Good News!

by Mary Shepard, WAMM

The movement for social justice and against violence is on a roll in the developed world, as well as pockets of the oppressed, developing world. There are signs of a swing back from unrestrained capitalism to grassroots demands for a more equitable division of the world's wealth. Here are some signs of the times:

Despite Tony Clark's political schemes to prevent his election, Kenneth Livingston, a true progressive, was elected mayor of London. He has cut subways fees and committed himself to serving the poor of the city even, if necessary, at the expense of the rich.

New Zealand's Prime Minister, Helen Clark, has an agenda which could have been written by WAMM. She canceled war plane contracts to release funds for education and social needs, called for an end to privatizing government services, and raised taxes on the richest five percent.

Bolivia succeeded in defying the powerful Bechtel company which hoped to privatize its water supply. Meanwhile, the dialogues taking place between North and South Korea are a hopeful sign the cold war is over. Here at home, the Senate finally held a debate on the legality of the Kosovo intervention and occupation and came within a few votes of reclaiming its right to decide issues of war and peace.

Closer yet to home, the Minneapolis City Council passed the Burma Selective Purchasing Agreement to prevent Minneapolis tax dollars from enriching corporations that benefit from military oppression in Burma. (Unfortunately, Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton vetoed the resolution.)

The "Mobile Chernobyl" bill was finally defeated. This bill provided for the shipment of nuclear waste from eastern communities west to Yucca Mountain or other, temporary waste deposits. It would have allowed nuclear plants which have produced too much waste to store themselves to remain active. The absurdity of transporting an endless flow of deadly radioactive waste through communities that never benefited from nuclear energy (and had been wise enough not to build nuclear plants) did not prevent the Congress from passing this bill. Clinton, who realized how politically explosive the issue would become, vetoed it and Sen. Trent Lott (Rep., MS) could not muster the votes to override the veto. As nuclear plants close, studies are showing a significant decrease in infant mortality in the communities near them.

The major good news is the ongoing strengthening and deepening of the movement for social justice and against violence. The latest manifestation of this strength is the awesome size of the Million Mom March. The pathetic counter-demonstration by the pro-gun lobby dramatically revealed how weak they are outside the halls of Congress. It is as if the voters are suddenly waking up to the fact that they really do have power.

There will be many more opportunities for voters to vent their frustrations and cement their alliances: party conventions, Presidential candidate debates, and the International War Crimes Tribunal to be held in New York City, June 10, 2000. There, the Clinton Administration will be put on trial for its actions in the war against Yugoslavia.

Madeleine Albright received such a hostile reception at the commencement exercises at the University of California, Berkeley, she was whisked away early. There is action in Europe also. A big demonstration is planned for Florence, Italy, where the NATO policy makers expect to make plans for further expansion.

May Day 2000 was another of those opportunities to energize the forces for change and the young people, especially, took advantage of it. London's demonstrations rattled Tony Blair's government. Z Magazine says that in the New Youth Movement we are seeing the arrival of a future "that may well witness a massive international youth force--radicalized, organized, and trained as not seen in 40 years." Change is coming as it should--from the bottom up.