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E-NEWS BULLETIN
Your weekly round up of alternative news you ought to know • 16 September 2016
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CONTENTS
SOUTH AFRICA:
1. Media houses guilty of price-fixing, fixing of trading conditions – Competition Commission
2. COSATU is planning and mobilising for a One Day National Strike during the International Day of Action on the 7th October 2016
INTERNATIONAL
1. BRAZIL: Temer Sets Out Massive Privatisation Programme
2. BRITAIN: Hipsters and artists are the gentrifying foot soldiers of capitalism
3. CHILE: The Coup in Chile
4. CHINA Ups the Game in the South China Sea
5. ISRAEL: Official Who Promoted Genocide on Facebook Now Fighting ‘Incitement’ on Social Media
6. NEW ZEALAND: Why the TPP seriously threatens education and public interest regulation
LABOUR:
1. BANGLADESH: Eight Still Missing As Factory Fire Death Toll Rises to 31
2. BRITAIN: Labour Unionism In The Age Of The ‘Gig’ Economy
3. INDIA: Manufacturing discontent: India’s workers in crisis
4. USA: We support the courageous inmates in the nationwide prison strike
MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY
1. AFRICA cracks down on social media
2. USA: Drone Valley: The University of California and the business of high-tech slaughter
3. USA: Screentime is now dominated by Smartphones
4. USA: Drone Valley: The University of California and the business of high-tech slaughter
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SOUTH AFRICA: Media houses guilty of price-fixing, fixing of trading conditions – Competition Commission
“The Competition Commission has finished its four-year investigation into allegations of “collusive behaviour” by certain media owners, and found them guilty of contravening the Competition Act.
In a letter to media owners, the Competition Commission said certain aspects of their business practices amounted to “the fixing of prices or fixing of trading conditions in contravention of section 4(1)(b)(i)” of the Competition Act”.“ read more…http://them
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SOUTH AFRICA: COSATU is planning and mobilising for a One Day National Strike during the International Day of Action on the 7th October 2016
The Congress of South African Trade Unions is has already rolled out its mobilisation campaign for the upcoming planned mass action in response to the challenges facing the workers during this year’s International Decent Work Day on the 7th October 2016. The August CEC resolved that the federation needs to embark on a one day strike on the 07th of October 2016, during the International Decent Work Day to fight for the following issues:“
• Demand the total banning of the labour brokers.
• Demand the scrapping of the e-tolling system including the expensive toll gates.
• Fight in defence of our Jobs and against retrenchments.
• Demand the implementation of the Legislated National Minimum Wage Agreements.
• Fight to defend and protect our Collective Bargaining
• Fight for compliance with Occupational Health & Safety Standards in all workplaces.
• Fight for the implementation of the NHI.
• Fight for the scrapping of the Taxation Amendment Law.
• Demand the implementation of Free Education
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BRAZIL: Temer Sets Out Massive Privatisation Programme
“Brazil’s unelected president launched a wholesale privatisation drive of the country’s transport, oil fields and infrastructure on Tuesday.
Michel Temer, who came to power in last month’s legislative coup against elected Workers Party (PT) President Dilma Rousseff, described the decimation of public ownership as an “extraordinary opening,” of Brazil’s infrastructure.“ read more…https://www.mor
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BRITAIN: Hipsters and artists are the gentrifying foot soldiers of capitalism
““The hipster is a capitalist.” So said Matt Hancock, Theresa May’s new minister for digital and culture, who replaced Ed Vaizey in July this year. A standout soundbite from Hancock’s buzzword-laden keynote speech delivered last Friday at the Creative Industries Federation meet and greet event for culture’s great and good at the British Film Institute. Many creative industries “leaders” lapped up his speech which, as well as lauding micro-enterprising hipsters, also depicted James Bond delivering a post-Brexit “global calling card” – UK cultural capital – from his Aston Martin, bizarrely named-checked King Canute, and heralded “Uber-style dynamic pricing”.“ read more…https://www.the
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CHILE: The Coup in Chile
“What happened in Chile on September 11, 1973 did not suddenly reveal anything new about the ways in which men of power and privilege seek to protect their social order: the history of the last 150 years is spattered with such episodes.“ read more…https://www.jac
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CHINA Ups the Game in the South China Sea
“The Joint Sea-2016 started this Monday; that’s the fifth annual China-Russia naval drill, featuring stalwarts from both navies in action at the eastern waters of Zhanjiang, in Guangdong province, the HQ of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Nanhai Fleet.“ read more…http://www.cou
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ISRAEL: Official Who Promoted Genocide on Facebook Now Fighting ‘Incitement’ on Social Media
“Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who use Facebook in 2014 to promote genocide against Palestinians, is leading her government’s efforts to press Facebook and Google to censor content that her government deems “Palestinian incitement.”“ read more…http://www.alt
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NEW ZEALAND: Why the TPP seriously threatens education and public interest regulation
“ After more than five years of secret negotiations, Ministers from twelve countries plan to meet in Auckland, New Zealand on February 4th to formally sign the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). Once signed, governments can begin the process of ratifying and bringing the controversial deal into force, a deal that has the potential to affect how public services like education are regulated and delivered.“ read more…https://www.edu
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BANGLADESH: Eight Still Missing As Factory Fire Death Toll Rises to 31
“The death toll from a factory explosion and fire in Bangladesh rose to 31 yesterday after more bodies were recovered.
A huge boiler explosion early on Saturday at the Tampaco Foils factory — which boasts of providing goods for Nestle and other corporate giants — outside the capital Dhaka triggered a massive blaze that spread quickly at the plant, where flammable chemicals were stored.
Local administrator SA Alam said 23 workers had died immediately, while six more bodies were recovered on Sunday evening and another two overnight.“ read more…http://www.mor
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BRITAIN: Labour Unionism In The Age Of The ‘Gig’ Economy
“As the Trades Union Congress (TUC) meets in Brighton this week for its 148th annual gathering, it faces in one way or another essentially the same challenge that it has done since it was first founded. Jobs, work and employment take place as ever under capitalism but capitalism is constantly re-configuring the way jobs, work and employment are organised.“ read more…http://www.huf
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INDIA: Manufacturing discontent: India’s workers in crisis
“India is all set to be the world’s youngest country by 2020, with potentially the world’s largest labour force. The optimism about the country’s future as an economic powerhouse rides on the promise of its demographic dividend.“ read more…http://www.alj
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USA: We support the courageous inmates in the nationwide prison strike
“Inmates held in dozens of prisons in at least 24 states across the US began their strike on the 45th anniversary of the historic Attica Rebellion. The strike is being coordinated by inmates in the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee and the Free Alabama Movement.“ read more…http://www.glo
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AFRICA cracks down on social media
“As the mobile revolution continues to drive change across Africa, governments are rushing to introduce legislation to curb cyber crime and to regulate the use of social media platforms.
Security experts warn that African governments and commercial online services are vulnerable to criminals, who have the potential to disrupt critical infrastructure.” read more…http://www.bbc
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USA: Drone Valley: The University of California and the business of high-tech slaughter
“Over the past two months, the appointment of a number of new academics and scientists to the University of California, San Diego’s (UCSD) Contextual Robotics Institute has been touted as an initiative that will make the city into a world renowned “Robot Valley.” Although the institute boasts of possible future achievements in “assisted living, disaster response, medicine, transportation and environmental sensing,” a closer look reveals that the overriding orientation of the initiative is bound up with the US drive to war.“ read more…http://www.wsw
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USA: Screentime is now dominated by Smartphones
“Nigerians, Kenyans and South Africans spent more time viewing content on smartphones than on any other screen based device.“ read more…https://grou
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USA: Does Apple’s New iPhone Pose Health Risks?
“Apple’s new iPhone 7 eliminates the standard headphone jack, forcing consumers to use wireless earbuds called AirPods that use Bluetooth technology.
Even though Apple says the new technology will do away with cumbersome wires that constantly tangle, some experts warn that AirPods will deliver low-intensity radiowaves directly into your ear and to your brain, which can have a deadly impact on your health.
“I would be very concerned,” said neurosurgeon and natural health expert Dr. Russell Blaylock. “I would never own the newer version for this reason.” read more…http://www.new
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SOUTH AFRICA: #DataMustFall campaign against mobile data rip-off
“Tbo Touch, CEO of TouchCentral FM, has given mobile networks 30 days to make a change to their mobile data prices.
“All Networks have 30 days to make a change! We will all move our subscription to the network that cares about its customers #datamustfall,” he said on Twitter.
After he launched the #DataMustFall campaign, thousands of South Africans joined – asking for more affordable mobile data prices.” read more…http://myb
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