Excluded Headlines: Yemen explained, Haiti revolution? Guatemala, massive India protest ...
This week: Is a revolution kicking off in Haiti? Stay up to date on the global news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlook, with journalist, Tamara Pearson.
In this week’s overlooked, distorted, and ignored news about the Global South:
UK, US bomb Yemen - Last Thursday night, the US and UK bombed Yemen dozens of times, killing at least five people, and targeting areas controlled by the Houthis. The Houthis had targeted ships in the Red Sea heading to Israel, to protest the attacks on Gaza, as part of a state’s obligation to prevent genocide. They say they will stop when Israel allows food into Gaza. Over the past week, the US/UK coalition has bombed Yemen three more times.
Context: The Houthi tribe is from northern Yemen. The Houthi movement is predominantly Shia Islamist and opposed the Yemeni president who eventually resigned in 2012 after protests involving many groups, including the Houthis - they accused him of being backed by the US and Saudi Arabia. Yemen has been in a civil war for the past decade, and the Houthis are currently involved in peace talks.
Media: The only visuals of the bombing shown by the mainstream media were supplied by the US government, of the fighter jets taking off. Here’s some footage of the bombing. The media has also been using phrasing like “Houthi controlled site” and “Houthi location” to detract from the fact that civilians, homes, farms, towns, and cities are being bombed. Areas bombed and raided include Sanaa, Mount Hailan, Majzar, Hodeida, Sa'ada, and Dhamar. Source, source, source, source, source.
Arévalo finally swears in as president of Guatemala - After 10 hours delay and months of right-wing sabotage, the left-leaning election winner finally swore in on Monday. Deputies who were swearing in tried all sorts of techniques to postpone the new president taking power, while outside protestors tried to break through security to demand Arévalo be sworn in straight away. People travelled in convoys from around the country to support the ceremony. Source, source, source
Indians in Bengal state march and rally for over 50 days against corruption - Led by student and youth organisations, huge numbers of people covered over 3,000 kilometres of Bengal to demand jobs and education and denounce corruption. Source.
Iran / Pakistan - Iran attacked Pakistan with missiles on Tuesday. Pakistan said two children were killed. Pakistan retaliated today, and killed nine people. Both countries claimed they were targeting terrorist or militant/separatist groups. Pakistan withdrew its ambassador from Iran. Iran’s initial attacks follow the explosions earlier this month, which ISIS claimed, and Iran says its measures were aimed at preventing more. Source, source, source.
Calls for revolution and protests in Haiti - Some people in Haiti have responded to calls by Guy Phillipe for a “revolution without arms”, with protests and roadblocks in various towns. Phillipe has just returned to the country after seven years imprisonment in the US. Phillipe has spoken out against the current Prime Minister’s appeal for foreign intervention in the country, but he also has a complex history, having been convicted of money laundering, and having lead the 2004 rebellion against then President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Source, source.
6 Colombian social leaders killed so far this year - Six activists have been murdered in Colombia already this year. Source.
West Papuans protest gold mining - A large amount of gold has been found in Central Papua, and locals protested on Thursday against the environmental damage proposed mines would cause, as well as the violations of Indigenous West Papuan’s consultation rights. Source.
Useful reads:
Biden Admits Bombing Yemen Isn't Working, But Says US Will Continue Anyway
How the Western media methodically dehumanised Iran bombing victims
Famine expert Alex de Waal on Israel’s starvation of Gaza
Inequality Inc - how corporate power is a driving force of rising inequality (Oxfam report)
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