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August 17, 2001 | Issue 375
FRONT AND BACK PAGES
Cowboy George enjoys a vacation as thousands of New Yorkers…
Left out on the street
George W. Bush has spent nearly 42 percent of his time as president on or en route to vacations. But a record number of New Yorkers don't face the dilemma of which house to vacation in. Because they don't have even one home.
Texas wants to kill Napolean Beazley
Stop the racist death penalty
The state of Texas is ready to kill Napolean Beazley. As Socialist Worker went to press, Napolean was due to go to the execution chamber August 15, for a crime he committed when he was only 17 years old.
March for justice in New York City
Keep the dream alive
In the spirit of the civil rights movement, thousands of people involved in community groups, civil rights organizations, churches and others will rally at the United Nations (UN) August 25 for social and economic justice across the world.
SPECIAL FEATURES
What's next for the global justice movement?
Lessons of Genoa
Socialist Worker talked to two participants in last month's protests against the Group of Eight in Genoa, Italy--about the aftermath of the demonstrations and the challenges ahead.
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WHAT WE THINK
Media swoons over the Bush gang's victories in Congress
Spinmasters and lapdogs
Within a few days in early August, the Bush administration went from the gang that couldn't shoot straight to cool political pros at the top of their game. At least that's how the media saw it.
Nader and friends hit the road for a series of super rallies
The return of Ralph
You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. That's the Democrats' message to Ralph Nader and those of us who supported his presidential campaign. But Brian Harrison has a message for them.
Union heads back Bush's energy plan
Which side are they on?
George W. Bush found some unexpected allies last month when the U.S. House debated his bill to allow oil and gas exploration in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Twisting arms to get the Democrats in line for Dubya was none other than the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the AFL-CIO.
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NATIONAL NEWS
THE DIRT ON DUBYA'S GANG
Strict limits on stem cell research
Bush backs the fanatics
In his first prime time speech since becoming president, George W. Bush announced severe restrictions on federal funding for research on embryonic stem cells earlier this month.
When a refund isn't a refund
Did you think that check from the government was a tax refund? Not exactly.
Toxic herbicides used in Colombia
Chemical weapons in U.S. drug war
Authorities in Colombia can resume a U.S.-funded program to spray toxic herbicides on the countryside following a judge's ruling in early August.
Slap on the wrist in Sara Lee food poisoning case
Hundreds of people have fallen ill and at least 21 are dead from eating Ball Park franks. But the Chicago-based food giant Sara Lee, which produces the hot dogs, has gotten away with a slap on the wrist.
Bilingual education targeted in Massachusetts
Two years ago, school officials here eliminated busing. Now bilingual education is under attack.
Study shows need for AIDS drugs in Africa
Remember Andrew Natsios? The head of the U.S. Agency for International Development told a congressional committee that sending life-saving AIDS drugs to Africa was a waste. Now one of the world's most respected medical journals has exposed his ignorance.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
ARGENTINA
Strikes and protests spread against austerity measures
Argentina on the brink
A wave of strikes and protests continued across Argentina this month as the government begged for a new $9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
IRAN
Behind Iran's power struggle
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami was finally sworn in for his second term in office August 8 after a four-day standoff between reformist and conservative forces vying for power over the country.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Protestant leaders trigger new crisis
The Irish peace process hung in the balance this month after Britain briefly suspended Northern Ireland's government.
INDIA
Workers strike over privatization program
Nearly 10 million workers in India held a one-day strike July 25 against the effects of globalization on workers and the poor.
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COLUMNS AND REGULAR FEATURES
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Iraq still faces sanctions and bombs
The never-ending war
The Persian Gulf War ended more than 10 years ago, but the U.S. has continued to kill Iraqis ever since--both with United Nations sanctions and regular bombings. Now George W. Bush has said that the Pentagon is drawing up plans to escalate the bombings.
INSIDE THE SYSTEM
Airline boss grounded
Maybe Jeffrey Erickson will think twice before he issues another pink slip.
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ON THE PICKET LINE
Support builds for Charleston Five
The AFL-CIO and the Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition restated their support for the Charleston Five at their respective meetings in Chicago this month.
Unionists and students unite against sweatshops
Despite a staggering heat wave, more than 300 people gathered for a rally at Jedson Memorial Church in New York City to kick off a new anti-sweatshop campaign.
Interview with New Era Cap strikers
Workers went on strike at New Era Caps on July 16 against company attempts to cut wages and sick days and increase speed-ups. CWA Local 14177 President Jane Howald talked about their struggle.
ISSUES IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT
The fighting legacy of Harry Bridges
The 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) leader Harry Bridges was celebrated July 28 with a march of thousands of union members and supporters in the Los Angeles harbor.
Labor in brief
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NEWS AND REPORTS
Thousands attend rallies in Portland and Chicago
Ralph Nader is back
There was electricity in the air at the Rose Garden arena August 4 as 7,500 people cheered Ralph Nader.
Get the Navy off Vieques!
Finally, after 60 years of abuse, the residents of Vieques were allowed to express their opinions about the U.S. Navy's use of their island as a bombing range. In a local government-sponsored referendum on July 29, residents voted overwhelmingly--68 percent--for the Navy to leave immediately.
Reports in brief
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Locked up in an institution for talking union
Why they don't want Gary to tell his story
Gary McClain is a close friend of mine, and I just wanted to give you an update on his situation.
How Italy's Berlusconi was beaten last time
Thank you for your excellent and wide-ranging coverage of struggles for justice, workers' rights, and real democracy at the local, national and international levels.
I get 22 years and the cops go free
I'm in prison in the state of Rhode Island because I was scapegoated by the Providence police and the state attorney general's office.
Other letters
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REVIEWS
Telling the story of the mid-1990s labor battles in central Illinois
The war zone
For three years years in the mid-1990s, labor activists described the central Illinois factory town of Decatur as a "war zone."
Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes: New but not improved
Tim Burton's new--but not improved--Planet of the Apes gains in slickness and spectacle, but it lacks the original's sharp-edged political punch.
A PEOPLE'S VACATION GUIDE
Remembering the Matewan massacre
Many readers of Socialist Worker will have seen the excellent John Sayles film Matewan, about a group of miners in West Virginia who go on strike against the coal bosses in the early 1920s. What you might not know is that the film is based on a true story--and the real setting still exists.
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