>people. But the question is, how to get there? How can it be >done without asserting the authority of the working class >and the oppressed? Once the old state is overwhelmed by the >militant struggle of the people and dismantled, does this >mean that the revolution has accomplished its goals? > >The day after the revolution, immense inequality will still >exist. Some classes have enjoyed everything that society has >to offer for generations; others have been virtually >enslaved for generations. And that also goes for whole >nations. > >There must be a plan to restructure human society so that, >in as short a time as possible, those at the bottom can be >lifted up while those who had been at the top are prevented >from creeping back into positions of power and influence. >And there must be a vigilant organization with the power to >enforce the revolutionary will of the working class. > >Giving up state power to the new bourgeoisie--often without >a fight--was the greatest sin of the bureaucrats in the >former workers' states. > >As long as there is inequality in the world, there will be >states. The difference between a capitalist state and a >workers' state, however, is that the former exists to defend >the privileges of a few, and is therefore self-perpetuating, >while the latter exists to end privilege and create a >classless society, thereby dissolving itself. As the >revolutionary party realizes this goal, the state becomes >more and more an organ to administer social and economic >relations and less and less an organ of repression--until it >ceases to be a state at all. > >- END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > > > > >Message-ID: <009001c0620d$5b0c3f00$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] How Cuba combated its economic crisis >Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 13:25:06 -0500 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Dec. 14, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >HOW CUBA COMBATED ITS ECONOMIC CRISIS > >By Gloria La Riva >Havana > >Revolutionary leaders who spoke at the Second World Meeting >of Friend ship and Solidarity with Cuba here Nov. 10-14 >conveyed revolutionary optimism about the island's future >and further encouraged the 4,000 international delegates to >continue building the worldwide solidarity movement. > >It's that confidence in the revolution and 10 years of great >sacrifices by Cuba's people and leaders that have assured >the survival of its socialist system. While other countries >have been dragged down by capitalist globalization, while >hunger and misery are on the rise worldwide, Cuba continues >to provide free health care, education and housing for all. > >Only a system based on human needs and free of profits has >enabled the country to set priorities for resources and >mobilize the people. The Cubans who spoke at the conference >aptly communicated this. > >One of those leaders, Carlos Lage, addressed the delegates >on the opening day. He delivered an illuminating speech on >the factors in Cuba's economic recovery. > >Lage is second vice president of Cuba's Council of State. He >has played a key role in formulating the country's economic >strategy of the last decade. > >Cuba has endured one of the toughest struggles for survival >any country has been subjected to. > >Beginning in 1990, Cuba had to withstand a double blow. >First was the economic crisis brought on by the collapse of >the Soviet Union, Cuba's main trading partner for almost 30 >years. Second was the harsh tightening of the U.S. blockade. >Laws like the 1992 Torricelli Act and the 1996 Helms-Burton >Act became part of the U.S. arsenal to try to asphyxiate the >revolution. > >But Cuba not only survived--it has come through the test of >fire with more unity, political strength and popular will to >defend socialism. > >Lage spoke of how Cuba persevered against U.S. aggression >and the socialist camp's disappearance. > >'HEROISM OF THE PEOPLE' > >"How have we been able to make the achievements we have?" >Lage asked. "The principal reason is the heroism of the >people, its capacity to resist, its stoicism, its confidence >in the revolution and confidence in Fidel." > >Before 1989, advantageous trade agreements with the Soviet >Union and the socialist camp enabled Cuba to develop. > >The Soviet leadership unilaterally suspended trade in 1990. >The ensuing loss of imports brutally hit Cuba's economy. >Imports dropped from $8.1 billion to $1.2 billion within one >year. > >Food, medicine, fuel and energy, transport, industrial and >agricultural production--all of the country's most essential >needs were severely affected. > >Cuba seemed alone. The Eastern European countries had >abandoned their socialist systems and succumbed to the siren >song of capitalism. > >President Fidel Castro prepared the Cuban people for what he >called a "Special Period in Time of Peace." He explained >that the country would need solidarity, determination to >defend socialism and an economic strategy to survive the >crisis intact. > >"Fidel, at the beginning of the Special Period, said the >first thing is to resist, the most important thing," Lage >noted. > >"We applied economic changes that were inevitable. The >socialist camp no longer existed. The loss of trade with the >socialist bloc, in which we received preferential prices, >coincided with a period of faster globalization all over the >world. > >"[We undertook] absolutely essential changes so we could >continue building socialism. It was not possible to conceive >of an isolated economy; it is not necessary to close >ourselves off to defend socialism. The main mechanisms we >use are the mechanisms of socialism. Our main lever is the >mobilization of the people." > >Instead of falsely describing the reforms as "market >socialism," they were frankly explained as capitalist-style >economic measures--steps backward needed to revive a >devastated economy and preserve the socialist gains of free >health care, education and housing for all. > >'WE DON'T SUBORDINATE OUR COUNTRY TO THE MARKET' > >Lage shed light on Cuba's socialist outlook in employing the >reforms. He said that, although it's still virtually >impossible for Cuba to obtain financial credits from abroad, >"We will never accept financing with conditions, conditions >that go against principles of the revolution and socialism. >We still need to struggle for the people of the world. We >don't subordinate our country to the market. Economics must >be subordinate to politics." > >He explained that the government has accepted foreign >investment only where Cuba doesn't have sufficient financial >means or technology. "We don't need foreign investment to >help us produce rum," Lage said, "what we need help with is >marketing." > >So Cuba entered into an international marketing agreement >while leaving the means of production in the hands of the >workers' state. > >Foreign investment reached $4.5 billion in recent years. >"But we have promoted foreign investment on very clear >principles," Lage said. "The goal is not to turn the country >over to foreign capital, but to attract capital to help us >develop." > >The results have been impressive. In 1994, the peso had >devalued to 150 per one U.S. dollar. Today the value is 20 >or 21 pesos to the dollar, a recovery unparalleled in the >rest of Latin America. > >'WE STRUGGLE TO MAXIMIZE EQUALITY' > >Lage spoke about the difficulties Cuba still faces and the >problems that have arisen with the introduction of >capitalist measures. > >"Some inequalities have arisen," he reported, "but we >struggle to maximize equality and minimize injustice. These >inequalities are rejected by a large part of our people and >we are opposed to them." > >Lage gave examples of some policies implemented to >counteract inequality, like maintaining the food rationing >system for every Cuban at 1960 prices. Medical workers' and >educators' pay has been raised recently, he said. > >The population's caloric intake has also increased. Cuba's >food crisis reached its worst level in the early 1990s, when >daily caloric intake dropped under 2,000. Before the Special >Period it was 3,000 calories; now Cubans are consuming 2,400 >calories per day. > >Power outages, which once lasted for hours almost daily, are >virtually nonexistent. > >"We have overcome the worst," Lage stated, "but the harsh >conditions still remain. Material constraints are worse than >before the Special Period. > >"But we are fully optimistic about the future of the >revolution," he said. "The blockade is not eternal; every >day it is more scorned, even in the United States. Yesterday >the United Nations General Assembly voted 167 in favor of >ending the blockade. Three were against and there were four >abstentions." > >Lage added: "The blockade can last 50 years or 1,000 years, >but we will never surrender a single one of our principles. >We will continue advancing. The revolution is stronger than >ever, because we believe more in the ideas of socialism, the >ideas of the revolution and of Fidel. > >"And I want to express the immense satisfaction that the >Cuban people feel at your presence, true and dear friends of >Cuba," Lage concluded. "The question at the first solidarity >gathering in 1994 was not whether the revolution would >survive, but whether you had faith in the revolution. > >"You had confidence in us, and it has been an extraordinary >moral support for all Cubans." > >The writer was a delegate to the Second World Meeting of >Friendship and Solidarity with Cuba. > >- END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > > > >Message-ID: <009801c0620d$6c5e7340$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Media give distorted view of Haitian vote >Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 13:25:35 -0500 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Dec. 14, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >ELECTION HYPOCRISY: MEDIA GIVE DISTORTED VIEW OF HAITIAN VOTE > >By G. Dunkel > >Jean-Bertrand Aristide will be Haiti's next president. He >received over 91 percent of the votes cast in that country's >Nov. 26 presidential election. > >A surprising number of North American newspapers covered the >election. And not just major newspapers known for their >international coverage, like the Washington Post, New York >Times and Toronto Star. > >Nor was it confined to regional papers that serve areas with >large Haitian communities, like the New York Daily News, >Newsday, the Montreal Gazette, the Boston Globe and the St. >Petersburg Times. > >Papers like the Calgary Herald, the San Diego Union-Tribune, >the Houston Chronicle, the Omaha World-Herald and the St. >Louis Post-Dispatch all ran stories or editorials on this >election. > >You might think that among all these stories in papers >spread over the vastness of North America there would be >divergent views. But all of the commentaries were remarkably >similar. > >Elections in Haiti were chaotic and badly run, they said. >Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his party, the Fanmi Lavalas >(Lavalas Family), would most likely win but there were no >foreign observers to guarantee the integrity of the polling, >they said. > >Parliamentary elections last May were rigged, they claimed, >and the Election Board (CEP) was composed of Fanmi Lavalas >partisans. > >Some reporters even interviewed Haitian "opposition" leaders >without explaining their backgrounds, so workers here >couldn't evaluate their charges. > >For example, when the Los Angeles Times quoted Chavannes >Jean-Baptiste, a "peasant leader" in the Central Plateau who >says he is "hiding from armed assassins," it should have >also reported that he is in a political alliance with forces >that supported the old Duvalier dictatorship and the 1991 >coup against Aristide. > >Other supposedly "independent" sources, like the Haitian >radio stations Radio Metropole and Radio Galaxie, called the >election illegitimate because "opposition parties did not >participate." They gave wildly deflated estimates of voter >turnout--5 percent or less. The official figure from the CEP >said turnout was over 63 percent. > >A number of reports made a point of emphasizing the >"violence" on election day. Two pipe bombs exploded in Port- >au-Prince, Haiti's capital, and one or two elsewhere. > >But compared to earlier elections, there was no large-scale >violence. > >ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE > >Haiti Progress--a progressive newspaper that is published in >French, Creole and English in Brooklyn, N.Y., and has >editorial offices in Port-au-Prince and correspondents >throughout Haiti--reported that the election represented a >"people's victory" and was a "check to terror." It pointed >out that the elections "unfolded with dignity and serenity." > >On Dec. 3 the New York Times Week in Review ran an article >with the following admission buried near the end of the >story: "... even diplomats and members of civic groups >critical of Mr. Aristide admit that Lavalas enjoyed such >popular support that it was virtually guaranteed convincing >victories." > >While the big-business media were unanimously critical of >Haiti's election, they all made a big point of saying it was >not comparable to the mess a few miles north in Florida. >This would be a "glib comparison," they said. > >Of course, Haiti is far poorer than Florida. Some polling >places lacked electricity; paper ballots had to be counted >by hand using candles or flashlights. > >But they were counted. The administrative problems due to >Haiti's poverty were overcome and the results were announced >within a week. > >Florida has electricity. But many of the votes cast by its >Black citizens--including those of Haitian descent--will not >be counted. > >The whole media campaign against the Haitian elections is >consistent with the racist attitude the U.S. ruling class >has held against Haiti since that country threw off its >French slave masters and declared itself independent in >1804. > >But it has another point too: to cast doubt on Aristide's >victory and his support among the Haitian people. These are >steps to prepare the U.S. people for intervention in Haiti >against Aristide and the masses, to keep Haiti from >following the example of its neighbor, socialist Cuba. > >For eyewitness reports on the Haitian elections, readers can >visit the Haiti Progress Web site at www.haitiprogres.com > >- END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > > > > >Message-ID: <00a001c0620d$80cba320$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Israeli troops shoot to maim Palestinian youths >Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 13:26:09 -0500 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Dec. 14, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >ISRAELI TROOPS SHOOT TO MAIM PALESTINIAN YOUTHS > >By John Catalinotto > >After a few days when the casualty numbers began to grow >more slowly, Israeli military forces initiated a bombing >attack on the West Bank town of Bethlehem Dec. 3. > >Israeli settlers, backed by the military, attacked >Palestinian Muslims near the shrine of Rachel's Tomb. > >The two sides clashed for hours. Israeli helicopter gun >ships opened fire with rockets at the nearby Aida refugee >camp. > >Fourteen Palestinians were seriously wounded late Dec. 3 and >early Dec. 4, Palestinian hospitals reported. > >So far almost 300 people have been killed in the fighting >and close to 10,000 injured. Almost all those killed or >seriously injured are Palestinians shot by Israeli troops >and settlers. > >Israeli troops are ordered to shoot to maim the young >Palestinian demonstrators, who are mostly armed only with >stones and slingshots, by targeting their legs so that the >victims are permanently disabled. > >According to an interview with an Israeli sharpshooter >published in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the troops are >not supposed to shoot at people unless "they are more than >12 years old." This order came as result of the bad >publicity after Israeli forces were videotaped murdering a >Palestinian child who was trying to take cover with his >father. > >After admitting they had killed the child, Israeli officers >tried to claim he had been killed by the Palestinian side, >in a vain attempt to reverse the bad publicity. This "big >lie" came a little late. > >But Israeli forces have a public-relations problem because >the vast majority of conflicts are between rock-throwing >Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers armed to the teeth >with U.S.-provided machine guns, tanks, rockets, etc. Any >honest reporting exposes these criminal attacks on a >civilian population. So they have been using even harsher >methods to control publicity. > >ISRAELIS TARGET JOURNALISTS > >According to a report published recently by the Committee to >Protect Journalists, between Sept. 28 and early November, 24 >journalists covering the Intifada were injured or harassed-- >22 of them by the Israeli side. That includes shooting live >ammunition at 13 journalists, holding journalists for >questioning, preventing their entry into certain areas and >confiscating press credentials. > >Of the three shootings the Israeli military investigated, it >turned out the Israeli army had indeed shot the reporters. >The report does not claim that the Israelis targeted the >reporters, but some reporters believe they did. > >Not only have Palestinian youths been punished mercilessly >for rising up against their occupiers, but the Palestinian >population in general has been suffering from a siege of >their territory and extensive curfews. Also Israeli >settlers, often backed by troops, have destroyed hundreds of >olive and orange trees that Palestinian farmers depend on >for their livelihood. > >There are 195,000 Israeli settlers living among the 3 >million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. The settlers >live in prosperous suburban housing on the hills near >Jerusalem or scattered on the better farmland further away >from Israeli towns. > >These settlers are connected to each other and to Israeli by >a system of highways. Palestinians are not allowed onto the >highways. > >When the Israeli regime denies freedom of movement to the >Palestinians, it cuts off the major part of their income. >That's why there are reports that the Palestinian population >is on the verge of hunger in many areas. > >When Palestinian women demonstrated on Nov. 29, the Day of >Solidarity with Palestine, they ended their demands with the >following plea: > >"We mothers, wives and daughters can no longer endure seeing >our loved ones killed, maimed and injured on a daily basis. >Our Intifada is an expression of our quest for liberation, >freedom and dignity. We appeal to all women of the world to >understand our worthy cause and support us in our struggle >for justice and peace." > >- END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > > > > _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for geopolitics. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
