A Beginners Guide to Bank Failures

According to a February 2023 Federal Deposit and Insurance Corporation (FDIC) audit, 563 U.S. banks have failed and/or come under regulatory authority since 2021. Here in California, U.S., the latest casualty has been the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). This latest rash of bank failures, especially within the software start up SVB, have alarmed apologists for capitalism all over the world. With this piece, we are hopeful we can bring some fundamental understanding of “bank failure” and what’s happening for everyday working people. First, it should be explained that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an institution of the U.S. . . .

The ICC Is A US-Controlled Kangaroo Court

The Washington Post, or the Pentagon Post, as Eugene Puryear aptly named the paper this Saturday, printed a bizarre “key update” on the official visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The update reads: “Chinese President Xi Jinping claims to have come to Moscow as a peacemaker, but talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about China’s 12-point proposal for peace on Monday appear to have yielded no progress so far. The update goes on to say, “Beijing’s summary of discussions did not mention any progress — or whether Xi offered to act as a . . .

Eritrea: A Different Perspective

As I get ready to attend the United Nation’s 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women as a part of Eritrea’s delegation led by National Union of Eritrean Women’s President, Tekea Tesfamichael, I think it’s important to address the latest media blitz scrutinizing the state of Eritrea and highlight my perspective as a dialectical materialist and member of the diaspora. As a young Eritrean living in the United States and a proud product of the Eritrean people’s struggle and liberation movement, conversations around freedom, justice, self-determination, and sovereignty, were dinner table conversations growing up. This is common . . .

SNAP Benefits for African Mothers Are Gone, While Ukraine Eats Good

As the country ushers in commemorations for ‘International Women’s Month’, 42 million households have been hit with a significant reduction in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits impacting the ability of millions of mothers to feed their children. In December 2022, Congress voted to end the pandemic emergency allotments after passing the government funding package the previous year. After nearly three years, the program that temporarily increased federal SNAP benefits for low-income families came to an end on March 1st. Eighteen states already ended the pandemic increase in SNAP benefits before March. The remaining 32 states and the District of . . .

Why and How To End The War In Ukraine

Jacqueline Luqman was a panelist on the February 16, 2023 webinar Why and How to End the War in Ukraine , which was sponsored by Chicago Area Peace Action. These were her remarks. What I think we need to be clear on is that the US, the EU, and NATO are directly responsible for lighting the embers of war in Ukraine back in 2014. From late 2013 until February 2014, the Obama/Biden administration sent weapons, money, and encouragement to anti-democratic right-wing elements in Ukraine to execute “regime change” and overthrow the democratically elected president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych. The coup . . .

The Homeland or Death: Accomplishments of the Traoré Government in Burkina Faso

Who is Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla? Burkina Faso cheered and celebrated at the news of Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla’s appointment to office as prime minister on October 21st, 2022. While there are many new faces and figures in Burkinabé politics right now, Kyélem de Tambèla is a familiar face to many Burkinabé who have known him for decades. In other circumstances this label may be given out too freely but, Kyélem de Tambèla has rightfully earned the title of Sankarist as demonstrated by his own background.  As a student in France in the 1980s, Prime Minister . . .

It’s Time To Get Canada Out of Tanzania

Canadian mining company, Barrick Gold, the second biggest gold mining company in the world,is being sued by Tanzanian residents for hiring local police killings, torture, and other violence.The violence is arguably financed and sponsored by Barrick Gold as they house, feed, and paythe local police of North Mara Acacia, Tanzania. They are basically the company’s personalsecurity, a small army. They are personally responsible for upwards of 100 murders since 2010,including that of a 5-year-old girl and the 4 women who proceeded to gather around the deadgirl. Much of the [Canadian] media has ignored this story or has left out details . . .

“Total Peace Is the Call”: Reflections from Colombia

Ajamu Baraka representing BAP’s Haiti/Americas Team was invited to serve as part of an international delegation of human rights defenders that would accompany the activists, community leaders, government officials, and representatives of the National Liberation Army (ELN) on a historic “humanitarian Caravan” between January 17 and the 21st to the Indigenous and Afro-Colombian areas of the Pacific coast of Colombia as part of the peace process initiated by the new government in Colombia. Ajamu was also an observer and international guarantor in Havana, Cuba during the last round of the Peace Process that produced the Ethnic Chapter of the peace . . .