35 Million-Strong Strike Against
Temer’s Neoliberal Reforms
Brings Brazil to a Halt
27 April 2017 (Telesur English)
Since early Friday morning, more than 35 million
people in Brazil have been taking part in one of biggest general strikes in
the country’s history against President Michel Temer’s neoliberal reforms,
bringing the country to a standstill.
The strike was largely organized by Unified Workers Central, or CUT, the
largest union federation in Latin America, and the Workers Party of Brazil,
former President Dilma Rousseff’s political party.
In Brazil’s biggest city and economic hub, Sao Paulo, only one metro line
was operating, 70 major routes were blocked off as was access to the city’s
major airport. Before daylight, a number of protesters clashed with police
while trying to occupy a vacant building. Police were also seen firing tear
gas to disperse protesters and at least 12 people were detained.
Dozens of other unions, grassroots organizations, teachers, church leaders,
civil servants also threw their support behind the strike.
The strike was called immediately after Temer’s administration pushed
through a controversial labor reform bill on Wednesday in Brazil’s
chamber of deputies.
The reform would undermine workers’ rights by eliminating payment for
their commute from their contracts, reducing compensation for employer
abuse, and most importantly, allowing employers to reduce workers’
salaries while increasing their work hours.
The bill, which proposes to end mandatory union dues, must still be
approved by the Senate. It was approved by Brazil’s lower house by 296
votes to 177.
Temer is also proposing a 20-year freeze on public spending and cuts to
pension protections.
The general strike comes amid a dismal disapproval rating for the Temer
administration — a staggering 87 percent, according to the latest Ipsos
poll. The mass mobilization of workers and civil society also comes on the
heels of ongoing protests, such as the five-day encampment of Indigenous
peoples and a police union protest, both occurring in front of Brazil’s
Congress.
Source: teleSUR English with edits
Venezuela Celebrates 100% Health
Coverage Under Barrio Adentro
27 April 2017 (Telesur English)
Venezuela’s poorest communities now all have health care
services via the Barrio Adentro Mission, with 100 percent
coverage, according to President Nicolas Maduro, who
announced the achievement during a live broadcast.
Telesur visited one of the communities, Barrio Cotiza in
Caracas, which currently benefits from the free, social service.
The Integral Diagnostic Center has 25 doctors, Cuban and
Venezuelan, who dedicate their lives to the well-being of those
in the community.
Cuban medic Feliz Cascare has been working at the center
for almost three years and said the experience has been very
rewarding, adding that the clinic provides a range of medical
services, which include intensive therapy, ultrasounds, x-rays
and emergency services. “The patients here are poor people.
They don’t have anyone else to help them when they get sick.”
The Barrio Adentro Mission was created in April 2003 with
the aim of making primary care a priority in Venezuelan
health policy. The goal is to offer a solution to the healthrelated
needs of all Venezuelans, with special attention placed
on marginalized populations, all governed by the pillars of
universality, equity, accessibility, cultural ownership, gratuity,
justice, social participation and civil co-responsibility.
For the program, hospitals and clinics are created in
different parts of the country in order to meet people’s health
requirements. Additionally, rehabilitation areas have been
created to serve those with disabilities.
President Maduro said that Venezuela is now only the second
country in the world to provide free health care coverage to
its people as a right. It is one of a multitude of programs that
aim to serve the needs of all the country’s people, including
the poorest.
Source: teleSUR English
It’s Official: Lenin Moreno Elected
President of Ecuador
4 April 2017 (Telesur English)
VEcuadorean election authorities made the results of the presidential election
official Tuesday, announcing a win for renowned disability activist and former
vice president Lenin Moreno of President Rafael Correa’s governing
Alianza Pais party.
Moreno and his vice president Jorge Glass won with 5,057,149 votes or 51.16
percent over former banker Guillermo Lasso and his vice president Andres
Paez, of the right-wing CREO-SUMA alliance, who secured 4,827,753 votes
and 48.84 percent.
“We want to dignify politics, to be a good example for citizens, especially
for our youth,” Moreno said in a press conference in Quito after the CNE
announced the official results.
Moreno is set to continue and expand social programs introduced under outgoing
President Rafael Correa, for whom Lenin served as vice president from
2007 to 2013, before working as the U.N. special envoy for Disability
and Accessibility.
Moreno who has been wheelchair bound after being shot and
paralyzed in 1998, is well known for his advocacy work for people
with disabilities and supporting public education. Jorge Glas,
who also served in the Correa administration will now serve as
vice president. The new administration will be officially inaugurated
on May 24.
As Rafael Correa departs after 10 years of consecutive rule and a
number of social gains made under the Citizens’ Revolution, the
victory for Moreno is seen as key not only for Ecuador but for
the wider Latin American region. Ecuador will remain a part of
the pink tide that has swept the region in the past two decades,
not following the right-wing shift that took place in 2016 in Argentina
and Brazil.
After decades of social and economic instability including the
frequent changing of presidents, Alianza Pais under Correa lifted
more than 1 million people out of poverty, tripled tax income
and expanded the country’s universal health care and education
system.
Source: teleSUR English with edits
Back to Article Listing
