Amid the hum of words spoken and written here in Ecuador and further afield about the events of Thursday, September 30, two are easily discernible: “coup” and “democracy”. Yet it can be argued that neither concept had much to do with what unfolded on that day.
It would be easy to say that the convulsions that gripped Ecuador on that day were just more of the same. This is a country, after all, that has deposed three elected presidents by different means (none of them impeachment), and at one stage could count 9 different presidents in 10 years.

Indymedia Links:
Failed coup attempt | The new Latin American century, FARC, arms races, US bases & sundry fibs |
Other Links:
BBC article | Chevron's ecuadorian legacy | Lasc contact link (Note to LASC: currently OPEN DNS (wrongly) completely blocks lasc website as a phishing site) |
Video Links:
Chevrontoxico campaign against chevron in ecuador | Democracy now interview with Correa | Correa on Obama and the dollar |
Wikipedia Links:
Rafael Correa | 2010 Ecuador crisis |

The mine owners were so greedy for profits they would not put in the proper safety safeguards and this is why the miners were trapped in the first place. The right wing in Chile are trying to exploit the popularity of the miners. see the right wing president at the rescue site. but it was the right wing who supported their hero the dictator Pinochet who slaughtered tens of thousands of union and left activists. if this had not happened the miners union might have been strong enough to enforce safe conditions in the mine and not been trapped in the first place.

Indymedia Links:
Chilean miners: fake solidarity in the land of "every man for himself" | Solidarity meeting for chilean miners | Whats happening in Bolivia? | Chilean miners can build a worldwide movement
Other Links:
John Pilger's take on the rescue | Chilean miners rescued after ten-week ordeal | Poor safety condemned by workers at San Jose mine | we know what's up | laborsmilitantvoice website
Wikipedia Links:
2010 Copiapó mining accident | Augusto Pinochet

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) has received word from the Irish participants on the Viva Palestina aid convoy that they crossed the border at Rafah and arrived in Gaza shortly after 7pm (Irish time). This is exactly one month after the convoy set off on its journey and despite concerted efforts by Egypt to obstruct its progress.

Related Links: Viva Palestina on Twitter | Al Jazeera report | Al Jazeera video report | Press TV report | Ireland to Gaza Facebook Page | Official Viva Palestina webpage | 'Viva Palestina Cork’ Facebook page | IPSC webpage |
Indy Links: Convoy attacked by police | Israeli kidnap kids in Bil'in | 520 activists broke down the gate at the port in El-Arish | Riot police surround activists at El-Arish | Egyptians confiscate activists passports | Convoy just hours away from breaking siege | "Defending hope in Gaza" exhibition | Interview with Derry to Gaza team |

Cutting Child Benefit
Like Taking Candy from a Baby

Children face a 'Black Christmas' as Minister Lenihan slashes child benefit by 10% in the 2010 Budget. Family incomes are being attacked from every side in this Budget, but the Government has chosen to target children for the biggest cut of all. Parents' group PACUB is horrified by the Budget, and predicts that more and more families will fall into poverty as the new decade begins.

Related Links:

Protest Against Child Unfriendly Budget - PACUB's Website | PACUB's Facebook Group | Demo Against Cuts to Child Benefit on Budget Day

Stephen Gately's Funeral
Photo © Michael Gallagher

Today's (October 16th) edition of the English newspaper "The Daily Mail" carried an opinion piece by the English journalist Jan Moir. The homophobia and inherent hatred voiced in the article led to an extraordinary amount of comments on that newspaper's website which together with reaction from other newspapers saw the title of the article changed by mid afternoon. By late afternoon an internet campaign had begun to pressure advertisers who use the Daily Mail to cut their support.

The loss of revenue to the English newspaper might be the most serious blow to its editorial policy of articulating and pandering to middle English prejudice ever. As such the article which prompted this reaction merits archiving.

Excerpts from the Daily Mail article:
"Something is terribly wrong with the way this incident has been shaped and spun into nothing more than an unfortunate mishap on a holiday weekend, like a broken teacup in the rented cottage."
...
"And I think if we are going to be honest, we would have to admit that the circumstances surrounding his death are more than a little sleazy."
...
"Another real sadness about Gately's death is that it strikes another blow to the happy-ever-after myth of civil partnerships."
...
"For once again, under the carapace of glittering, hedonistic celebrity, the ooze of a very different and more dangerous lifestyle has seeped out for all to see."
Read the full article HERE.