Last Release: Tuesday, December 2, 2003

Left Hook Exclusive: Interview with Norman Finkelstein | M. Junaid Alam

M. Junaid Alam, co-editor and webmaster of the new leftist journal for American youth, Left Hook (http://www.lefthook.org), recently had the opportunity to interview Norman Finkelstein, prominent and outspoken critic of Israel and son of Nazi holocaust survivors. Mr. Finkelstein is a professor of Political Science at DePaul University in Chicago and the author of the authoritative and controversial books Imagine and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict and The Holocaust Industry.
{Read full interview here}

An Independent Rally for the Striking Grocery Workers | Josh Saxe

"We are engaged in a war," belted the small-framed Grace Regullano through a borrowed sound system mounted on a pickup truck. Beverly Hills sparkled under the midday sun, and Grace's audience - a couple hundred hard-pressed striking workers and ragged activists, jarred against the backdrop of an upscale Pavilions grocery store. A painted LASSO banner fluttered behind her, the translation of the acronym written below in black handwritten letters - "Los Angeles Strikers' Solidarity Organization." (Read full)

Coup at Amnesty International: Venezuelan Human Rights, Canadian Film Festivals and Censorship | Mac Stainsby

I used to canvass for Amnesty International. They are one of several progressive but not openly radical NGO's I have worked for, and I've learned a great deal about talking to strangers about political issues from this experience. I've had some serious misgivings about working with the organization--I was not interested in Amnesty's penchant for being 'extra tough' on those very countries that the United States or other imperialist countries have lined up through their militarist or colonialist sights--nonetheless, I preferred to spend my wage earning days talking about Guantanamo Bay, even if I put unrealistic stress on that issue compared to AI in general. I also spoke to people about the real life example of a man I met who was a former dissident from Iran-- he told me of his story of getting out of Iran, only to arrive in Pakistan and somehow then, making it to Canada. Once he arrived, he was told that he didn't qualify as a political refugee and was to be deported back to Iran directly, as Pakistan didn't want him either. AI apparently took up his case and shortly thereafter he was recognized as a legitimate human rights political refugee case; he says Amnesty saved his life-and this story became the 'personal touch' I used to help bring in enough donations and memberships to safely keep my job. (Read full)

Last Release: Tuesday, November 25, 2003

An Interview with Author and Radical Economist Michael Yates | Derek Seidman

Left Hook's Derek Seidman interviewed Michael Yates, author of the new book Naming the System: Inequality and Work in the Global Economy. Yates is a radical economist, a longtime labor educator, and a former Professor of Economics at the University of Pittsburg. He is the author of numerous books, including , Longer Hours, Fewer Jobs and Why Unions Matter. He is currently the associate editor of Monthly Review. (Read interview here)

Michael Yates' Naming the System: Inequality and Work in the Global Economy | Derek Seidman

In his new work, Naming the System: Inequality and Work in the Global Economy, radical economist and labor educator Michael D. Yates attempts to illustrate the reality of the post-1990s-boom global capitalism for the people of the world. He debunks the myths of the "new economy", showing how the major problems we see in the world today-once dismissed by neoliberal advocates as a thing of the past-are in fact inevitable byproducts of the capitalist system. In doing so, he paints a compelling picture-pillared by up-to-date facts and trends and personal stories-of the miserable reality that capitalism has rendered for the majority of the world's inhabitants. If these facts and illustrations weren't enough to discredit the reigning economic system, Yates in turn uses them, as well as the basic tenets of radical economic theory, to issue a scathing critique of neoliberalism. (Read full review here)

Nigerian Capitalism Since 1980: Failures of the Free-Market | Chad Faldt

The direction of Nigerian capitalism since 1980 has lead to a further reduction in living standards for people in the already-impoverished country. Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria has pursued positive relations with its former colonial overlords, and extended its ties with neo-colonial states, particularly the United States. After the Biafran war of secession the Nigerian government began to pursue the attainment of limited autonomy in its diplomatic relations and control of the domestic economy. The 1970's saw the oil boom, and partial 'nationalizations' of foreign oil companies operating in the country. (Read full)

Bus Riders' Strike in Los Angeles | Sergio Jimenez

On Thursday, November 13th, the Bus Riders Union organized a rally protest on the corner of 7th and Figueroa, in downtown Los Angeles, in support of the stranded bus riders and striking mechanics/ bus drivers of the ATU. The event took place at around 5:00 pm in one of the busiest intersections in Los Angeles. (Read full)

Last Release: Friday, November 21, 2003

Cautious Optimism for Anti-Occupation (Not Win-the-Occupation) Movement | Derrik O'Keefe

October 25 was the largest international mobilization against the occupation of Iraq since last April, and -at least from the view north of the 49th parallel -the unity in action achieved between the United for Peace and Justice and the International ANSWER coalitions appears significant. The participation of GIs and their families is also a major development, coming as it does amidst growing reports of demoralization in the ranks of U.S. occupation forces. The slogan "Bring The Troops Home" is beginning to resonate at some level within the economic conscript army, the GIs and their families. This unity and GI participation bode well for the size of future actions, such as the March 20, 2004 demonstration that will mark one year since the bombing of Iraq began. (Read full)

Noam Chomsky at Columbia: After the War | Derek Seidman

I was lucky enough to snag a ticket to see Noam Chomsky speak yesterday at Columbia University's Miller Theatre. The tickets were sold out over a week ago, and it was only by persistently haggling the event's organizer that I was able to secure a spot. It was well worth the effort, as Chomsky was nothing short of brilliant. The event was dedicated to the late Edward Said, a tireless anti-imperialist and fighter for Palestinian justice, and a close friend of Chomsky's. (Read full)

The Awakening of California Immigrant Labor | Javier Armas

The Democrats and Republicans have been using California immigrants a pawn in their political game. Democrats Gray Davis and Cruz Bustamante both voted down a bill to give immigrants their California driver's license. But, feeling the pressure from the Republicans in the recall, they did a 180-degree turn and voted for the bill, which passed. While the myth is that the Republicans are protecting the poor whites against these parasitic immigrants whom the Democrats are allied with, this is just a classic case of good cop, bad cop. (Read full article)

Happy Holidays | Morgan Southwood

The Holiday season is almost upon us again, friends and neighbors. For the last four or five years now I've wished that I had the money to spend it in a totally non-Christian country, like Nepal, but since I'm stuck here I'm forced to be a grudging participant in the Christmas season consumer frenzy. Last year I boogied on over to the mall to pick out a toy for some unprivileged (what a euphemism, huh?) kid. My Mom's workplace sponsors a family from the battered women's shelter and I wanted to help out a bit. (Read full article)

Iraq's Spears | A Poem By M. Junaid Alam

Behold, the army of (shock and) awe!
Spears, swords, canons, cavalry
tipped, tainted, powdered, and pruned
in the arrogance of empire
(Read full poem)

Release Date: Monday, November 17, 2003

Iraq: As the Resistance Grows, So Does Demoralization of the Troops | Derek Seidman

The euphoria over a victorious invasion has quickly vanished as the occupation of Iraq becomes a living nightmare. The reality of the situation is setting in more firmly with every reported death and without any legitimate sign of progress or possible exit. (Read here)

The Dean Deception | Keith Rosenthal

With Howard Dean currently leading in the polls in the key election primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire, the choice for voters in 2004 could very well be between the man from Vermont and the man from Texas. The question is: Does Dean deserve your vote and your hope? His record as governor of Vermont holds some clues. (Read full)

The Politics of Fear, Guilt and War: Image is everything | Fabricio Rodriguez

Out of deep desperation and want for the "authentic," the public latched onto the slogan, "Image is nothing! Thirst is everything! Obey your thirst!" In 1993, Sprite begged the citizen consumer to rebel against the hype. The commercial series that sold being "real" pushed sales up 13% over the course of the campaign. (Read full article)

Dead Prez: Get Free or Die Trying | Review by Ryan Graham

During the late 90s' hip-hop witnessed a resurgence of advocacy for revolution and black self-love that hadn't been heard since the heyday of Public Enemy. Dead Prez is one of the better groups to emerge from this new school that melds social revolution to the urban realism of thug life. As Dead Prez conceives it, thug living does not revolve around the self-cannibalism of gangsta rap, but rather a need to politically enhance the lives of black and brown men who struggle for survival in America's inner cities. (Read full review)

Bye-Bye Birdie: A New Presidential Seal | A Play by Lindsay M. Levesque

VICE PRESIDENT

(Dubya stares at him blankly.)

VICE PRESIDENT

A Couple Anti-War Raps | M. Junaid Alam

Download "No to War" here and "Liberate Iraq" here.

(Quicktime or Winamp recommended; to download to hard drive, right-click link, and press "Save Target As")

Launch Release: Tuesday, November 11, 2003

Left Hook Exclusive: An Interview with Stan Goff

Stan Goff knows better than most people about what really goes on in the US military. He served from 1970 through 1996, for many years as a Master Sergeant with the Special Forces and Delta Force and as a military instructor at West Point. In the process of his military career he was deployed to Vietnam, South Korea, Colombia, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, Somalia, and Haiti. Retired, he is now an anti-imperialist activist and founder of Bring Them Home Now. He is the author of Hideous Dream: A Soldier's Memoir of the US Invasion of Haiti, as well as the forthcoming Full Spectrum Disorder. He lives in Raleigh, NC.

Left Hook's Derek Seidman was able to interview Stan Goff. {Read full here}

Yes, The Iraqis Are Celebrating: Bust a Move for the Occupation | M. Junaid Alam

Six months after the American liberation of Iraq, celebration among the natives is in full swing. But will the US survive the party?

The rapidly decreasing morale and increasingly high suicide rate among US soldiers in Iraq is probably attributable to the ululating musicals being sung by the locals in their honor - not exactly Metallica material. Helicopter crewmen, too, have been irked as villagers below happily hurl flowers in the air with such vigor that it's doing a number on the rotor blades. Even Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz of Arabia, official groom of the uppity Iraqi bride, ditched the wedding after uninvited guests pelted him with rice through the windows of the fabulous Rasheed hotel. {Read full article here}

Workers' Upheaval in Southern California | Michael Schwartz

We are in the midst of the largest labor struggle since the UPS workers went on strike in 1997. In the late evening of October 11th a strike was called by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) against Vons and Pavilions (Safeway). Their "competitors", Ralphs (Kroger) and Albertsons immediately responded by locking out all of their unionized workers. {Read full article}

Thanks, America: Letting Us Die For You | A Screenplay by Lindsay M. Levesque

AHMED
I thought the war was over, Sir.

DONALD
Oh yeah…About that…Just get out there and keep your head down. Lotta guys lose their heads the first day.

AHMED
You can trust me, Sir. I paid close attention to the thirty-minute training video your American troops showed at the bombed-out movie theatre. I'm ready to keep the peace. (Read full screenplay)

Death Penalty Protest in Austin Texas | Matthew Wackerle

Hundreds gathered at a local park in Austin today to protest the death penalty in a state that leads the USA and much of the world in executions. Protestors marched to the state capital building chanting slogans such as, "You say death row, we say hell no!" as some Austin residents left the sidewalks to join the ranks that included a variety of political and religious organizations as well as relatives of inmates currently on death row who are awaiting execution. The annual march drew participants from all over Texas - particularly from the cities of Houston and, of course, Austin. (Read full article)

The LA Supermarkets on Strike | Javier Armas

Recently, 70,000 supermarket workers from three different companies in Southern California went on strike. It started when Vons/Pavilion attempted to push a new contract that sliced away at healthcare and pensions. In response the workers union, the UFCW, rejected the contract and went on strike to bargain for the same wages and benefits that existed before. (Read full article)

Musa Goes to Jerusalem | A Short Story by Josh Saxe

A gagging silence smothered the Palestinian city of Bethlehem that Monday night, enforced by adolescent Israeli soldiers manning hulking tanks and razor-wire checkpoints. It was a tense silence; Palestinians dreaming of street executions, broken families and house demolitions, gun butts, Friday market strip searches, murdered siblings; although many still dreamt cautiously of the stuff of everyday life. Musa dreamt of his six year old sister, and when he awoke at 4AM to the familiar smell of shit dripping from his water-warped ceiling into a plastic bucket, his heart pumping, he felt his hand clutching hers. She lay heaving and groaning next to him - she could not live more than a few days and push or shove they would have to get her to the hospital. A resolve to make this happen hardened within him, he had made his decision in his sleep, it felt irreversible. (Read full story)

The Master Race Marches | A Poem By M. Junaid Alam

Slaves of Man, arise:
The Master Race marches.
Can you not hear the clanging of your chains
Or the beating of Their breasts?
(Read full poem)