report, page A11). House GOP leaders remain opposed to any legislated CPI revision, which would put their party in the position of cutting cost-of-living increases for Social Security and reducing tax indexing, writes Donald Lambro, chief political correspondent of The Washington Times (commentary page A15) Knowledgeable GOP staffers discounted the possibility of any CPI deal, but the fact it was being discussed in the party's leadership councils shows how jittery they have become as the budget negotiations continue to drag on. "They are afraid that the CPI could be incorporated into the budget process and that nothing could be done to stop it," said a key budget staffer. As rumors swirled about new White House interest in a CPI adjustment, the JEC rereleased its critical analysis of CPI revision to remind GOP lawmakers why it would be a bad deal. But any congressionally directed CPI change is not going to happen, says Lambro. Like their GOP counterparts, Democratic leaders are dead set against touching it, preferring to leave that job to BLS, which has already begun to update the inflation measurement A new report on the U.S. labor market in the 21st century concludes that the prosperity and job security of American workers can be improved through more flexible employment laws, increased immigration of skilled workers, and education reforms that encourage upward mobility. "Much can be done to improve the prospects of America's 21st century workforce," according to the Workforce 2020 report by the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank (Daily Labor Report, page A-8). Sunday's Washington Post (page H4) had a "Workplace" article, "So Many Messages, So Little Time," that said, instead of making the workday easier, for many, communications technology has made for more crowded hours Workers are finding it increasingly difficult to handle the glut of messages and the constant communication that technology has put at their fingertips. Ostensibly, the technology is aimed at easing people's workload; instead it is, for many, eating up time and adding unnecessary stress A recent study by the Institute for the Future, the Gallup Organization, Pitney-Bowes, and San Jose State University found what workers already know -- with technology has come communications gridlock. The study, based on responses from more than 1,000 employees of Fortune 1000 companies, found that workers send and receive an average of 178 messages each day through such vehicles as voice mail, e-mail, faxes, and pagers. The most frequent tools were telephone, e-mail, and voice mail. Eighty-four percent of respondents said their work is interrupted by messages at least three times an hour. The deluge is largely due to a couple of worries about technology and human habits. Many workers do not fully trust technology, so they send the same information through a number of different systems to make sure it gets there. Others aren't sure how often the recipient will check voice mail or e-mail, so they feel compelled to cover all their bases Many office workers plug away through weekends and often put in more than 40 hours a week to cope with their workload, suggests a survey by Steelcase Inc., a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based maker of office furniture. The semiannual Steelcase Workplace Index says 73 percent of Americans who work in an office of 100 people or more work at least occasionally on the weekend -- at home or in the office. Of those weekend workers, 60 percent said they do so once a month or more (Washington Post, April 20, page H4). Spanish is the most important second
[PEN-L:9623] thanks
Thanks to all those who advised me on Latin American Marxism and civil society. An overwhelming response. Now I have a lot of reading to do Doug -- Doug Henwood Left Business Observer 250 W 85 St New York NY 10024-3217 USA +1-212-874-4020 voice +1-212-874-3137 fax email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] web: http://www.panix.com/~dhenwood/LBO_home.html
[PEN-L:9625] FW: Asian Studies Conference
Anyone want more information? Roger -- From: Gould, Marguerite To: Faculty Subject: Asian Studies Conference Date: Thursday, February 27, 1997 4:21PM Message to All Faculty from Dr. Robert Young, Department of History The Mid-Atlantic Region Association of Asian Studies will hold its annual conference at West Chester University, October 24 -26, 1997. We expect the conference to be as successful and well attended by regional faculty as in 1992, when we last hosted, and over two hundred faculty attended. We are now inviting West Chester University faculty to join us in forming a Local Arrangement Committee and invite them to participate in the program as either a member of a panel, discussant or presenter of an individual paper. An initial brief meeting for interested faculty will be held March 18, 1997 at 3:15 p.m. in M-419 with an equally brief meeting March 20, 1997 for those unable to come on March 18, 1997. Dr. Young, History Department (x3654), is conference coordinator and may be contacted for additional information, panel or individual presentation forms.
[PEN-L:9627] LatAm Marxism (fwd)
From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed Apr 23 10:22 PDT 1997 Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 10:22:21 -0700 (PDT) To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sid: Thanks for all this - it's great to hear about some new names, and recall a few I should probably re-read. The glaring omission I see in the suggestions so far has to do woth caribbean writers and thinkers: Amilcar Cabral, Frantz Fanon, Walter Rodney, and, of course, CLR James - one of the all-time greats. An attempt is currently underway to make James into a theorist of cultural studies and nothing more; but his passion was Marxism and revolution, certainly, and his contribitons in this area are tremendous. Brian From: D Shniad [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [PEN-L:9588] LatAm Marxism (fwd) To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Brian Green) Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 14:19:54 -0700 (PDT) X-UIDL: c75461b254006aa6b2a5e2657763eff2 Forwarded message: From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tue Apr 22 02:21 PDT 1997 Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 02:20:09 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Originator: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Precedence: bulk From: "Alex Izurieta" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [PEN-L:9588] LatAm Marxism X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Comment: Progressive Economics Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Length: 3203 What's good to read on Marxism in Latin America? Hope it helps to hint to some important names (authors). I am afraid most of their works are not published in English. Mariategui, Jose Carlos (Peru): it is a "pioneer" both chronologically and content wise. He introduced, right from the early 1900s, notions of indianity and colonialism into marxist thought. It would surprise me if his "7 thesis on L.A" are not translated into English. Cueva, Agustin (Ecuador). He died quite recently, and I therefore suspect (hope) that something has been published in English as a sort of compilation of writings or "memorial...". He comes from a sociological tradition, though he also wrote a "economic history of LA". Whatever you find from him is worth reading. Arismendy, Rodney (Uruguay). The same as with Cueva, he died recently. He is a sociologist, founder of the Communist party in Uruguay. Comes from a leninist tradition, "latinamericanised" little by little, especially after the Sandinista experience, which he joined in the early set up. Zea, Leopoldo (Mexico). His first writings were more..., say cautios marxist "approximations". But it was the Cuban revolution that radicalized his thoughts and became a marxist proponent. Gonzalez Casanova, Pablo (Mexico). He is an historian, and wrote a lot about economics and labour. He has also edited an impressive history collection, putting together many writers, of a marxian strand practically all them. He could be more known in the US as he explicitly intended to appeal to the northamerican (progressist) publicl by (trying to) integrating latam marxism with US "empiricism" (whatever it may mean). Sanchez Vasquez,Adolfo (Spaniard, later nationalised in Mexico). He writes from a philosophical point of view. Interesting in the sense that it links also with a Spanish tradition of "classical" non-marxists philosophers (as Ortega y Gasset). IMO he treats marxism sometimes in a reductionist / materialist narrow way... Dussel, Enrique (Argentina). He writes from philosophical and theological backgrounds. His main contribution, which I think is, next to 'indianity', a most revelant "originality" of Latam marxism, is the appraisal of marxist thoughts as they were incorporated by grass roots groops and social movements whose "militancy' (?) or political engagements is derived from christian groups. Vilas, Carlos (mexico). Casually, I 've recently told of a book published in English: Magnus,B., Cullenberg,S (eds)(1995)(Routledge) "Whiter Marxism? Global Issues in International Perspective", where there is a chapter wiritten by Carlos Vilas about Latam marxism. I believe it must be good. (BTW, there is also in that book a critical appraisal of Foucalt...). And, obvioulsy, if you want to make the "synthesis" yourself, one should give a look to Sandino, Farabundo Marti, Jose Marti (Cuba), Ernesto (che) Guevara, and... Fidel. Pls. tell me if you find something in English over there. I am curious. Salud, Alex Alex Izurieta E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Institute of Social Studies P.O. Box 29776 2502 LT The Hague Tel. 31-70-4260480 Fax. 31-70-4260.755 4260.799 - Brian Green| [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[PEN-L:9628] Re: Peru
Jim, I have some info direct from Peru, but have deleted the name and identifying info. Paul Z. -- Something was about to happen, but no one expected that this would happen today What I have heard since has changed a number of my opinions on the hostage crisis. According to the Bolivian ambassador (a very credible source), the MRTA had been practicing for a military attack with the hostages. The MRTistas put on dynamite and held grenades planning to die and take the hostages with them. This did not happen because most of the MRTistas were playing "fulbito" on top of a tunnel entrance which was blown up at the beginning of the attack, killing everyone above. Obviously, the MRTA's error in not expecting a daytime attack was key in making this operation possible. Furthermore, according to the ambassador and to leftist congressman Diez Canseco, the MRTista leaders really did have a very poor capacity for negotiations and didn't understand their position nor how to make further political capital out of their action. This doesn't entirely absolve the government for not trying harder to negotiate but it does indicate how hard it would have been to negotiate with them with the best of intentions. By the way, the rank and file MRTistas in the embassy were really just kids who apparently knew very little about the world outside the jungle where they had lived all their young lives. In military terms, this operation was -- without doubt -- a great military success. Worldwide, military experts expect a 30% loss of hostage lives in this type of operation. Fujimori took time to thank the Intelligence Service for its fine work thus improving Montesinos' position once more. The armed forces are equally bouyed up with Gen. Hermosa at the head. What will happen now is unclear. Certainly Fujimori will be able to make political capital out of these events. The question is for how long and whether the repression against the press and other sectors will now increase. At any rate, thank goodness all but one hostage are safe and sound. Let's hope their luck doesn't result in the suffering of others now that Fujimori is strengthened again. One final note: Fujimori shook hands with the hostages as they got unto a bus, the majority (all govt members because the Japanese had left earlier) did not seem enchanted to see him... * Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp. * On Wed, 23 Apr 1997, James Devine wrote: does anyone on pen-l have any special information about the government raid on the Japanese ambassador's mansion (ending the hostage sitation)? it seems very suspicious that ALL of the hostage-takers were killed. It sure sounds like some of the hostage-takers were killed after they were taken prisoner ... in pen-l solidarity, Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ. 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045-8410 USA 310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950 "It takes a busload of faith to get by." -- Lou Reed.
[PEN-L:9630] Re: DARWIN AWARDS
Treacy: As a guy who used to drink a lot of beer and roar off on my BMW bike, I would say a lot of this behavior is just youthful machismo. After laying down the bike and smelling my self burn a couple of times it occurred to me that I might be courting death. I stopped before killing myself and thus still remain in the shallow end of the gene pool. [EMAIL PROTECTED] copyrighted On Tue, 22 Apr 1997, James Devine wrote: this kind of thing always evokes a chuckle (as with NEWS OF THE WIERD's recent story about a man who died because he played "catch" using a poisonous snake, which was titled "the thinning of the herd"). But it's very crude Darwinism. (There's no guarantee that these idiots didn't contribute to the gene pool before their escapades; in the case of the man with the lawn-chair and the balloons, he could easily make contribution even afterwards.) Further, it ignores the entire sociological dimension. Specifically, these actions seem to reflect the bizarre form of alienation the infests US culture along with a lot of macho craziness. While it's fun to laugh at this kind of stupidity, it's important to note that many or even most of the people in pen-l are immersed in the same culture.
[PEN-L:9632] Lynn Turgeon report
Forwarded message: Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 12:49:23 -0400 (EDT) From: "LYNN TURGEON, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF ECONOMICS, HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, [EMAIL PROTECTED]" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Send it to pen-l if you think they are interested. Lynn To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-UID: 876 From: VAXD::ECOELT "LYNN TURGEON, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF ECONOMICS, HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, [EMAIL PROTECTED]" 23-APR-1997 12:32:51.53 To: IN%"michael@ecst,csuchico.edu" CC: IN%"[EMAIL PROTECTED]",ECOELT Subj: Hofstra Presidential Conference Honoring George Bush, April 17-19, 1997 This was Hofstra's 10th Presidential Conference in a series that began with FDR and last celebrated Ronald Reagan's presidency in 1993. There has always been some conflict between the temptation to make these conferences too celebratory and not enough critical assessment and the Bush Conference was no exception in this regard. For example, I had tried to get Jack Matlock to discuss Bush's foreign policy since he was a bit critical in his memoir. Matlock had been at the Reagan Conference since he served both presidents and is inclined to prefer Reagan to Bush. The Bush people were apparently not too happy about Matlock'sparticipation according to the Director of the Conference, William Levantrosser. Fortunately for them, Matlock had to be in Europe at this time. I worked up a paper with Tim Canova of the University of Miami on the Bush stagnation which I would be happy to send to anyone via snail-mail. Tom Foley and Roger Porter were discussants on our paper. The former approved Bush's raising of taxes in 1990 since he was heavily involved in this insanity. Porter read a prepared reaction from Michael Boskin, who was apparently suffering back problems. This reminded me of Carter's Chairman of the CEA, Charles Schultze, who developed ulcers in this job! These conferences are a bit like family reunions for the representatives of the administration and have been well attended by the very top people without speaker fees. Even George Bush, who recently accepted "moonie" money to come to Argentina to open a newspaper similar to the "Washington Times" came without a speaker's fee, although he received a 5 room Presidential suite in the Marriott overlooking the Nassau Coliseum and Hempstead Turnpike. We gave honorary degrees to both Barbara and George Bush, who were at the Friday night banquet, along with Brian Mulroney, the featured Speaker at the banquet. Dan Quayle and Mikhail Gorbachev were the highlights of the Saturday sessions. Over 1,000 people attended the banquet and as many as five sessions were taking place at the same time. I was able to get in a pointed question at the morning meeting with Quayle. He had reviewed the selection process for the vice presidency since Truman and had omitted Nixon's decision. In addition, I pointed out that Nixon had been very critical of the Bush presidency according to Monica Crowley's account. Nixon seemed to prefer Cuomo or even Clinton eventually to Bush. Nixon was peeved at Bush for not seeking his adviceon foreign policy, while Clinton sought out Nixon's advice.. There are a lot of similarities between Nixon and Clinton which explains Clinton's sincere eulogy in California at the Nixon Library. Both had come up from the bottom, while Bush was born with a "silver foot in his mouth." Each had received only 43 percent of the vote. Quayle claimed that he had not read Crowley's book and he guaranteed that Nixon had voted for Bush. I urged him to read it. Gorbachev received a very warm welcome and presented an account of his relationship with Bush, which was ultimately friendly. He mentioned the famous "pause" in winding down the cold war in the early Bush Administration, which is also dealt with in the Matlock memoir. He also mentioned the Malta of "seasick" summit where the Maxim Gorky came in handy as a conference ship. The Malta meeting occurred at the same time that the Aquino regime in the Philippines was in trouble and Bush was considering the use of force to keep her in power. Gorbachev supposedly reminded him that this would have been similar to the use of the Brezhnev Doctrine in Czechoslovakia. Bushcontinued to support Gorbachev as Yeltsin beegan to take over and destroy the Soviet Union. In fact, Ambassador Matlock refused to open a bottle of Champagne to "celebrate" the break-up of the Soviet Union. I had tried to ask Gorbachev a question, but he has a tendency to take too much time answering simple questions so I stood in line for 45 minutes in vain. I had wanted to mention Ed Hewitt, the young Sovietologist who died in his forties, who is mentioned in the Gorbachev Memoirs and who was Bush's principal adviser on Soviet affairs. People were rather surprised to find that Bush would appoint the liberal Hewitt. As in the past, the proceedings will be published by Greenwood. All sessions were recorded and sell for
[PEN-L:9635] Urgent Action Mexico (fwd)
Forwarded message: Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 12:51:53 -0800 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Judy Michaud) From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Christian Task Force on Central America) Subject: Urgent Action Mexico [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre), [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] (America Latina Al Dia), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Merran Smith and Mike Simpson), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Joshua Berson), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (John Anderson), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Ed Schmitt), [EMAIL PROTECTED]@mindlink.bc.ca (Junior Kunze), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (America Latina Al Dia), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Nancy Hughes), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Julie Graham), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Tom Mitchell), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (John Frazer), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (John Gabor), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Larry Kuehn- B.C. Teachers' Federation), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jim MacFarlan- B.C. Teachers' Federation), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Greg Dean), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Elsie Dean), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Eric Ann Robinson), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Bob Everton), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Dorothy Bartoszewski), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Robert Katherine Pepper-Smith), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Bridget Rivers-Moore), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (June Len Lythgoe), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Alex Boronowski), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Tom Mitchell), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Junior Kunze), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Ann Kujundzic), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Fiona Jeffries), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Brad Hornick), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Claudio Vidal), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Sid Shniad), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Julia MacRae), [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Roberta Kirby) Dear Friends: We received a request from Amnesty International concerning two international human rights defenders Vilma Nunez de Escorcia, Nicaraguan national and Benjamin Cuellar, Salvadorean national, who may be facing imminent and arbitrary deportation from Mexico where they are currently investigating human rights violations. Amnesty international is extremely concerned because it believes that this would establish a very negative precedent for the international monitoring of human rights in Mexico and represent a grave setback for human rights protection in that country. Vilma Nunez de Escorcia and Benjamin Cuellar, members of a delegation of the Federacion Internacional de Derechos Humanos (FIDH), International Federation of Human Rights (based in France), had their visas withdrawn by members of Mexican immigration in Acapulco, state of Guerrero, on 16 April 1997. Vilma Nunez and Benjamin Cuellar, as well as two other delegates of the FIDH, arrived in Mexico a week earlier, invited by a number of Mexican human rights non-governmental organizations to carry out investigations into the human rights situation in the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas. The delegation had visited a prison in Acapulco and gathered testimonies from torture victims on the day that their visas were withdrawn. The other two members of the delegation, lawyer Gilberte Deboisvieux (f) from France and Fernando Mejia (no nationality given), did not have their visas withdrawn. Vilma Nunez is director of the Centro Nicaraguense de Derechos Humanos (CENIDH), Nicaraguan Centre for Human Rights. Benjamin Cuellar is director of the Instituto de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Centroamericana (IDHUCA), Central American University Human Rights Institute, El Salvador. Under Article 33 of the Mexican Constitution the government may deport foreign nationals who engage in open political activism in the country. Although ill-defined, Article 33 is normally interpreted as applying to foreign nationals involved in Mexican party politics. Amnesty International is alarmed at the arbitrary use of Article 33 against foreign nationals solely for their peaceful activities on behalf of victims of violations of human rights. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Amnesty International has condemned the Mexican Government for similarly expelling other human rights defenders in the past. On 23 June 1995, Fathers Rodolfo Izal Erloz (Spanish national), Loren Riebe (USA national) and Jorge Baron Gutlein (Argentine national), were arbitrarily arrested and expelled by the Mexican Government. The three were prominent human rights activists in Chiapas (See UA 148/95, AMR 41/12/95, 23 June 1995 and Further information AMR 41/13/95, 26 June 1995. See also Central America and Human rights violations in Mexico: A challenge for the nineties, AMR 41/21/95, November 1995). RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send faxes/airmail letters : - expressing serious concern that Vilma Nunez and Benjamin Cuellar, Central American human rights defenders, have had their visas withdrawn by Mexican immigration officials, on 16 April 1997, in Acapulco, state of Guerrero; - urging that they be allowed to continue their peaceful activities in Mexico on behalf of a
[PEN-L:9634] Re: Peru
Given Fujimori's zeal in his efforts to destroy Peru's guerrilla movements, it would have seemed suspicious had they not all been killed. Steven Zahniser On Wed, 23 Apr 1997, James Devine wrote: does anyone on pen-l have any special information about the government raid on the Japanese ambassador's mansion (ending the hostage sitation)? it seems very suspicious that ALL of the hostage-takers were killed. It sure sounds like some of the hostage-takers were killed after they were taken prisoner ...
[PEN-L:9633] West Bank Teachers Protest PA Detention of Co-Workers
eyewitness report from hebron... ___ Robert Naiman [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Forwarded message -- Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 16:55:38 -0400 (EDT) From: CPTeam Subject: West BankTeachers Protest PA Detention of Co-Workers 23 April 1997 HEBRON: West BankTeachers Protest PA Detention of Co-Workers by Mark Frey HEBRON, WEST BANK -- Over 500 teachers marched through the streets of Hebron toady in protest of the detention of 25 teachers by Palestinian Authority (PA) Security forces on 21 April. The march was the latest expression of West Bank teachers three month struggle with the PA for better wages and work conditions. The detainees are known to be the representative leadership of the teachers movement. As hundreds of teachers gathered this afternoon in Hebron and began their march, Palestinian police and Preventive Security told the crowd the march was illegal. The crowd ignored the police and marched anyway, gathering at a local high school to issue statements. Police did not interfere with the protest. For the past three months, teachers have been demanding better pension plans and a 100% salary increase over current levels which now average $300US a month. Teachers decided to strike on 3 April, rejecting a modest PA proposal of a 10% increase, and defying the PAs threats to fire leaders of the teachers union. The PA responded by suspending 19 teachers for their role in organizing the labor union. In response, teachers throughout the West Bank stopped classes and went on strike. The non-partisan teacher movement is the first real peoples social movement under the Palestinian Authority. Many are watching events closely to monitor how Chairman Arafat and the PA are responding to the teachers strike and nonviolent struggle for better wages. Teacher representatives recently met with Chairman Arafat on 19 April to negotiate a solution. The meeting was a failure. Sources say Arafat insulted the teachers leadership and refused to dialogue. Following the meeting, the PA unilaterally announced to the media that the teachers strike had ended, in direct opposition to the position of the teacher leadership which continued to call for all teachers to maintain the strike. The union leadership polled teachers on 21-22 April regarding the strike. The results of that poll will guide future decisions about continuing the strike. Today, protesting teachers called for the immediate release of the detained teachers as a show of the PAs willingness to continue good-faith negotiations and as a pre-condition for consideration for ending the strike. While one major issue is the teachers wages, perhaps more importantly the teachers are looking for an "agreement in principle" from the PA that their wages should be significantly increased. _ Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is an initiative among Mennonite and Brethren congregations, and Friends meetings who support violence reduction Teams around the world. Contact CPT at P.O. Box 6508 Chicago, IL 60680 USA; Tel: 312-455-1199; Fax: 312-666-2677; e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To join CPTNET send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and the message: Group: menno.org.cpt.news Visit us on the WEB: http://www.prairienet.org/cpt
[PEN-L:9629] Requiem for T. Blair?
A little bird told me that new polls in the UK put Tony Blair only five points ahead of the Tories. Major's campaign against the EU, in contrast to Blair's more qualified waffling, may be the cause. Since Blair has moved about as far right as one could imagine, maybe the defeat of Blair frees up the LP to find a more enjoyable way to lose an election -- e.g., rather than offering their constituents something they don't want and threatening to give it to them, maybe they can offer them something they do want on the off-chance that they might be able to come through. Alternatively we could see an LP melt-down analogous to that of the Mulrooney party, its name escapes me, in Canada. This suggests a "the worse, the better" scenario wherein things will have to get really, really bad in the UK to make possible a British social-democratic resurgence. The EU isn't doing too well in France and Germany either according to the Fin Times. Maybe the ruling class doesn't want to implement European unification and enjoy its attendant economic benefits until it has wrecked social-democratic welfare state systems in Europe. MBS === Max B. SawickyEconomic Policy Institute [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1660 L Street, NW 202-775-8810 (voice) Ste. 1200 202-775-0819 (fax)Washington, DC 20036 Opinions above do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone associated with the Economic Policy Institute. ===
[PEN-L:9626] Peru
does anyone on pen-l have any special information about the government raid on the Japanese ambassador's mansion (ending the hostage sitation)? it seems very suspicious that ALL of the hostage-takers were killed. It sure sounds like some of the hostage-takers were killed after they were taken prisoner ... in pen-l solidarity, Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ. 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045-8410 USA 310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950 "It takes a busload of faith to get by." -- Lou Reed.
[PEN-L:9624] Peru
I'm looking for someone to talk about the political economy of Peru on my radio show Thursday night, at around 5 PM New York City time. Any volunteers or nominees? Doug -- Doug Henwood Left Business Observer 250 W 85 St New York NY 10024-3217 USA +1-212-874-4020 voice +1-212-874-3137 fax email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] web: http://www.panix.com/~dhenwood/LBO_home.html
[PEN-L:9622] FW: BLS Daily Report
BLS DAILY REPORT, TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 1997: RELEASED TODAY: The U.S. Import Price Index decreased 1.4 percent in March. The decline followed decreases of 0.8 percent and 0.3 percent in February and January, respectively, and was led by a further sharp drop in petroleum prices. The U.S. Export Price Index was unchanged in March after gaining 0.2 percent in the previous month Federal Reserve Board Governor Alice Rivlin proposed that policymakers turn to a temporary solution as a way to break the impasse in the negotiations over changing the cost-of-living adjustment formulas used to increase many federal benefit programs, including Social Security and personal income brackets. In remarks following a speech to a forum sponsored by the Employment Policy Foundation, Rivlin urged members of Congress and the Clinton administration to try a "temporary fix" that would involve trimming the COLA formulas by 0.4 percentage point a year for five years. "Have it sunset in five years and then see where we are" in terms of efforts by BLS to address measurement problems, Rivlin said. She stressed that BLS should be given the resources to step up its research on CPI improvements, which has been ongoing the last several years. Rivlin explained that she would not want COLA formulas to be trimmed by the full 1.1 percentage points recommended by the Boskin commission Rivlin said: "We need to make sure to take a conservative estimate" of any CPI overstatement For its part, the BLS continues to disagree with the magnitude of the Boskin commission's findings and has begun publishing an experimental CPI that will address the so-called "substitution bias" Historical data from the experimental CPI showed that the index rose 0.25 percentage point less using a geometric mean method of calculating price change rather than the current arithmetic mean (Daily Labor Report, page A-5)_Rivlin called for a temporary and arbitrary cut in a key measure of inflation, which could shave millions of dollars from government benefit payments. Rivlin said politicians should discount the CPI by about 0.4 percentage point (Washington Times, page B7). DUE OUT TOMORROW: Productivity by Industry, 1995
[PEN-L:9619] re: civil society
Michael Perleman writes that (or quotes Thernborn that): To Hobbes and Locke, civil society was contrasted with a state of nature and was synonymous with a politically organized society. For Locke, the "state of nature" (ch. 2 of the 2nd TREATISE OF GOVERNMENT) was extremely different from Hobbes' state of nature, which he rightly called the state of _war_. (Hobbes' state of nature renders human life "nasty, brutish, short.") Locke's state of nature (unlike that of Hobbes) assumes that people will respect private property rights despite the nonexistence of a state; it is politically organized in the sense of protecting property rights without there actually being a state. As far as I can tell, this is the same as Locke's ch. 7 "political" or "civil" society. Having a state makes the enforcement of property rights easier. As Bryan Nelson (1996. WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT FROM SOCRATES TO THE AGE OF IDEOLOGY, p. 200) notes, there are two social contracts in Locke: (1) to create civil society, his state of nature; and (2) to establish the centralized state. The state is seen as the servant of the civil society created by the former social contract. The civil society outside of the state remains organized, so that if the state gets out of line (rebelling against its presumed master), Locke advocates the overthrow of the government. The new theories of civil society emphasize the point that for civil society to be coherent there have to be specific institutions (in addition to individuals or families, Locke's "conjugal society"), middle-level institutions between the state and the households. In workers' civil society, unions etc. play that kind of role. In the capitalists' civil society, the capitalist political parties (Democrats Republicans in the US), media outlets, corporations, etc. play that role. It's pretty obvious that these days, the capitalists' civil society is much more coherent than that of workers. It is presumptuous for NGOs from outside a country to portray themselves as institutions of "civil society." At best they represent civil society in the countries in which they are based. This is a form of imperialism. in pen-l solidarity, Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ. 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045-8410 USA 310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950 "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- K. Marx, paraphrasing Dante A.
[PEN-L:9620] Internet Humor
I hope you'll appreciate this: Posted on 14 Dec 1996 at 23:45:10 by TELEC List Distributor (011802) FW: Christmas restructuring... Date: Sat, 14 Dec 1996 23:45:05 -0500 Reply-To: URI Faculty Senate List [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: David Nelson [EMAIL PROTECTED] 'Tis the season The recent announcement that Donner and Blitzen have elected to take the early reindeer retirement package has triggered a good deal of concern about whether they will be replaced, and about other restructuring decisions at the North Pole. Streamlining is due to the North Pole's loss of dominance of the season's gift distribution business. Home shopping channels and mail order catalogues have diminished Santa's market share. He could not sit idly by and permit further erosion of the profit picture. The reindeer downsizing was made possible through the purchase of a late model Japanese sled for the CEO's annual trip. Improved productivity from Dasher and Dancer, who summered at the Harvard Business School, is anticipated. Reduction in reindeer will also lessen airborne environmental emissions for which the North Pole has received unfavorable press. I am pleased to inform you that Rudolph's role will not be disturbed. Tradition still counts for something at the North Pole. Management denies, in the strongest possible language, the earlier leak that Rudolph's nose got that way, not from the cold, but from substance abuse. Calling Rudolph "a lush who was into the sauce and never did pull his share of the load" was an unfortunate comment, made by one of Santa's helpers and taken out of context at a time of year when he is known to be under executive stress. As a further restructuring, today's global challenges require the North Pole to continue to look for better, more competitive steps. Effective immediately, the following economy measures are to take place in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" subsidiary: - The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree never turned out to be the cash crop forecasted. It will be replaced by a plastic hanging plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance; - The two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. The positions are therefore eliminated; - The three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves the French; - The four calling birds were replaced by an automated voice mail system, with a call waiting option. An analysis is underway to determine who the birds have been calling, how often and how long they talked; - The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors. Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative implications for institutional investors. Diversification into other precious metals as well as a mix of T-Bills and high technology stocks appear to be in order; - The six geese-a-laying constitutes a luxury which can no longer be afforded. It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg per goose per day is an example of the decline in productivity. Three geese will be let go, and an upgrading in the selection procedure by personnel will assure management that from now on every goose it gets will be a good one; - The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times. The function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order. The current swans will be retrained to learn some new strokes and therefore enhance their outplacement; - As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being sought. The more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-mending, a-mentoring or a-mulching; - Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the steps; - Ten Lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of Lords plus the expense of international air travel prompted the Compensation Committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work congressmen. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant because we expect an oversupply of unemployed congressmen this year; - Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback on new music and no uniforms will produce savings which will drop right down to the bottom line; We can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals and other expenses. Though
[PEN-L:9618] Fw: Palestine Teachers Urgent Appeal (fwd)
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 09:50:57 GMT Reply-To: Forum on Labor in the Global Economy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sender: Forum on Labor in the Global Economy [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: LabourNet [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Fw: Palestine Teachers Urgent Appeal Comments: To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Begin Included Message - Date: Tue, 22 Apr 97 22:53:16 PDT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Pal. Teachers Urgent Appeal To: LabourNet [EMAIL PROTECTED] WAC - Workers' Advice Center Jaffa 972-3-6839145 050-586198 Fax 972-3-6839148 E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] Urgent Appeal 22.4.97 25 Teachers Detained today by Palestinian Authority (PA) for their role in the strike movement The aim of the arrests is to break the strike of 15,000 teachers in Government schools who demand better wages. WAC calls upon the PA to set the detained trade unionists free and enter negotiations with their Coordinating Committee. 25 Palestinian teachers from Nablus (19) Jenin (3) and Ramallah (3) were detained last night (21.4) by Palestinian Authority (PA) Security forces, in what could be described as a dangerous turn of events of the Teachers' three months struggle for better wages and work conditions. The detainees are known to be the members of the Higher Coordinating Committee of Teachers in the Homeland's School (HCCT) that leads the struggle of the teachers. Sources in Ramallah say that PA officials threatened to arrest every teacher that was found in school as part of the strike. A meeting of the HCCT that was supposed to take place today (22.4) in Nablus was canceled as PA forces closed the area of the meeting place. Prior to the arrests the PA agreed for the first time for a meeting of the HCCT with Chairman Arafat. However the meeting that took place 19.4 was a failure. HCCT statement said that the PA neglected a previous agreement on 100-150 INS (30-45$) pay rise for all teachers as a first step for ending the strike. Furthermore according to HCCT the PA announced to the local press after the meeting the end of the strike in complete disregard to the position of the HCCT using its monopoly on the Palestinian Media. HCCT's statement refuted the announcement of the PA and called all teachers to continue their struggle.. HCCT announced that a Poll of teachers opinion will be taken 21-22.4 and a decision on the continuation of the strike will be taken accordingly. A poll in Ramallah area showed 1070 teachers (89%) supported the continuation of the strike while 137 (11%) called to end the strike. The protest activity and partial strikes of the 15,000 teachers of the Governmental schools that are under PA responsibility started in mid January 97. Its main focus was the meager wages of the teachers (250$-450$) and the continuous neglect of the PA to its promises to raise wages.It is important to note that the HCCT was formed in the midst of the strike movement after the local Branch of the Palestinian Teachers Union sided with the PA against the teachers. HCCT's statement emphasized in this respect that "the role played by the Inside (West Bank) Branch of the Teachers Union and its disregard to the teachers demands. HCCT emphasizes at the same time its commitment to the General Palestinian Teachers Union inside and outside the homeland and called for the building of a true trade union of teachers in the framework of the GPTU in the Government schools. Workers Advice Center (WAC) that works inside Israel in defense of the rights of Arab workers supports fully the teachers struggle under the leadership of the HCCT and calls upon the PA to release immediately the detained trade unionists and enter negotiations with HCCT. Protest messages are urgently needed. Send your protest to: Mr. Yasser Arafat PA President Fax: 972-7-822365-6 / Mr Yasser Amru Education Minister or Mr. Naim Abu ElHumus Deputy Minister Fax: 972-2-9985559 Spokesperson for the HCCT - Mr. Taha Nassar tel 972-2-9925277 (H) 972- 2-9929938 (W) Copies of protest massages and more information : WAC (addresses above) - E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 22/04/97 Time: 10:53:16 P.M. This message was sent by Chameleon - End of Included message
[PEN-L:9613] A true internationalist -Reply
And of course the big auto companies provided products used to oppress folk here in South Africa for many decades. An issue of the SA Labour Bulletin in the late 1970s was entitled "Working for Ford" and included shopfloor as well as ethical critiques. I was rooming at college then with the son of the Ford int'l affairs v.p. (former State Department policy maker), who was given scope to do many many geopolitical activities in Southern Africa, wholly outside the auto business, to advance broader corporate-liberal interests. And finally during the 1980s, when disinvesting, Ford sold out to Anglo American Corporation, which was not the right way to disengage. I'm also bitter because I have a 1983 Ford Escort sitting in my Jo'burg parking lot which for the life of me I can't make "roadworthy" to get licensed. Shame, as they say here with a touch of irony. (Oh yeah, noticing Louis P's citation of articles on imperial interests in Zaire, not to be outdone is the excellent Mail and Guardian, which last Friday published an extremely detailed and compelling account of how Anglo A and its diamond affiliate, De Beers, are getting mucked about by Kabila, because they had done business with corrupt elements in the Mobutu regime who tampered with a copper mining tender; check it if you like at http...www.mg.co.za/mg)
