------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the May 31, 2001 issue of Workers World newspaper ------------------------- WORKERS AROUND THE WORLD SPAIN: ANTI-GLOBALIZATION MOVEMENT WINS IN BARCELONA The World Bank decided to cancel the annual "Bank Conference on Development Economics" in the face of planned protests. It marks the first time since the November-December 1999 demonstrations against the World Trade Organization in Seattle that the world bankers have had to cancel a meeting because of protests. The meeting had been scheduled for June 25-27 in Barcelona. The World Bank now plans to hold the event by Internet. This opens up opportunities for what is called "hacktivism." Officials announced the cancellation in a May 19 press release. "The intention of many of the groups who plan to converge on Barcelona is not to join the debate or to contribute constructively to the discussion, but to disrupt it," complained WB spokesperson Caroline Anstey. The Coordinating Commission of the Campaign Against the World Bank in Barcelona issued a statement calling the cancellation "an unprecedented success for the movement against capitalist globalization." Activists are still planning to gather in Barcelona to celebrate their success. Since Seattle, anti-capitalist activists have hounded the imperialist bankers and their spokespeople around the world-- from Prague to Melbourne to Quebec. European activists are gearing up for new protests at the Group of Eight meeting in Genoa, Italy, in July. Demonstrations are also planned for the joint IMF-World Bank meeting in Washington, D.C., scheduled for Sept. 28. ITALY: STRIKES GREET RIGHTIST GOVERNMENT Less than a week after a right-wing coalition won parliamentary elections in Italy, tens of thousands of metal workers walked off the job on May 18 to demand higher wages. "We want a contract," the union workers' banners read. Ultra-nationalist billionaire Silvio Berlusconi had promised to be the "workers' prime minister" during the election campaign. His theme of a "contract with Italy" was eerily reminiscent of the "Contract with America" used by the right wing of the U.S. Republican Party in the mid-1990s. "Now sign the contract," demanded the metal workers. The union has been waging a contract campaign for higher wages for months, and bosses appear to be holding firm. The last time Berlusconi was prime minister, in 1994, mass strikes and protests toppled his government within seven months. GREECE: GENERAL STRIKE AGAINST CUTBACKS Greek workers staged the second general strike in a month on May 17 against government plans to cut pensions and raise the retirement age. Transportation in the capital city of Athens was completely paralyzed. Schools and hospitals shut down as well. Tens of thousands of workers marched on the parliament building during the day of protest. COLOMBIA: STRIKES HIT IMF AUSTERITY PLAN Hundreds of thousands of teachers and medical workers walked off the job on May 15 to protest the Colombian government's IMF-backed austerity plans. Union leaders charge that the government's economic plans would slash spending on social services. Reuters estimated that 300,000 teachers--members of the militant union FECODE--and 90,000 medical workers joined the strike the first day. Unions warned that the strike would continue indefinitely until the government backed down from its budget-slashing. "This is a patriotic strike to defend resources for health and education," said FECODE leader Gloria Ines Ramirez. "We are going to see if for the first time, [Colombian President] Pastrana listens to the people instead of answering to the IMF." The Pastrana government's cuts in spending come amid Colombia's most severe depression in 70 years--some economists call it the worst depression ever. Unemployment is running at over 20 percent, and more than half the country's population lives below the poverty line. POLITICAL PRISONERS FREED While talks between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC- EP) have stalled over the government's refusal to move on exchanging prisoners of war, the FARC-EP took matters into their own hands on May 7. In a bold action, a FARC-EP unit blew open the gates of a prison in Caloto, freeing 68 of their comrades. The massive operation brings the total number of political prisoners and prisoners of war freed by the FARC-EP to well over 120 this year alone. The FARC-EP has been engaged in talks with the Colombian government for over two years to address the social roots of the over 40-year war there. The revolutionary group has demanded that the government negotiate an exchange of prisoners. The FARC-EP holds hundreds of government soldiers and police officers who have been captured in raids and attacks. - END - (Copyright 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) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
