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We are all subjects of the American Empire. Whether or not we live in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East . . .  we are all below the thumb of neo-liberal capitalism that puts concentrated corporate power in handle of our lives. For decades, American Empire and wealthy elite have forced privatization of sources in establishing nations and austerity measures on public programs. Now, we are also experiencing these exact same policies in wealthier nations like the US and Europe.
All but the wealthiest are now members of the “Global South.” And, much more and a lot more men and women understand this. Folks from all over the planet recognize that we must stand with each other in solidarity to challenge the tiny minority that dominates us.  The revolts in Turkey, Brazil, Europe, the Middle East and Asia – as well as in the United States – are all connected.
These struggles share widespread messages that people are far more important than profit, that human rights need to be respected and that we want to live in peace with dignity. We see that capitalism is failing and that the folks must take control to create the type of planet in which we want to reside. The Afghan Peace Volunteers stated this clearly in their recent open letter: “accomplishing these actions hinges on us, on climate modify citizens, Arab Spring citizens, Occupy citizens and the ‘awakening’ citizens of each and every nation to free of charge ourselves from the unequal dominance of corporate governments with their laws and weapons of self-interest.”
And it’s happening. People from around the globe are functioning in solidarity and protesting on behalf of other individuals. Across the US, men and women are taking action to stop the drone warfare that kills innocent Afghans, Pakistanis and other folks. In Maine, they are taking a legislative method along with protest and in Iowa, people are walking 195 miles to the Capital, Des Moines.
The campaign to close Guantanamo stretches from the living rooms of US veterans to the Washington, DC to Yemen. 3 veterans, Elliott Adams, Diane Wilson and Tarak Kauff are on a solidarity hunger strike with the prisoners. They are coming to Washington, DC subsequent week to protest and invite you to join them. Codepink recently traveled to Yemen to find out from the families of the prisoners about the impact of Guantanamo on their families.
Men and women in Hong Kong marched in help of Edward Snowden and to oppose his extradition. Japanese railroad workers in Tokyo protested a lockout in Oregon, nearly 5,000 miles away, of American dockworkers who load grain ships headed for Asia.