Struggle for Protection and Social Change Response to the Imperialist Crisis

Global recession—this is the logical outcome of two decades and a half of implementation of neo-liberal “globalization”. Today capitalist crisis hammers on lives and livelihood of billions of workers and other toiling masses all over the world. The current global recession broke open the myth of globalization

The crisis has long been looming to explode. Various schemes of the world’s capitalists to boost profit have reduced the income and capacity to pay of workers and of other toiling masses. Outsourcing; contractualization; and downright reduction of the workers wages and benefits are but a few examples of their schemes. Globalization rendered bankrupt many medium-sized producers of the world over through the uncontrolled influx of surplus products from industrialized countries to relatively backward ones.

In the US and in other industrialized countries, unrestrained giving out of loans especially for housing temporarily concealed the decreasing buying capacity of the people. The rapid rise in housing prices fanned speculations in this field. Through speculation and high interest of loans, the accumulated capital of financial institutions earned enormous profits. And to further widen from which their money could earn more profits, financial capitalists created diverse instruments and financial schemes such as securities, credit insurance, etc.

For almost two decades, big banks and financial institutions held sway in amassing billions in profits while pushing a growing number of people into abject poverty. But when the market for housing contracted and their prices soared, many of those consumers that bought overpriced houses could no longer pay.

Banks experienced shortage in money. The value of the financial instruments they were holding shrunk or perished. They restricted lending and the artificial market disappeared like bubble. The real state of the people’s livelihood was exposed. The problem in lending and the shrinking market translated into diminished production. The world financial crisis turned into a world recession in production and services.

Foreign investment apparently declined. This was immediately reflected at the stocks exchange and hit even the industry and service sector. Plans for expansions in the country were impeded, despite the fact that capitalization comparatively declined.

Doubtlessly, capitalists immediately passed on their crisis to the workers. In different parts of the world, especially at industrialized countries, millions lost jobs. Like bubble, they lost security in their jobs, education and health care. Wages dropped. Millions of families were thrown out of the houses that the banks locked.

Almost all governments in the world allotted money to rescue the rapidly falling economy. But instead of allotting these funds that were usually loaned to rescue the workers and other toiling masses that are experiencing severe hunger and homelessness, these were allotted for big banks and businesses. This is triple beating for the masses: they are victims of the crisis, deprived of public funds and burdened by additional public loans.

The crisis is still worsening and its end is not yet in sight.

In the Philippines, the bankruptcy of an economy that has no foundation or of an economy that is anchored on foreign economy is bared

The import-dependent, foreign investment-led and service provision-centered Philippine economy is slowly burning out like a candle. Philippine exports have dropped by 41%. Badly hit were the electronics parts and car industry. Production was reduced or factories shutdown. The price of exported coconut oil and copra has also dropped.

This immediately meant massive job cuts for Filipino workers. More than 65, 000 workers has been laid off from factories of electronics, car, garments, handicraft/furniture and other exported products and it is estimated that this will reach 300,000 by the end of June while 60,000 workers are estimated to be working at less than 40 hours a week.

More than 15,000 OFWs went home due to layoffs. Many others remained overseas taking chances at finding other jobs. Despite the 26% increase in OFWs in 2008, remittances registered a 15% growth only. Last December, only a 0.21% growth was recorded. It is expected that actual decline of OFW remittances will be seen this 2009.

The continued dumping of foreign surplus products to our local markets worsens our economy. Local production cannot hold out in the market resulting to diminished profits or bankruptcy for local producers.

Costs of social services are rising: water, power, tuition fee and hospitalization. In desperation, many resort to committing crimes.

Capitalists further make use of contractualization and repression of workers

Instead of taking responsibility for the crisis and the havoc it wrecked upon the people, capitalists use their crisis to justify intensified exploitation and repression of workers. As an example, the tuna producers of General Santos City agreed not to raise their workers’ wages In almost all industries, haggling for additional benefits and wage increase becomes very tricky.

Forced retirement of regular workers, to give way to the hiring of contractual ones when production resumes, continues to be the employment policy of the day. In the process, it weakens unions and unionism. And in cases when unions have asserted themselves, capitalists resort to temporary closure, with the crisis as their pretext, and opening again under a new name to facilitate hiring of contractual workers. These are clearly anti-worker maneuvers, to which the Arroyo administration turns a blind eye.

The government is insensitive to people’s suffering

GMA is busy with her junkets, supposedly to beg for jobs that will employ Filipinos abroad. The Arroyo’s government is occupied with contracting loans for its deficits and budget for cover-up-top-gap responses to the crisis. She is occupied with giving rewards to her most faithful partners in various crimes they committed against the country and in her manipulations to remain in power beyond 2010 through charter change and other schemes. The toiling masses cannot expect anything from a government that defends and runs a system that has brought us nothing but suffering and misery, a government that refuses accountability to its people.

Struggle for social change!

The mammoth devastation hammering on the people today proves the rottenness of the current system. Experience taught us that the solution to the crisis does not lie in the hands of the people who are supposed to account for it. And the vastly damaging effects of the crisis show that getting uninvolved or silent will not exempt any one from the crisis. As long as this system exists, crises of this kind will lash on everyone especially on us—the marginalized sector.

Only through the concerted effort of workers and other toiling masses can we protect, assert and fight for our interest and betterment. Only through making a stand can we build a better future for our children. It is high time to take control of our own lives and future. Achieve social change! This is imperative.

Struggle for social protection or temporary relief against this crisis!

Along with our fellow overseas workers, let us, in unison, renounce and fight the global capitalist system that is riddled with crisis. Let us oppose its neo-liberal designs and policies. In the Philippines , let us assert and fight for an economy that cares for the toiling masses and will redress the century-long injustice we had been enduring. Let us work for a genuine agrarian reform and for the development of national industrialization.

Immediately, let us demand for temporary relief from this crisis. For this, we will demand for foreign and local capitalists that amassed thousands of profit for more than two decades from the neo-liberal policies to take responsibility for this crisis. This government that implemented and benefited fro the neo-liberal programs and brazenly stole public finds must be made to account and pay.

To pay for the immediate ease from this crisis, together we will push for the suspension of the annual debt payments especially for debts that found their way into private bank accounts; the collection of taxes from foreign-owned businesses that have long been exempted from payment; the raising of income tax of multi-millionaires and billionaires; and the retrieval of public funds stolen by bureaucrats. Our demands are justified. Unite and Struggle!

Beginning this May one, with solid strength and unity let us highlight and pursue the following demands:

JOB SECURITY, NOT CONTRACTUALIZATION!

RESPECT OF RIGHTS, NOT REPRESSION!

SUBSIDY FOR THE UNEMPLOYED!

AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FREE EDUCATION and HEALTH CARE for the POOR!

ADDITIONAL TAX for FOREIGN INVESTORS, TAX EXEMPTION for WORKERS and the POVERTY STRICKEN MASSES!

RENOUNCE the SCOURGE OF GLOBALIZATION!

RELENTLESSLY PURSUE THE STRUGGLE for TOTAL SOCIAL CHANGE!

BC for Sale: A Video on the Provincial Elections of british Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

BC for Sale from Twyla Roscovich on Vimeo.

A Statement against the Revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP)

We are Filipinos who view with concern and alarm the proposal to revive the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) located at Napot Point in Morong, Bataan.

We have not forgotten that this plant is conceived from a corrupt and anomalous deal struck during the Marcos dictatorship which profited the Marcos cronies and burdened the public for the last three decades, the time it took to write off the USD 2.3 Billion cost of constructing the plant.

The plant in question is riddled with defects from its cover design, construction, quality assurance, workmanship and project management; it sits on a geologically unsafe location and poses a very high risk to the lives and livelihood of underlying communities and provinces.

Also, there is yet to be any effective technology to store or dispose nuclear waste.

We believe that there is no need to burden the people twice with this white elephant, whose revival will cost a whooping USD 1 Billion. And we view with wariness and misgiving the alleged benefits pointed out by pro-BNPP legislators.

We call on our legislators and public officials to look beyond self-serving interests and uphold interest of future generations and reject the BNPP.

We believe that BNPP remains to be:

-Deadly and Dangerous
-Burdensome to the public and
-Unnecessary

Thus, we are coming together, from all walks of life, to join in a broad call to oppose the resuscitation of this plant known as the “Monster of Morong “.

Protect our Communities from Danger! Oppose the Revival of the BNPP!

Bury the Monster of Morong!

to sign up for this on line petition, please log on to:

multiply:
http://nfbmnet.multiply.com/

online petition:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/nuclear-free-bataan/signatures.html

Tungkol sa Sinasabing Pagbaligtad ni Nicole 1
Paglilinaw sa Kasapian ng KAISA KA:

Tungkol sa Sinasabing Pagbaligtad ni Nicole

Iba’t iba ang reaksyon sa tinataguriang “March 12 Affidavit”* ni Nicole at sa binitawan ng kanyang ina na nasa US na umano si Nicole para mamuhay nang matahimik. Marami ang nagalit at ang tingin nila ay natraidor sila. Tinitingnan naman ng iba na iniwan sila sa ere. Marami ngayon ang umaatake kay Nicole. Kung dati ay kinulapulan na siya ng putik, inilulublob pa siya ngayon. Lalo pang piinagdiriinan ng iba na maruming babae nga si Nicole.

Ano ang ating aktitud?

Paano natin ito ipaliliwanag sa mga mamamayang pinalahok natin sa laban para sa katarungan kaugnay ng Subic Rape Case?

Hindi natin pinagsisisihan ang pagtulong kay Nicole.

Ikinagagalak at ipinagmamalaki ng KAISA KA na naging importanteng bahagi ito ng mga pwersang sumaklolo, umalalay at nakipaglaban para kay Nicole. Ipinagmamalaki nating naging importateng bahagi tayo ng paglaban para sa katarungan ng unang biktima ng pang-aabuso ng mga sundalo ng US na tumakbo sa husgado at nakakuha ng conviction para sa isa sa mga akusado. Ipinagmamalaki natin ang walang pagdadalawang-loob na pagdadala ng laban ng unang biktimang nangahas tumayo sa unang kasong sumalang sa kawastuan ng VFA.

Naniniwala tayong totoo ang kanyang sinabi sa kanyang mga isinalaysay sa panahon ng pagdinig sa RTC sa Makati. May ilan sa ating nakasama mismo

* Inilabas ito sa midya ng kampo ni Smith noong !7 Marso 2009. Sa apidabit na ito, sinabi ni Nicole na siya ay nakukonsensya at di eksakto ang nauna niyang salaysay. Kabilang sa mga bago niyang salaysay ay: Pinagdududahan daw niya kung talagang may intensyong gahasain siya ni Smith o baka naman nawala ang mga inhibitions niya dahil sa alak kaya naging
mapusok siya. Inamin din niya rito na tumanggap na siya ng P100, 000 bilang bayad sa danyosayon sa inutos ng Hukuman.

sa pagkausap sa kanya bago ang mga pagdinig at di nagbabagu-bago ang kanyang salaysay. Maliwanag sa mga ebidensya at patunay na totoong grabe ang kanyang pagkalasing at nawalan siya ng malay dahil dito at sa gayon ay di makapagbibigay ng kanyang pagsang-ayon para pakipagtalik.

Hindi natin kinukondena si Nicole

Matindi ang kanyang pinagdaanan. Sa Pilipinas, liban kung bata ang ginahasa, nauuna pang ipako ang biktima kaysa sa rapist. Hindi na siya sinuportahan ng gubyerno, pinangunahan pa mismo ng “Justice” Secretary ang pangungutya sa kanya at sa kanyang pagkatao. Pinagsikapan niyang sanggain ang sari-saring pwersang pwedeng magpahina sa kanyang paglaban. Habang agad siyang pinaratangan, agad ding niyang nilabanan ang mga “mungkahi” ng ilang pulis, tauhan ng City Hall ng Olongapo, at iba pa na imbes na magkaso ay “makipag-ayos na lang, umiwas sa kahihiyan at magkakapera pa”. Tinanggihanr niya ang alok noong kasagsagan ng pagdinig sa Makati na ipatalo ang kaso kapalit ng blank cheque, bahay at lupa sa US at visa. Ilang beses niyang pinagrebeldehan ang mismong malalapit sa kanya na nanumbat sa kanya tungkol sa pagkaistorbo ng kanilang buhay, paghahanapbuhay at kabuhayan dahil sa pag-asikaso sa
kaso.

Kung anuman ang naganap na humantong sa March 12 Affidavit, hindi natin alam ang ditalye pero ang malinaw, ang mga nakasaad sa kanyang apidapit ay mga argumentong ihinarap ng kanyang kalaban at ang pormulasyon ng salaysay ay hindi kay Nicole.

Sikapin nating palawakin ang ating pang-unawa. Dumaranas ang isang biktima ng panggagahasa ng sarisaring emosyunal na pagpapababalingbaling na pwedeng makaapekto sa kanyang mga tindig sa buhay. At kung sakali’t totoong naakit na siya ng alok na mabuhay sa US nang may karangyaan at katahimikan, alam nating matatanto rin ni Nicole ang kahungkagan ng pangakong iyan.

Ganoonman, laging hangad natin ang pinakamabuti para kay Nicole.

Nais ng kalaban ni Nicole, sa pagkakagawa ng ikalawang apidabit, na impluwensyahan ang kaisipan ng mga magpapasya sa Court of Appeals para acquit si Smith at madaling ipatanggap sa mamamayan ang acquittal.

Wala naman talagang kabuluhang ligal ang March 12 Affidavit, na ninotaryuhan at sinumpaan sa harap ng isang abugado ng bupeteng nagsisilbi kay Smith, sa pagpapasya ng apila ni Smith sa kanyang kaso sa Court of Appeals dahil hindi naman na pinag-uusapan sa CA ang mga “bagong ebidensya”. Pero para sa akusado at sa mga abogado nito, malaki ang magagawa ng “ganitong salaysay” para impluwensyahan ang kaisipan ng mga magpapasya tungkol sa apila ni Smith.

Liban pa, mahalaga para sa pro-VFA na administrasyong Arroyo ang ganitong salaysay. Maliwanag na may mga pahayag ang ilang tao ng Malakañang na nagpapahiwatig na umaasa silang mampapawalan-sala si Smith ng CA at sa gayon, mapapahupa ang tension tungkol sa di pagbabalik kay Smith sa kulungang Pilipino at tungkol sa pagiging makaisang panig ng VFA.

Sa pangwawasak sa kredibilidad ni Nicole, nais din ng gubyerno na patayin ang kilusan para sa katarungan kaugnay ng Subic Rape Case at buhusan ng malamig na tubig ang umiinit na panawagan para sa pagbabasura ng VFA.

Pansinin nating masyadong pinatitingkad ang puntong nasa US na si Nicole. Ganoondin ang puntong tinanggap na niya ang inutos ng korte na P100, 000 kabayaran ni Smith sa danyos.

Kung tutuusin, wala namang katiyakang nasa US nga si Nicole At ang pananagutang sibil, ang P100,000 kabayaran ay ayon sa pasya ng nakabababang hukuman. Inilabas ito sa publiko at lubhang pinagdidiinan para palabasing “cheap” talaga si Nicole. Ito ay karagdagang paglulublob ng mukha ni Nicole upang lubos na mawasak ang kanyang kredibilidad at ng mga nagtaguyod sa kanya. Sa gayon nila nakikitang mapapatay o kahit pansamantalang mapipigilan ang lalo pang pag-init ng panawagan para sa pagbabasura ng VFA.

Hindi mabubura ng March 12 Affidavit ang isang mukha ng VFA, ang mukha ng karahasan sa kababaihan na maliwanag na inilarawan ng Subic Rape Case

Malaki ang kabuluhan ng Subic Rape Case at ng pagtindig ni Nicole para ilantad at ipaglaban ang katarungan para mailadlad ang marahas na mukha ng VFA. Naipakita ng laban ni Nicole ang matagal nang ibinababala ng mga organisasyong pangkababaihan na sa pagkakaroon ng VFA, lalo lamang nailalagay ang kababaihang Pilipino sa panganib na makaranas ng pandarahas militar.

Maliwanag na inilantad ng paglaban ni Nicole at ng mamamayan ang matagal na nating sinasabing kinukunsinti ng pwerang militar ng US ang panggagahasa ng kanilang tropa sa ginagawa nitong pagtatakip at pagbibigay proteksyon sa akusado. Pinatutunayan nitong hanggang ngayon, dala-dala pa rin ng pwersang militar ng US ang patriarkong kulturang militar na tumuturing sa katawan ng kababaihan bilang premyo o pabuya sa mga pagod na katawan ng kanilang mga sundalong nagtatanggol sa mga estratehilong interes ng imperyo.

Hindi mabubura ng March 12 Affidavit ang isa pang mukha ng VFA na inilarawan ng Subic Rape Case, ang VFA bilang pagyurak sa soberanya ng bayang mahina.

Matagal na ring nagbabala ang mga taong masikhay na nagsuri sa VFA bago at matapos itong pagtibayin ng Senado. Marami ang di-pantay na prubisyon nito at lubhang dehado ang Pilipinas. Kasama sa mga prubisyong dehado ang Pilipinas yaong tungkol sa: kawalang karapatan ng gubyernong Pilipinas na tsek-apin ang mga ipinapasok na armas ng US sa Pilipinas, na tsekapin
kung may mga nakahahawang sakit ang mga sundalo, na tingnan ang kanilang mga passport o hanapan ng visa, na buwisan ang kanilang mga ipinapapasok na produkto at sasakyan galing sa labas at ang tungkol sa Criminal Jurisdiction na siya ngang nasalang sa kaso ng Subic rape.

Pinatunayan ng Subic Rape Case at ng paglaban natin para sa katarungan kaugnay nito na hindi puro pangamba lamang ang mga babalang iyon. Mula noong mangyari pa lamang wala na ang kustodya sa suspects sa kamay ng Pilipinas. Noong makasuhan na, at dapat madetain na ang mga akusado, tumanggi pa rin ang gubyernong US na ibigay ito sa Pilipinas. Noong masentensyahan na si Smith at nagpasya na ang Huwes na sa Makati City Jail ito ikulong, kinutsaba pa rin ng US government ang gubyerno ni Arroyo upang bawiin si Smith at ilagay sa air conditioned na kwarto ng US Embassy. Lagi’t lagi ang prubisyon ng VFA tungkol sa Criminal Jurisdiction ang isinasangkalan. Pero kahit na nitong nagpasya na ang Supreme Court na hindi ayon sa VFA ang pagbalik kaya Smith sa US Embassy, tumatanggi pa rin ang US na ibigay si Smith sa awtoridad na Pilipino para ikulong sa Pilipinas.

Hindi pa tapos ang laban ganoon man ang inabot ng pampipresyur kay Nicole

Lampas kay Nicole ang laban para sa katarungan kaugnay ng Subic Rape Case. Ito ay laban ng kababaihang Pilipino at ng mamamayang Pilipino sa kabuuuan.

Patuloy nating igiit na maparusahan si Smith. Kontrahin natin ang pressure sa CA na pawalang-sala si Smith at igiit nating maikulong si Smith sa isang penitentiary (kulungan ng mga napatunayang nakagawa ng mabigat na krimen) sa Pilipinas.

Patindihin natin ang paglaban sa VFA at buhaying muli ang isang kilusan para pawalambisa ang VFA. Gagamitin pa rin nating pambala laban sa VFA ang Subic Rape Case at ang dinaanan nito. Pero daragdagan natin ng maraming iba pang pambalang naipon natin sa sampung taon ng pag-iral nito. Kabilang dito ang pag-iral ng mga pasilidad o base militar ng US sa Pilipinas; ang
paglulunsad ng US, sa pamamagitan ng VFA ng unconventional warfare o isang klase ng pakikipaggera sa Mindanao; ang pagkakasangkot nila sa pamamaslang ng mga sibilyan kasama na ang isang babaeng buntis at mga bata; ang dislokasyon sa mamamayan dulot ng kanilang exercises at gera; ang pagkakatulak sa kababaihan, bunga nito, na maramihang mag-OFW lalo na tungo sa Malaysia at mahulog sa ibayo pang pagkakapahamak; at ang papel ng mga sundalong US sa patuloy na pandarambong ng likas na yaman sa Mindanao.

Ituloy natin ang paglaban para sa katarungan.
VFA: Ibasura!
Pambansang Komiteng Tagapagpaganap
KAISA KA
Marso 21, 2009

Uncertainty is the “in” word nowadays.

Various massive company lay-offs and corporate downsizing schemes; a number of abrupt bank holidays and closure of financial institutions; the ill economic news left and right – these are just the surface of a deepening global economic recession (we dare say depression) that is not an inch of good news at all.

No matter how much the present GMA regime and the reactionary forces from here and abroad sugarcoat the series of events leading to the global depression, the prevalence of poverty and economic turmoil among the ordinary citizenry is the real score.

And this purported lack of adherence to the principles of truth by those who banner the dying cause of capitalism (in general) is a blatant insult to the injury of the world’s populace – and truth is what we all should pursue if we intend to solve our present misery under the rotten present social system.

How the global economy, triggered by the strategic downfall of U.S. imperialism, ended up bleeding profusely to the point of dying – and why we Filipinos should be caring to take notice of these events?

Tied in servitude to U.S.’s imperialist interests, let’s analyze the annals of history to better understand how the current American demise brings forth doom to our livid nation.
Needless to say, the reality is that the Philippines – being a neo-colony – isn’t too invincible not to be affected, Mrs. Arroyo.

U.S. Imperialism – An Interlude
Inspired by the bourgeoisie revolution erupting in various parts of Europe and fueled by the technological innovations of the industrial revolution (ushered and maximized by capitalists themselves in order to hasten their profit), it didn’t take long before the emerging American capitalist nation (fresh from winning its independence from colonialist Britain) made itself known to the world politically and economically.

But because the capitalists’ mind is programmed for “more profit”, monopolist American tycoons and small market investors sought to double their profit in the most feasible way without having to hassle themselves with putting up resource-consuming industries or formal businesses – hence the stock market was born.

Add this to U.S.’s rapidly expanding industries and booming banking system and it was no sooner that America bloomed to the point of deterioration even as early as the 1870’s.

As feared by experts, U.S.’s and other imperialist nation’s speculative economy (e.g. Wall Street or the stock market – the gambling juncture for big-time capitalists and ordinary investors) busted half a century later and paved the way for the Great Depression (1920s).

In those times, millions of workers lost their jobs and millions of families suffered hunger pangs and literal nothingness (very much like the impoverished condition in our country now) in a daily basis while basic commodities flooded the market to rot. Indeed, the Great Depression was the darkest fiscal turmoil the world has ever seen in decades.

This imperialist crisis of overproduction and shrinking market pointed to one solution: WAR, the most lucrative business up to date in the capitalism era.

Fast-track to post-World War II.
America was the least ravaged country among the warring imperialist nations – in fact, it even profited and fed-off from the destruction that rampaged across the Atlantic and beyond (save for Pearl Harbor and U.S.’s armed forces who were sent as war machinery).

After the war, the vastly devastated European and Asian countries had incurred not only war damages in the process of the fighting but also a ballooning indebtedness – to no other than the U.S.

This debt bondage to U.S. and its apparent military strength served as the basis for the nation’s rise to economic prominence and its transformation into an imperialist superpower.
America at present.

Being a dominant superpower after World War II, America is currently in the middle of a wide scale economic uncertainty. In truth, it’s this fear of what lies beyond an institutions’ financial comfort zone that is spelling doom to the general economy of the world.

After almost a decade of failed policies under the war-freak, terrorism-obsessed Bush administration, the American people sought for a relief from the ongoing financial crisis that shook the nation’s economy (which first manifested in the form of the housing mortgage flop early last year).

November 2008, the presidential elections – Bush goes OUT and Obama comes IN.

The Obama hype, apart from being a history-setting racial win, was largely due to the fact that U.S. was deep in recession and it needed somebody to come pick it up from despondency.

Now that all the confetti has fallen, the question is: has the world, especially the American people, found a savior in president Obama? Or is the world forgoing another chapter in its history books where the faces change but nevertheless poverty prevails?

NO and YES.

In what has been dubbed as an impending depression far worse than the Great Depression, the scale of this foreseen period is unprecedented – the expected global shockwave is off the Richter and the forecasted 200,000,000 jobs shed off during the year (according to International Labor Organization – ILO) is just the tip of the iceberg.

Now, where’s Barack’s “distribution of wealth” platform when he himself signs a bail-out plan that covers big financial institutions and not the ordinary citizen?

Funny but it’s also the move of various imperialist governments that are affected by the “crunch”

Clearly, the capitalist-riddled bureaucracy has no heart for the toiling masses – as is the case in the Philippines.

Going Back to Our Shores.
Recently named among BizNews Asia magazine’s “Power 100,” Gloria Arroyo surely succeeded building an iron-walled regime based on sleaze, puppetry and fraud.

Looking back, in the eye of the global economic storm, she assured the public of stability and even boasted of the dubious 0.3 GDP growth that the nation recently enjoyed – now, she calmly assures the public on one side still but strongly urges the present and upcoming labor force to search for greener pastures abroad.

This logical move by GMA to rid the country of more of its labor resource is due to the fact that our economy floats merely from the increasing OFW remittances (and the news of continuous lay-offs of thousands of OFWs overseas knocks on Malacañang’s doors like an inevitable catastrophe). Locally, unemployment is expected to soar higher than never before this year – leaving a bulk of ‘09 graduates to be on an indefinite standby.

To top this scenario is the fact that:

• 7 out of 10 Filipinos suffer involuntary hunger (eat less than 3 times a day).
• DOLE conservatively predicts that there will be 300,000 Filipinos who will lose their jobs until June this year (not counting the overseas lay-offs).
• Only 25% companies in the country abide by the minimum wage law (Cebu – Php 267.00) while the daily cost of living for a family of 4 has already climbed to Php 750+.
• Our total debt has reached 7.6 trillion pesos – divided equally among the populace equates to an individual debt of 89,000 each one.
• An astounding number of 45 million Filipinos don’t own a land or a decent home to live in.
  To the rising incidence of poverty in our country, what is Arroyo’s call on the nation? Charter change – a clear ridicule of Juan dela Cruz’s plight.

Yet, when did the reactionary elite of our country ever have the heart to see the misery of the ordinary Juan? Isn’t it that they took a seat in power for further profiteering and not to heed the people’s cry for true equality and economic equity?

Feng shui experts may have recommended that in this Year of the Ox, it pays to persevere and toil doubly hard to achieve our short and long term goals – yet let that not serve as a reason to be passive to all the anomalies that pester our nation to utter wretchedness.

In capitalism’s collapse comes the immediate need to study for other alternative social system that could well push the world to further advancement without having to result to widening the gap between those who have and those who have nothing.

The best time to usher in a new kind of society? NOW.

Sapin-saping dahilan para kumilos at lumaban!

Disyembre na. Malungkot, walang trabaho o hanapbuhay, gutom, wala ni bubong na silungan at nagdarahop na Pasko ang muling daratal sa higit na nakakaraming mamamayang Pilipino.

Disyembre na. Maglilipat na ang taon. Si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ay nasa Malakanyang pa rin. Kapit-tuko sa kapangyarihan. Gustong manatili dito nang labag sa pasya ng mamamayan. Gustong manatili dito ng habambuhay. Sa kabilang banda ang mamamayan ay mistulang habambuhay na bilanggo sa pagsasamantala at pang-aapi ng iilang dayuhan at lokal na naghahari.

Sapin-sapin ang mga suliranin ng sambayanan habang nagpipista sa kurakot at korupsyon ang mga umaangkin ng kapangyarihan. Magpapasko, ang buong daigdig at ang bansa ay hinahambalos ng matinding krisis ngunit walang-lubay ang mga demolisyon sa mga kumunidad ng mga maralita. Hindi rin binabawi o sinususpinde ang pagtataas ng singil sa kuryente, tubig at pati na matrikula ng mga estudyante.

Nagtatanggalan sa trabaho sa loob at labas ng bansa. Ngunit walang hakbang ang gubyerno para lumikha ng makakabubuhay na mga trabaho at hanapbuhay. Iaalok lamang muli ng rehimen sa mga dayong bansa ang mga OFW na nawawalan ng trabaho. Patuloy na itinataboy ng rehimeng Arroyo ang mga Pilipino sa ibayong dagat upang doon makipagsapalaran sukdang magpa-alipin makapagpadala lamang ng dolyar, euro o ng yen. Sa loob ng bansa ang mga dayuhang kapitalista’y ay pangunahing inaakit sa mura at supil na lakas-paggawa ng mga Pilipino. Bawal mag-unyon! Bawal ang dumaing! Pagtatanggal sa trabaho ang banta sa bawat maggigiit ng karapatan, sa bawat ayaw magpaalipin!

Wala na ni kahit butas-butas na repormang agraryo o kahit pormal na pagkilala sa karapatan ng mga magbubukid sa lupang binubungkal.. Wala nang puwang para magkaroon ng kapirasong lupang mabubungkal ang maraming wala nito. Ngunit pinagkakalooban ng rehimeng GMA ang mga dayuhan ng 100% karapatang mag-ari ng lupa sa Pilipinas!

Patuloy na bumababa ang presyo ng langis at mga batayang pagkain. Ngunit ayaw alisin ang VAT na pinagpapasasaan ng kurakot na rehimen at pambayad sa dayuhang pautang na malaon nang nabayaran sa pawis at dugo ng mamamayan. Patuloy na mataas ang presyo ng bigas, ng mga gamot, ng pagpapa-ospital hanggang pagpapalibing.

Ngunit ayaw suportahan ang mga magbubukid. Bawat ipinagmalaking programa ng suporta sa pagsasaka ay nauwi sa katiwalian. Tulad sa kinasangkutan ng dakilang sinungaling na si Joc-joc Bolante sa pondong nilustay upang ipanalo si GMA at biguin ang yumaong FPJ noong 2004.
Mayroon diumanong batas para sa murang gamot ngunit patuloy na nagpapasasa ang mga dambuhalang dayuhang kumpanya ng gamot sa mahal na pagbenta ng kanilang gamot sa Pilipinas. Tinitipid ang badyet ng Department of Health at mga publikong ospital ngunit binubusog ang mga heneral ng AFP at PNP tulad ni De la Paz at mga barkadang Euro Generals at ng naglaho na si Gen. Garcia.

Kailangan pang ipaglaban ng mga publikong guro, mga karaniwang sundalo at empleyado ng gubyerno ang kanilang karapatan sa nakabubuhay na suweldo samantalang kinukurakot ng mga opisyales ang mga pondo.

Walang pag-aasa at maasahan pang buti sa rehimeng GMA at sa pinangangalagaan nitong naghaharing sistemang malaon nang bulok. Malaon nang natuto tayong mga Pilipino na umasa sa ating sariling pagtitiyaga at pagsusumikap na mabuhay ng kahit sa bawat araw lamang.
Ngunit laging may hangganan ang pagtitiis!

May dakila at mapait na mga aral tayo mula sa kasaysayan at sa sariling karanasan ngayon. Nagawa nating ibagsak ang diktadurang Marcos ngunit winaldas ng mga nagkanulo sa bayan ang tagumpay na iyon. Nagawa nating ibagsak ang rehimeng Estrada ngunit nalinlang tayo ng sagad na bulok na pumalit na rehimeng GMA.

Walang katulad sa nakaraan ang paghahari ng pangkating Macapagal-Arroyo. Hinigitan nito ang lahat sa katiwalian at korupsyon sa kabang yaman ng bansa at panunupil sa mga karapatan ng mamamayan. Wala ito ni kaunting malasakit sa bayan.

Walong (8) taon na tayong nagdurusa sa ilalim ng rehimeng GMA. Ngunit walang hiya at pananagutan itong nagmamaniobra ngayon para manatili nang lampas sa 2010.

Disyembre na. Magtatapos na ang taon ngunit hindi nagtatapos ang laban at pakikibaka ng sambayanan. Sobra na, tama na! Wakasan na ang bulok na gubyerno at sistema ng lipunan!

MANGAHAS MAKIBAKA! MANGAHAS MAGTAGUMPAY!
Disyembre 3, 2008

The Crisis of World Capitalism and the Imperatives of Peoples’ Movements

Introduction

We may find ourselves shortsighted if we would not make even make a cursory review of the historical background of the present crisis of global capitalism.

Two decades ago, when the neo-liberal or free market craze was in the upswing, some worthy writers of the imperialist apologists type declared “socialism is dead” and unabashedly proclaimed “the superiority of capitalism” and “capitalism forever”.

However, history is always unforgiving to charlatans and social cranks. World capitalism again and again, as in over past 100 years, is wracked by its inherent crisis. Especially at its monopoly or imperialist or finance capitalist stage, capitalism has continuously made the world ever smaller for the expansion of capital and competition among individual corporations in both banks and industries. The “boom-bust” cycle became shorter in duration until monopoly capitalism is chronically beset by its inherent crisis of falling rate of profit or the condition of over-production and over-accumulation of surplus capital that cannot be reproduced or re-invested in physical or material production.

Capital must therefore always find and create new areas for investment or expansion to escape and counter the falling rate of profit. In this era of imperialism and because every new industry is fast saturated with capital, finance or bank capitalists have continuously developed financial manipulation and speculation or the means by which surplus capital could grow outside the sphere of physical or material production. Finance speculation has created the “metaphysical” or “bubble” economy. But because its object and subject is the physical economy, the “bubble” busts every now and then, ravaging the real or physical economy.

Monopoly capitalists would always find the intervention of the imperialist state necessary, even if capital remains mainly private and thus the capital earnings. But competition is another basic character of capitalism and the imperialist state would always favor the monopoly capitalists, especially the monopoly finance or bank capitalists, specifically the biggest among them and those who have the proper connections.

Imperialist state intervention has been seen in two World Wars, which were the culmination of capitalist depression and through the regular defense and arms build-up, the US wars of aggression and military intervention and its creation of imperialist institutions in all aspects—economic, financial, political and military. World War I (1914-1918) was the culmination of the Long Depression (1880s-1900) that ushered in the stage of monopoly capitalism. The USA emerged as the chief victor in WWI and had the strongest hand in the re-partition of the world. But it was not a “winner-take all” affair for the US and its allies, Britain , the erstwhile superpower and France . The working class was able to seize power in Russia in 1917 and soon in all the nations that were once under the Tsarist Empire. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) or Soviet Union was established.

World War II (1939-1945) was the culmination of the Great Depression (1930s) that was signaled by the New York Stock Market crash of 1929. WWII catapulted the US into the position as the single imperialist superpower to have worldwide hegemony. But this position had reached its peak or its limits especially after Japan and Germany recovered and re-industrialized throughout the long years of the US Cold War with the USSR and the long US war in Vietnam . But China is now seen by the US as the greatest threat to its supremacy. On the other hand China , which arose at the time the US economy was already on the decline, is also seen now as the potential savior of the capitalist world.

The Features of the Present Crisis of World Capitalism

The present crisis is comparable to the Great Depression of 1930. It would suffice if our historical backdrop to the present crisis starts from the GD period or at least the post-WWII period. The limitations of the paper however would not permit it.

Whatever its complexities, let us just state the context and major features of the present crisis of world capitalism and its effects on third world economies like the Philippines.

1. The strategic decline of the US as an imperialist superpower is the broad context the present crisis of world capitalism.
2. The continuing crisis of over-production and over-accumulation of surplus capital, in other words, the under-consumption of both goods and capital, is the particular context of the present crisis.
3. The present crisis manifests or features itself as crisis in the financial and banking systems. Its particular feature is credit and debt crisis.
4. The gravest feature is the growing joblessness and wage cuts all across industries and services, especially banks and financial services, throughout the capitalist world.
5. The constricting labor-export market is limiting opportunities for third world countries like the Philippines.
6. The growing trend towards re-concentration of capitals back to their home or nation bases would deplete foreign investment and debt dependent economies like the Philippines .
7. The bail-out or “nationalization” of banks and other financial institutions shows the limits of the neo-liberal or free market paradigm but does not prove the resurgence of Keynesian economics.
8. Socialism is posing itself as the real alternative to capitalism.

We would proceed to describe the context and features of the global crisis.

1. The strategic decline of the US as superpower is principally determined by its internal weaknesses and contradictions in maintaining its economic and military might and of the US dollar and financial regime over global trading and financial system. On the other hand the US exercise of its world hegemony is challenged starting from the 1970s by its re-industrialized former enemies in WWII, Japan and Germany and lately by the fast rising economic and also military power, China which is in close alliance with Russia and India, which are both big economies and nuclear capable. But Germany before is not the Germany now at the lead of European Union (EU) whose Euro is the currency most strongly competing the US dollar. But other than the big capitalist powers that rival each other and the US, challenge is also posed by sovereign nation-states which are binding together to protect and defend their economies principally against the US. The UNASUR nations of South America led by Venezuela are the latest.

Briefly, the decline of the US begun after the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1971 and the US dollar while remaining the currency for global exchange was devalued and begun to be floated. Soon the currencies of Germany (DM) and Japan (Yen) were being accepted by some countries beside the dollar. After the oil producing countries formed the OPEC (1968) and asserted their sovereignty over their resources and used oil as weapon to counter US threat of trade embargo, the global oil cartel, not the OPEC, raised the price of oil by almost 400% in 1974.

The leap in profits from oil and the increased cost of fuel especially for industries exploded into a crisis called stagflation (recession with high inflation) in 1979-1981. This crisis manifested first in the US and spread to Europe and but limitedly affected Japan . Hundreds of thousands of workers were thrown out of jobs due to closure of many plants and the general reduction in production. Much of the industrial areas, especially in Michigan, were reduced to “rust belts”.

The stagflation ushered in the new capitalist paradigm—the neo-liberal or free market economics. Packaged as globalization, its main objective is the removal of all restrictions, tariff and non-tariff barriers, state intervention in the economy, workers’ right to unionize, labor standards, etc. for the free global movement of capital especially, finance capital.

In the 1980s, the US incurred growing annual trade deficit with Japan despite the US- enforced re-valuation of the Yen in 1985 (Plaza Accord). From a net creditor, the US fell to a net-debtor by 1985. Meanwhile the efforts towards the building of the German led European Union (EU), which begun from the European Common Market in the early 1960s, gained much headway. China embarked on its modernization program starting in 1981.

Despite the thawed Cold War, the US embarked on the costly National Defense Program cinematically dubbed as “Star-Wars Strategy” and the so called Reaganomics which was mainly an attack against workers’ wages and the right to strike.

In 1987, another New York Stock Market plunge dragged the whole financial world. A great factor was the 1986 debt-payment crisis. Many countries that availed of structural adjustment loans (SAL) extended by the IMF-WB defaulted in debt-payments. But the Philippines was an exception, the “people power” installed Cory Aquino regime made its infamous declaration, “we will honor our debts”. The US came to the rescue not of the deeply indebted countries but of the banks that have financed the IMF-WB SALs. The US scheme was the Brady Plan which was none other than the restructuring of debts.

The 1990s was ushered in by the Japan and Saudi- Arabia financed first US war against Iraq , the “desert storm” of 1991. The pretext was Saddam’s threat to invade Kuwait . It was in fact an assertion of Iraq ’s sovereignty over its oil which was being pumped-out across the border in Kuwait . On the other hand, the US objective was to secure the oil for its giant oil corporations. Under the Clinton government (1992-2000) the US tried to “retool” its industries that have lagged behind Japan ’s and Germany ’s. But the military and defense spending was always greater. It was the height of neo-liberal globalization, industrial capital was always in search of low-wage areas. The banks preferred more the lucrative finance speculation business, especially on the newly created financial product called derivatives.

The other great part of finance capital went, as loans and investments, to the so called “new tiger economies” and “newly industrialized countries” in Asia . Finance capital did not find the economies of tumultuous Russia and other former USSR countries and of Eastern Europe as ready for the free movement of capital. But most of the capital that flowed in and out of the Asian “tigers” and NICs were in real estate speculation, land and asset securitization and as standby loans for the liberalization of the financial and banking systems of the countries concerned. The Philippines 2000 Plan or the NIChood ambition of the Ramos regime was nothing industrial but the total liberalization of the Philippine economy, starting and ending with the liberalization of the banking and financial systems and massive land-use conversions (LUC) in 1993-1994, as condition for new IMF-WB loans. With then Sen. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as lead proponent, the Philippine senate ratified the GATT-WTO in December 1994. Thus the Philippines became member of the now derelict WTO.

Then the Asian Financial Crisis erupted in 1997-1998. The contagion spread to over half of the world including the US and of course, Japan. It was caused by glut in speculations. All Asian currencies were devalued several times thereby increasing the cost of countries’ debts and of course the private loans extended by banks to corporations and individuals. On the other hand, the banks were crippled by mass of non-performing assets (loan collaterals, mostly land) and non-performing loans. Again the US through the IMF-WB rushed a rescue or bail-out package valued at close to $200 billion extended as loans to countries to enable them to pay their debts to mostly private US investment banks. Japan was in deep financial doldrums and economic recession. The biggest Japanese banks were saddled with $800 billion of firstly, inter-bank and secondly, industrial corporate loans.

As consequence of the Asian Financial Crisis, losses in transactions in the US financial market from 1998-2000 were estimated at $7 trillion. Meanwhile American household and individual debts (mostly on home mortgages and car loans) were mounting.[1] Before the US recession that technically begun in March 2001, the average debt of American families and individuals was $8,000 totaling at close to $10T. This and the real threat of foreclosures and reality of increasing joblessness set the common American attitude to save and reduce consumption. The reduction on consumption was threatening the US financial and economic might because 2/3 of US GDP is generated by consumption of the American people.

The Bush government resorted to tax cuts that favored most the richest American families. However the tax cuts reduced the US government’s revenues and increased its budget deficit. This plus the increasing cost of the prolonging US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the annual trade deficits first with China and second with Japan are translating to $500B-700B annual deficit in US BoP. To finance this, the US Federal Reserve resorts to massive foreign and public borrowings, which are being shouldered by the American people. On the other hand the banks resorted to debt refinancing by artificially raising the values of mortgaged homes and lots. But this did not perk up the average consumption of Americans. Instead the banks made a killing in the business of securitization of mortgages or the now famous speculation on sub-prime loans represented by the very heavy but greatly unregulated inter-bank trading on collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). The unaccountable sub-prime bubble finally exploded in 2007 to what is now the deepened crisis of world finance capitalism.

2. The real measure of the crisis is in the increasing joblessness and home foreclosures in the centers of capitalism and throughout the world. What is further distressing is the trillions in dollars of bail-out packages being put up by the predator and parasitic states of US, EU and practically all countries, whose economies have been integrated under the global financial empire, to rescue precisely the rulers of this empire, the biggest banks. But where would these predators get the funds? The fact that what are being “nationalized” are the bad loans and debts of banks, it means the bail-out funds would be drawn out from the people.

3. Socialist revolutions are not near possibility but the present crisis of world capitalism which is further exploding into immeasurable proportions is a very favorable situation to counter-pose socialism against capitalism. In the imperialist stage has exposed the moribund, decadent, parasitic and, let us add, predatory characters of capitalism.

4. Tactically for countries like the Philippines , the trajectory of peoples’ movements is to de-link from the global financial empire. Debt repudiation is a very justified and reasonable call and demand now. The debt payments should be shifted to provide immediate relief for the people and job creation within the framework of genuine national industrialization and the nationalization of assets acquired by banks and therefore the nationalization of banks and the streamlining of the banking and financial systems.