In November 2006, leftist candidate Rafael Correa won the second round of the Ecuadorian presidential election with 57% of the vote, compare with his conservative opponent, Alvaro Noboa, who won 43%.
Despite the US鈥檚 failure to undermine Correa鈥檚 candidacy, as shown by diplomatic cables published by WIkiLeaks, further US cables suggest the US Embassy in Quito believed it could hold sway over the new government.
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New Zealand goes to the polls on September 20. Amid a big scandal of government 鈥渄irty tricks鈥, the is pushing the interests of the working-class and Maori communities.
Mana was formed when firebrand Maori Party MP Hone Harawira split over the Maori Party's support for a right-wing National Party government in 2011. It brings together militant Maori activists with other working-class and left forces.
鈥淧addy wagon鈥檚 on its way,鈥 announced a Chicago Police tactical officer over his radio early on the morning of September 4. Shortly after, a crowd of about 300 demonstrators 鈥 including more than 100 striking fast food workers 鈥 began chanting 鈥淭ake the street!鈥 and proceeded to do just that.
Marching between a McDonald鈥檚 on one side and a Burger King on the other, the crowd blocked 87th street traffic on Chicago鈥檚 south side for about 20 minutes.
From indie rappers to stadium rockers, here are 10 politically-potent new releases worth a listen. What album, or albums, would you suggest?
Indonesian authorities are pushing for two French journalists arrested in West Papua to face trial and up to 20 years jail.
Valentine Bourrat and Thomas Dandois, journalists working for French media company Arte TV, were in West Papua filming a documentary about human rights. They were arrested in Wamena on August 6. Indigenous leader Areki Wanimbo, who was interviewed by them, was also arrested.
In a speech to the nation on September 2, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced 鈥渇ive revolutions鈥, as part of a campaign to 鈥渋mprove our service to the people鈥, on September 3.
Maduro said the revolutions would be a 鈥渁 new way of functioning鈥 for the government. The five revolutions 鈥渟hould be united, and should define the government policies, giving power to the people, it will be the people who push government policy鈥.
Israel has barred 13 European Parliament MPs from visiting Gaza during a four-day fact-finding visit to Palestine and Israel that started on September 4.
The MEPs were from European United Left/Nordic 麻豆传媒 (GUE/NGL) group in the European parliament. They met members of the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament), as well as activists from both Palestinian and Israeli human rights and peace groups.
A small but growing group of workers in Sydney has been turning the tables on exploitative employers who have cheated staff out of minimum entitlements.
Organised in the Sydney Solidarity Network (SydSol), workers have been using direct action to win wages from bosses who have paid employees less than the minimum wage, or not paid them for their work at all.
The Sydney Refugee Action Coalition released the statement below on September 10.
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Refugee advocates have rejected immigration minister Scott Morrison鈥檚 latest push to introduce temporary protection visas.
鈥淭he Minister is holding asylum seeker children hostage to the introduction of temporary protection visas,鈥 said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
"We are calling on all parliamentarians to reject the minister鈥檚 blackmail attempt and vote against the reintroduction of TPVs.
Members of the Aboriginal community, faith-based groups, unionists, welfare activists, and others gathered at the State Administration Centre in Adelaide on September 9 to oppose a proposal to expand income management in South Australia.
Labor Premier Jay Weatherill has announced he would 鈥渙ffer the broadest possible support鈥 to all 27 of billionaire Andrew Forrest's recommendations in his Indigenous Employment and Training Review. This would include Forrest's controversial proposal to dramatically expand income management to all working-age Centrelink clients, or 2.5 million people.
After consultations with the family of Hamid Khazaei, who died on September 5 after being detained on Manus Island, an agreement has been made to give his family an Aboriginal passport, in his name, to honour both their son and their offer to donate his organs to Australian citizens.
The Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA) organised the passport proposal. ISJA president Ray Jackson said: 鈥淭his gesture by his family shames the Tony Abbott government, in particular immigration minister Scott Morrison, for incarcerating innocent asylum seekers seeking sanctuary in this country.
The Queensland government has limited the ability of the public to object to a mining lease.
The Mining and Energy Resources Bill, passed on September 9, means only affected landholders, their neighbours or local councils can object to mining lease applications in the Land Court.
In a statement, campaign group Lock the Gate said: 鈥淚n an 11th hour move, the Queensland government has silenced objections to mining projects across the state giving open slather to Indian coal billionaire Gautam Adani to develop the Galilee Basin into one of the largest coal precincts in the world.鈥
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