CINA

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While the organizers (Attac, trade unions, left parties etc.) of last Saturday's mass demonstrations (against the "G20" summit in prticular and the capitalism in general) in Berlin and Frankfurt see it as a complete success ("The first step toward 'French circumstances'!"), the German ruling class and its media sees it - naturally!! - slightly(^^) different:

The bourgeois magazine Der Spiegel writes:

"German demonstrations about the economic crisis at the weekend were low-key and didn't draw the massive crowds one might expect given the scale of the recession facing Europe's largest economy."

"Tens of thousands of people marched in capital cities across Europe on Saturday to protest the economic crisis and demand that world leaders act on poverty, jobs and climate change ahead of the G-20 summit in London on Thursday."

"In Germany, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people took to the streets in Berlin, Frankfurt and other cities, but most of the protestors were trade unionists and left-wing activists. The broad mass of people stayed at home or went shopping.

That's because Germans haven't felt the full force of the economic crisis yet, despite foreboding economic statistics. At present, many people are still resorting to putting workers on short-time rather than laying them off, and parts of the auto industry -- which accounts for one in five jobs in Germany, is being shored up by the so-called scrapping bonus -- a €2,500 tax-free payment for people who scrap their old vehicles when buying a new car.

Center-"left" Frankfurter Rundschau writes:

"Half a year after the collapse of Lehman the sense of horror about the reckless behavior on financial markets and in the banking sector remains strong, and hasn't been alleviated by the shameless cashing-in of many top players. Not everyone has lost out, and some are even getting well paid for their failure. Given the impact on society it's astonishing that the storm of protest hasn't been more evident on the streets."

"Left-alternative" Die Tageszeitung writes:

"Despite the increasingly dramatic figures from the financial and the real economy, people aren't yet feeling the impact in their everyday lives. In addition, the origins of the crisis are as complicated as the proposed solutions, which makes it harder to come up with simple slogans and to motivate people. Still, the fact that visible protests have taken place is a signal in and of itself."

Conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes:

"Several tens of thousands of people demonstrated for a fairer world economy over the weekend -- not peacefully everywhere. That's likely to mark the start of a turbulent G-20 summit in London. Security forces in London have been advising bankers to go to work without wearing ties this week. Even though the anger is understandable, things shouldn't go that far in a democratic state."

"It's OK for greedy bankers to feel uncomfortable in their golf clubs or when they're out shopping. But they mustn't be physically threatened. People who demand decency must behave decently. That applies to both sides."

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"Candlelight Media Center" Established!

It has been two months since the police carried out the horrible forced eviction in Yongsan, what has resulted in the Yongsan Massacre.

And since then more residents and activists were arrested and the demolition in the area has resumed. But nothing has been resolved for the evictees and the families of the deceased.

Nevertheless, they and their supporters continue their hard struggle.

In order to support their cause, activists from the Association of Korea Independent Film & Video (KIFV), among other media activists (무나동지! 고마워요!!^^), have opened a space for media activities called "Candlelight Media Center" (CMC). It is located next to the site of the Yongsan Massacre, in an area scheduled for demolition.

The goals of the "Candlelight Media Center":

- keep alive the candlelight vigil for the 5 evictees who were killed in February;
- rally media activists who use direct action, and expand public interest to other issues including the Yongsan Massacre;
- build a base of activities for the continuing struggle until the government makes clear the truth about the Yongsan massacre and punishes the officers who are responsible for the killing.

 
A group of media activists has been working on the construction of the media center in secret, for fear of attack from the police. And the activists expect that the CMC will be safe from demolition at least for the next several months.

3.25: first activities inside CMC

The first and second floors of the CMC are being remodeled to be used for diverse purposes, including news production, meetings, film screenings, and media education programs. Several events and activities are scheduled to commence the activities in this new space starting from this week.

How to get there:
Subway line 4 신용산(Shinyongsan) station exit 2. Walk toward the Yongsan disaster spot (it takes 3 minutes). You will take a path to the rear load, and look for "Rhea(레아) Hof", 2nd fl.

Related article:

☞ 용산 촛불들 “우리가 기록하고 보도한다” (미디어스, 3.26)

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Next Thursday the "G20" economic summit will take place in London/UK and already yesterday likely more than 100,000 people took the streets of London(*), Frankfurt, Berlin and some other European cities to protest against the "event" in prticular and the capitalism in general. Following just some impressions from Berlin, where at least 25,000 people (the organizers expected "only" 10,000) joined the demonstration, following the main motto "We Won't Pay For Your Crisis!":

* [3.28] London Protest Demo:
☞ The 'revolution' starts here as 35,000 pack the G20 march (The Observer)

Related articles:

☞ London Braces for Massive Protests (Spiegel, 3.27)

☞ G20 protests: Cry havoc.. (Guardian, 3.28)

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While N.K. is (likely) only few days away from launching its Taepodong-2/"Eunha-2" ICBM/"satellite" rocket, the War Ministry in Tokyo got a "exceptional creative" idea(*):

Japan will order its "Self Defense Forces" to destroy N.K.'s missile if it's launched, Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported yesterday.
   The decision was made at a meeting of some related ministers, including the foreign minister and defense minister, the report said, adding that Japan will convene a security council meeting Friday to finalize its position on North Korea's planned missile launch.
   The report said the "Defense" Ministry will deploy surface-to-air interceptor missile systems, aka the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3), in Akita and Iwate prefectures...

* Well, in fact the idea isn't unique, not really! The U.S. administration previously also suggested possible measures to intercept the projectile, but is currently showing discretion while speaking sternly of possible sanctions by the UNSC. But simultaneously Washington is sending warships to the area near the Korean Peninsula!

Related articles:

☞ N. Korea 'days away' from launching missile (Guardian, 3.26)

☞ Warships on Alert Over NK 'Rocket' Launch (K. Times, 3.26)

☞ Pentagon tempted by North Korean launch (Asia Times, 3.14)

☞ Problems beset North launch plans (JoongAng Ilbo, 2.26)

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It's likely wellknown that Germany is Europe's most powerful (of course capitalist!!) economy (the world's number 3, behind the USA and Japan)!!

Yesterday's frontpage of B.Z., Berlin's "famous" (and notorious!!) bourgeois mass-circulation newspaper:

Every 3rd child in Berlin

lives below the poverty line

Related article:
☞ Children Flock to German Soup Kitchens (Spiegel, 2.19)

So, what we've learned today?

Capitalism: simply the BEST!!

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Today's TOP headline in Yedioth Ahronoth's online edition:

'IDF world's most moral army'

Exactly! As you can learn from other Israeli newspapers/online magazines, e.g. (the bourgeois-liberal) Haaretz:

☞ IDF soldiers ordered to shoot at Gaza rescuers
☞ IDF violated medical ethics in Gaza op
☞ 'Shooting and crying'

☞ IDF in Gaza: Killing civilians, vandalism..
☞ Dead Palestinian babies/bombed mosques - IDF fashion 2009 MUST READ!!

 
Related article:
☞ Gaza war crime claims gather pace.. (Observer/UK, 3.22)

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Korea Times/Yonhap reported yesterday that 105 Foreigners (are) on ‘Terrorist’ Watch List in S. Korea.

Hmmm.. this number includes already the MTU activists/members?

Why? Just remember: About 5 years ago the MoJ and Immigration Office, the bourgeois media (Chosun Ilbo...) and some reactionary/racist "civic" groups denigrated the migrant workers, organized in the ETU-MB (the predecessor of MTU)/MSSC (Myeong-dong Sit-in Struggle Collective) as terrorists!

Related:

☞ That's just idiotic (ETU-MB, 04.10.4)

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"Free Documentary Screening!"

By Indymedia S. Korea:

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