Support Leyla Güven, support Kurdish hunger strikers - 5 have died in the past two weeks Global Women's Strike

Support Leyla Güven, support Kurdish hunger strikers - 5 have died in the past two weeks

Global Women's Strike<gws@globalwomenstrike.net>

3/27/2019 1:06 PM

To  alfredjohnson34@comcast.net  

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Dear sisters and friends, Leyla Güven, a democratically elected Kurdish MP to the Turkish parliament, started this hunger strike on 8 November 2018. Please visit the International Women's Initiative for Leyla Güven: https://speakupforleyla.org/ which has many international signatories and add yours.  More signatures and calls are urgently needed to put pressure on the UK, EU and Turkish governments so lives can be saved. Thousands of Kurds and Turkish political prisoners are on hunger strike in Turkish prisons, the wider Middle East, and across the globe – including in the UK, with Imam Sis in Wales nearing his 100th day, and others joining more recently. Five humger strikers, including two women, have died in the past two weeks. On 20 March the Welsh Assembly, in a debate lead by Plaid Cymru, voted to support the hunger strikers – the first parliament anywhere to do so.  (See their proposal and a letter published in the Guardian with many signatories below.)   Many thanks, Global Women’s Strike and Payday men’s network WEDNESDAY 20 MARCH 2019 Plaid Cymru debate - The Kurds in Turkey THE PROPOSAL WAS PASSED http://www.senedd.assembly.wales/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=5570 View the background to item 8.   NDM6999 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn) To propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1. Notes that, whilst foreign affairs is a matter currently reserved to the UK Government and Parliament, Section 62 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 provides that “The Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General may make appropriate representations about any matter affecting Wales”. 2. Recognises the substantial Kurdish community in Wales. 3. Notes that a resident of Wales - İmam Sis, a young Kurdish man - is on an indefinite, non-alternating hunger strike as of 17 December 2018, which was initiated to protest the isolation of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan who has been imprisoned by Turkey since 1999 under conditions which are understood to contravene the Turkish state’s legal obligations in relation to human rights. 4. Notes that hunger strikes are taking place across Europe and the world, including by Leyla Güven, an elected member of the Turkish Parliament. 5. Notes that Turkey is a signatory to several international human rights treaties, including the European Convention of Human Rights as a member of the Council of Europe. 6. Expresses its concern at the reasons behind the hunger strikes. 7. Recognises that the ultimate aim of the hunger strikes is to see a peaceful, political solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey. 8. Affirms the importance that human rights obligations are upheld in Turkey. 9. Calls on the Welsh Government, on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales, to write to the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment calling for the committee to visit Imrali Prison to assess the conditions of Abdullah Öcalan. ---------------------------------------- Support for Öcalan hunger strikers | Letter | World news | The Guardian Leyla Güven, a democratically elected Kurdish MP to the Turkish parliament, has been on hunger strike for over 120 days and is nearing death. Her hunger strike calls for an end to the isolation of jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. The leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) has been held mostly in solitary confinement by Turkey since 1999. Over 300 Kurds are now on hunger strike in Turkish prisons, Kurdistan, Europe and North America. In Strasbourg, 14 Kurds have been on indefinite hunger strike since 17 December to pressure the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) to fulfil its duties and pay a visit to check on the situation of Öcalan. In Newport, Wales, Imam Sis has been on hunger strike since 17 December in Newport. The international campaign for freedom for Öcalan and reconvening peace talks between the Turkish government and the PKK has been supported by the TUC, Jeremy Corbyn, Plaid Cymru, Mairead Maguire, Wole Soyinka, Desmond Tutu, Gerry Adams, Noam Chomsky, Professor Angela Davis and many others. Many believe that freedom for Öcalan is a precondition for a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish question in Turkey.   We call upon the UK government to press the Turkish government to end the isolation of Öcalan. Mark Campbell Co-Chair, Kurdistan Solidarity Campaign UK Adam Price Leader, Plaid Cymru Darren Williams Labour NEC and secretary, Welsh Labour Grassroots Peter Hain Labour, House of Lords Mark Serwotka President, TUC Anthony Slaughter Leader, Wales Green party Leanne Wood AM Plaid Cymru Marianne Owens NEC, Public & Commercial Services Union Cerith Griffiths Wales secretary, Fire Brigades Union Amrit Wilson South Asia Solidarity Group Lindsey German National convenor, Stop the War Coalition Allison Hulmes National director, British Association of Social Workers Cymru Osian Rhys Chair, Cymdeithas yr Iaith/Welsh Language Society This is the current list of people who have signed the letter/statement - Adam Price, Leader, Plaid Cymru Anna McMorrin MP, Labour, Cardiff North Darren Williams, Labour NEC and WEC Secretary, Welsh Labour Grassroots Lord Peter Hain, Labour Mark Serwotka, President, TUC Leanne Wood AM, Plaid Anthony Slaughter, Leader, Wales Green Party Shavanah Taj, Public & Commercial Services Union National Officer Marianne Owens, NEC, Public & Commercial Services Union Lindsey German, National Convenor, Stop the War Coalition Mark Campbell, Co-chair, Kurdistan Solidarity Campaign Amrit Wilson, South Asia Solidarity Group Jill Gough, National Secretary, CND Cymru Professor Michael Lavalette, Liverpool Hope University Allison Hulmes, National Director for Wales, British Association of Social Workers Cymru Cerith Griffiths, Wales Secretary, Fire Brigades Union Belinda Loveluck Edwards, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Labour, Vale of Glamorgan Rhun Ap Iorweth AM, Deputy Leader, Plaid Llyr Gruffyd AM, Plaid Delyth Jewell AM, Plaid Sian Gwenllian AM, Plaid Helen Mary Jones AM, Plaid Bethan Sayed AM, Plaid Dr Dai Lloyd AM, Plaid Osian Rhys, Cadeirydd, Cymdeithas yr Iaith (Chair, Welsh Language Society) Dani Thomas, Co-ordinator DiEM25 Cymru Emma Garson, Branch Secretary UNISON Cardiff County Mike Jenkins, Writer, Co-editor, Red Poets Jon Luxton, Labour, Mayor of Penarth (personal capacity) Cllr Angela Thomas, Labour, Penarth Town Council Cllr Ellie Evans, Labour, Penarth Town Council Fflur Arwel, Co-Chair, Plaid Ifanc Sioned Treharne, Co-Chair, Plaid Ifanc Morgan Bowler-Brown, Treasurer, Plaid Ifanc Maggie Simpson, vice chair, Wales Labour Grassroots Sandy Clubb, Undod Rhys Mills, Undod Greg Cullen, Playwright, Shock n Awe Theatre Company Dani Thomas, Co-ordinator DiEM25 Cymru Ramon Corria, Secretary Communist Party of Britain, Cardiff Branch Jenny Marie Charles, Wales Equality Alliance Len Arthur, Left Unity Wales Pete Wentland , Founder Calais Refugee Solidarity Bristol Tim Evans, Secretary, Llanelli 1911 Rail Strike Commemoration Committee; Convenor, Swansea Live Poets Society Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra, Cardiff University Professor Sue Williams, Visual Artist and Senior Lecturer in Fine Art, Fine Art & Media School, Swansea College of Art, UWTSD Jane Harries, Cymru dros Heddwch/Wales for Peace Sue Leader, Branch Secretary, Cardiff & Vale Unite Community Alan Short, Branch Chair, Cardiff & Vale Unite Community Dr Llion Wigley, Secretary, Cardiff Branch, Cymdeithas y Cymod (Fellowship of Reconciliation) Elin Davies, YesCaerdydd Richard Huw Morgan, YesPontypridd Jonny Jones, Queen Mary UCU member Neil Rogall UCU (retired member) Derek Wall, Parish councillor Winkfield Berkshire Geraldine O'Connell Warrington South CLP Sandy Clubb, Undod (Radical Independence Campaign) Rhys Mills, Undod (Radical Indepenence Campaign) Ben Gwalchmai, Labour for Indy Wales Christopher Roberts, Welsh Labour Representation Group Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party Lotte Reimer,  Aberystwyth Peace and Justice Network Nichola Davies, Caerphilly and Iswlyn Welsh Labour Grassroots Helen Erasmus, Caerphilly and Islwyn Welsh Labour Grassroots Annie Gwillym Walker islwyn CLP Crosskeys branch Rob Hoveman, Unite the Community & Central European University Dee Murphy, Swansea Palestine Community Link & Swansea Action for Palestine Debbie Witts - senior designer at The Olive Grove Design Team, Cardiff Sheila Jones, Unite Community member Chris Gingell, Conservationist and humanitarian campaigner Lyndsey Halliday, Cardiff Extinction Rebellion Maggie Ravenscroft, Caerphilly and Islwyn WLG/Unite member Geno Sulano, Welsh artist Annie Gwillym Walker islwyn CLP Crosskeys branch  Julie Dixon  Islwyn CLP Dorian Dixon Islwyn CLP Sandra Holliday, RCT Welsh Labour Grassroots Jennifer Fletcher - Cardiff resident and international development worker/consultant Mireille Escande de Messieres, Aberystwyth Anna Monro, Pembrokeshire Matt Rhys-Roberts, Wrexham Linda Jensen, Cardiff Cathy Wilson, Liverpool Jackie Shellard, Bridgend Jeff Hurford, Bridgend Emily Trahair, Aberystwyth Debbie Francis, Cardiff Kristina Hedges, Cardiff Anna Forster, Rhondda Helen Pendry, Macynlleth  Ken Barker, Cardiff Sheelagh Llewellyn, Cardiff Pat Gregory, Cardiff Andy Chyba, Bridgend Sian Gale, Cardiff Jenny Howell, Cardiff Sam Jenkins, Cardiff Andree Morgan Andrews, Cardiff Alice Shing, Cardiff Emma Mato, Cardiff Kirsty-Marie Jones, Cardiff Madhu Khanna-Davies, Cardiff Niki Adams, Legal Action for Women, London Professor Bridget Anderson, University of Bristol Heulwen Baworowska Dr Gina Bridgeland Sara Callaway, Women of Colour/Global women’s Strike, London Margaretta D’Arcy, Raging Grannies, Ireland Sian Evans, Global Women’s Strike, London Eric Gjersten, Payday men's network, Philadelphia, US David Gibson, Peacehome Campaign, US Shona Guderson, US Selma James, Global Women’s Strike, London Michael Kalmanovitz, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network - UK Dean Kendall, Phila, US Michael A. Lebowitz, Canada Lorry Leader, London Joy Marcus, Guyana Ben Martin, Payday men’s network, London Cari Mitchell, English Collective of Prostitutes Nina Lopez, Global Women’s Strike, London Shoda Rackal, London Giorgio Riva, Payday men’s network, London Maggie Ronayne, author, The Cultural and Environmental Impact of Large Dams in Southeast Turkey, NUI, Galway, Ireland Didi Rossi, Queer Strike, London Georgie Stagg, SE London David Swanson, Director, World BEYOND War, US Sophia Vassilakidis, Texas, US   Crissie Warren, Women of Colour/Global Women’s Strike, London Women for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka Benjamin Zephaniah, poet, writer

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***Writer's Corner- F. Scott Fitzgerald's "This Side Of Paradise"

Click on the headline to link to a "Wikipedia" entry for the great American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Book Review

This Side Of Paradise, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Simon& Schuster, New York, 1920

There was a time when if I used the name of the 20th century American writer Ernest Hemingway it also almost always meant that name of the author under review, F. Scott Fitzgerald, would follow in the next breathe (and then John Dos Passos). At that time I placed Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises” and Fitzgerald “The Great Gatsby” pretty closely together as exemplars of strong, non-nonsense writing styles and sparse but meaningful dialogue, along with a great narrative. “Gatsby” still certainly holds up. I find though , especially after re-reading this Fitzgerald first effort that put his name high up on the post-World War I literary scene, “This Side of Paradise”, that Hemingway has won the literary “battle” for the number one spot as the premier writer of that period. Strangely that period, “The Jazz Age” of the 1920s, is known as such in great part due to this book and is forever associated with Fitzgerald’s name.

As is to be expected from a first novel this book is very great indebted to the bits and pieces of autobiographical sketches that hold it together. And, moreover, is driven by the college exploits of the main and most developed character, Amory Blaine, at Fitzgerald’s alma mater, Princeton. The long and short of the story line is a very self-conscious attempt by Blaine , including plenty of now seemingly obscure literary references, to find out the mysteries of the meaning of life as a writer. That premise does not work so well in the college milieu that dominates the first part of the book. After all, many college students from time immemorial, from elite colleges and public universities alike, has thrashed over those questions, some successfully, some not.

What really made this book important (aside from a glimpse of “Jazz Age” manners, mores, styles and ennui) is the second part, after college and after Blaine had done military service during World War I in France (although the details of this service are only sketchily drawn). World War I acted a great divide for many of the men, and it was mainly men in those days, who suffered through it. The straight line, as the story line here details, from college to one’s proper place in the upper echelons of society got derailed, and not solely in Blaine’s case. This dislocation is mainly drawn out here as a spiritual crisis for Blaine but it also evoked class, sexual relations (almost all turning sour, for one reason or another), and life style. This is the heart of the book and the heart of Blaine’s (and Fitzgerald’s) dilemma: how to resolve the moral crisis within oneself without upsetting the social applecart that allows the wherewithal for such introspection.

What does not work here and what in the end makes this an unsatisfying work is Blaine’s rather vague and sudden attachment to some form of socialism near the end of the book. Although revolution was in the air and the great revolutionary efforts in Europe, including the seminal Bolshevik revolution in Russia, were in full blast for most of the book one would not know that things like the American government-driven Palmer Raids "red scare”, the split in the left-wing socialist movement in reaction to the American entry into the war and support of the Russian revolution, and the establishment of the American Communist Party were taking place. Blaine’s socialism is of a rather diluted sort, one suspects. Still this is a great first effort and if for no other reason that the display of Fitzgerald's' skill with language is worth reading, and re-reading.

On March 30, Confront the NATO War Machine & Defend Venezuela!

Action Network Email

On March 30, Confront the NATO War Machine & Defend Venezuela! People are coming to Washington, DC on Sat. March 30 from around the world and across the U.S. to confront NATO and Defend Venezuela Many different forces are mobilizing - Become an Organizing Center or find one near you(current list below) Can’t make it yourself? Donate to help send folks on your behalf and to help cover the costs of materials and logistics This weekend, spring begins to bloom in Washington, D.C. as many thousands of tourists descend on the city to enjoy the temperate weather and thousands of blossoming cherry trees. But this is not why the generals and arms dealers of NATO are coming to town. They are meeting next week to concoct new approaches to killing children and starving whole populations. They are meeting next week to celebrate their 70th bloody year in the war business and plot their total domination and continued poisoning of our planet. Antiwar activists will be there in force to put them on notice. As of Friday, March 22, the U.S. Treasury has imposed sanctions against the Venezuelan Economic and Social Development Bank (BANDES). This comes after sanctions were imposed earlier in the week against the Venezuela General Mining Company, Minerven. The U.S. war machine is on a fiery track to overthrow the legitimate Venezuelan government and undermine the gains of the Bolivarian Revolution. Juan Guaidó has explicitly threatened a coup if any righteous action is taken to resist the U.S. puppeteering of his role as the “interim president.” Despite corporate media’s sensationalism of reactionary opposition forces and subsequent media censorship of pro-Bolivarian forces, Venezuelan people continue to flood the streets to demand: U.S. Out! We must keep the pressure up around the world in solidarity with Venezuela, under increased threat of military intervention as each day goes by. Join activists and peace-loving people from across the world who are converging on Washington, D.C. this March 30th. We will meet in front of the White House that Saturday at 1pm to tell Donald Trump, his generals, and his financial crooks that the people of the world are sick of racist and imperialist institutions like NATO. Make a donation to help cover organizing and mobilization costs   A sneak preview of the program: Medea Benjamin (Code Pink) David Swanson (World BEYOND War) Cassia Laham (UNAC) Bahman Azad (Global & National Coalitions Against US/NATO Foreign Bases Ann Wright (Veterans for Peace & Code Pink) Joe Jamison (US Peace Council) Omali Yeshitela (Black is Back Coalition) Maria Zakharova (Council of Mothers of May 2, Odessa, Ukraine) Iraklis Tsavdaridis (Executive Secretary of the World Peace Council) Alexander Neu (Member of German Parliament) Ajamu Baraka (Black Alliance for Peace) Cheri Hankala (Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign) Kevin Zeese & Margaret Flowers – (Popular Resistance) Reiner Braun (No to NATO, No to War network) Pippa Bartolotti (Extinction Rebellion – Wales) Loan Tran (International Action Center) Gerry Condon (Veterans for Peace) Paul Pumphrey (Friends of the Congo) Milos Raickovich (Yugoslavian speaker) Rev. Hagler (Plymouth Cong. United Church of Chist) Imam Adolfazl Nahidan (Manassas Mosque) William Camacaro (Venezuela, Bolivaran Circle) Andre Francois (Haitian speaker – President of Boston School Bus driver union, USW 8751) Entertainers: Luci Murphy & Ben Grosscup (People’s Music Network) Raymond Nat Turner (Poet) Christina Wright. (Singer/Songwriter) Matt Bistok Banned (Singer/Songwriter) Infinite Skillz, (African American Hip Hop artist) DC Labor Chorus March 30 Organizing Centers Albany, NY Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace Contact: contact@bethlehemneighborsforpeace.org / 518-281-1968 Atlanta, GA Contact: AtlantaIAC@aol.com Baltimore, MD Contact: 434-324-8644 Boston, MA Bus leaves Boston 11pm Friday and returns immediately following the demonstration. Suggested donation $30 with subsidized seats available. To reserve a seat contact Team Solidarity: 617-524-7073 / solidarity@bostonschoolbusunion.org Buffalo, NY Buffalo AntiWar Contact: BuffaloAntiWar@gmail.com Connecticut Contact: 617-522-6626 / No2NATO2019CT@HopeOutLoud.Org Durham, NC Reserve a seat on the bus here - Bus departs at 6:30am and returns at 10pm Contact: triangle@NoWarOnVenezuela.Org Florida People's Opposition to War, Imperialism & Racism (POWIR) Contact: cassia.laham@gmail.com Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign Contact: bruce@stpeteprogressives.org New Brunswick, NJ Buses leave 7:30am from Labor Ed Center and return at 10pm $50/seat, $40 discounted seat, Subsidized seats available Contact: 908-881-5275 or reserve a seat here New York, NY Buses leave 6:30am from 147 W 24th Street and return at 10pm $50/seat, $25 student/low income - Reserve a seat on the bus here Contact: 212-633-6646 Newark, NJ Buses leave 7am from Lincoln Pk and return at 10pm $50/seat, $40 discounted seat, Subsidized seats available Contact: 908-881-5275 or reserve a seat here Philadelphia, PA Transportation leaves 9am from 48th & Baltimore, returns around 8pm Contribution of $10 - 20 requested, no one turned away Reserve your seat here Contact: Philly IAC (phillyactivists@gmail.com) Richmond, VA Virginia Defenders Contact: defendersfje@hotmail.com / 804-644-5834 Sykesville, MD Car caravan leaves 10am from Park + Ride on 32 south of Sykesville at I-70 Contact: 443-280-2353 Unsubscribe 147 W 24th St 2nd Fl Solidarity Center New York, NY 10011 Sent via Action Network, a free online toolset anyone can use to organize.Click here to sign up and get started building an email list and creating online actions today. Action Network is an open platform that empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes. We encourage responsible activism, and do not support using the platform to take unlawful or other improper action. We do not control or endorse the conduct of users and make no representations of any kind about them. You can unsubscribe or update your email address or change your name and address by changing your subscription preferences here.