By: Manuela Solé On: October 19, 2020

Merid (VZA) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Tuesday a new national plan for medical education.

Maduro unveiled the plan, named after renowned Venezuelan Doctor Jose Gregorio Hernandez, during the graduation ceremony of more than 3400 new doctors.

During the ceremony, the Head of State delivered diplomas to 2140 community doctors, 1301 specialists in integral medicine, 66 radiologists, and 25 forensic pathologists.

The graduates will be immediately deployed in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The students attended the Hugo Chávez Venezuelan University of Health Sciences, created in 2014 by Maduro, with no tuition fees. Since its creation, 28 thousand doctors have emerged in different medical disciplines, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado revealed via video conference. Alvarado is currently recovering from the coronavirus.

Related: Venezuelan Oil Output Remains at Historic Lows as Sanctions Continue to Bite

Maduro went on to ask Communications Minister Freddy Nanez to boost a tele-education plan for remote education, with in-person classes currently on hold due to Covid-19.

He also insisted that telecommunications companies participate in this plan in order to guarantee connectivity for the country. “We have to increase resources to expand bandwidth and take internet services to all schools and universities,” Maduro stressed.

Venezuela continues with its Covid-19 measures in place, alternating weeks of flexible and strict quarantine. On Tuesday, Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez informed that after 212 days facing the pandemic Venezuela has totaled 84,391 cases, of which 76,262 have recovered (90 percent), 710 have died and 7,419 are currently active. Out of the active cases, 4,986 are in hospitals, 2,288 in local healthcare centers, and 145 in private clinics.

The Caribbean country continues to fare much better than its neighbors, with daily cases hovering between 600 and 700 after peaking at 1200 in August.

Related: Biden Bashes Trump Offer to Meet with Venezuela’s Maduro

On Sunday, Maduro revealed that a Chinese Covid-19 vaccine will soon arrive in the country for phase 3 of clinical trials. He assured that “thousands of volunteers” will participate and that once approved the vaccine will be “free for all”.

The Russian Sputnik V vaccine, currently under phase 3 of research as well, recently arrived in Venezuela.

This post was originally written by Manuela Solé for Venezuelanalysis and is under a Creative Commons license.

https://fb.me/e/1d9rLIfMF

IBEW Local 494

Detroit Will Breathe

Shelby police are threatening felony charges against 6 protesters arrested at a peaceful march for stepping off the sidewalk. Demand that the prosecutor drop the charges in an emergency action October 25.

https://detroitwillbreathe.info/

@detroitwillbreathe

@detwillbreathe

National Network on Cuba

WEEKEND OF SOLIDARITY TO END THE U.S. BLOCKADE ON CUBA!REGISTER FOR ALL SESSIONS HERE:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AvQ5VDNyQ1aC_23zZmWqnA

More information: http://www.us-cubanormalization.org/viva-cuba/

>>> SESSION 1 ~ 2PM (Eastern)/11AM(Pacific) AFTER THE U.S. ELECTIONS: FOR NORMALIZATION! WHY WE MUST END THE BLOCKADE ON CUBA!
Presentations | Q&AGreetings from Ike Nahem & Gail WalkerFeaturing:
> José Ramón Cabañas — Cuba’s Ambassador to the United States
> Josefina Vidal — Cuba’s Ambassador to Canada. Lead negotiator in talks with Barack Obama Administration leading to reestablishment of US-Cuba diplomatic relations
> More speakers from the U.S., Canada and Quebec to be announced!

>>> SESSION 2 ~ 7PM (Eastern)/4PM (Pacific) Eastern/4:00 pm Pacific
SAVING LIVES CAMPAIGN – BRINGING CUBA’S EXAMPLE TO THE U.S. and CANADA DURING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC Featuring:
> Dr. Samira Addrey – graduate of ELAM and program coordinator for the ELAM scholarship program
> Dr. Andy Coates – Physician in Albany NY on frontline of treating COVID-19 patients
> Alicia Jrapko – Co-chair of the Cuba Nobel Prize Committee
> Information on how to join the Saving Lives Campaign, Passing local resolutions, US-Cuba-Canada medical collaboration!
> Videos from the “Get Out of Cuba’s Way” Campaign

>>> SESSION 3 ~ 2PM (Eastern)/11AM (Pacific) DEFEATING 60 YEARS OF THE US ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WAR AGAINST CUBA: US, CANADA, AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES FOR BUILDING SOLIDARITY TO END THE BLOCKADE IN 2021

Let’s Build an Unstoppable Momentum to Defeat the US Blockade of Cuba in 2021!This Closing Session will focus on action and expanding international collaboration and movement-building to defeat — once and for all time — the blockade and secure US-Cuba normalization as demanded by the peoples of the world, including clear majorities in the United States. Participate in a dynamic discussion with speakers and special guests from Cuba, the United States, Canada, Quebec, Puerto Rico and internationally.

Special Guests:
> Pedro Luis Pedroso Cuesta — Permanent Ambassador of Cuba to the United Nations
> Fernando Gonzalez Llort — President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP); Cuban internationalist fighter in Angola 1987-1989; Cuban Five heroFeaturing:
> Tamara Hansen — Executive member of the Canadian Network on Cuba, Coordinator of Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) & Author of “5 Decades of the Cuban Revolution: The Challenges of an Unwavering Leadership.”
> Gabriel Prawl — President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 152. Leading organizer of an unprecedented work stoppage of ILWU members up and down the West Coast in solidarity with Black Lives Matter against police murder and brutality.
> Aislinn Pulley — co-executive director of Chicago Torture Justice Center and founder of Black Lives Matter Chicago
> Brenda Lopez — Co-coordinator, Los Angeles, US Hands Off Cuba Committee. Participant, Recent Cubambiente International Conference in Havana.

Events organized by:
The International U.S.-Cuba Normalization Conference Committee
http://www.us-cubanormalization.org/

From: IAM District 10

“After a week long strike IAMAW Members employed at Asten Johnson in Appleton, WI overwhelmingly accepted a greatly improved contract offer this morning. This offer included locking in insurance plan design and premiums for the next 2 years among other positive changes. Their Solidarity and persistence paid off big. Congratulations to the members of Local 1855 and a special thank you to the Teamsters Local 662 for honoring our picket line.”

Justice For Jacob

This past Tuesday Marcellis Stinette was shot and killed by the Waukegan police. On Sunday, the family asks that we can unify and show Marcellis that he was loved and will be missed. The candlelight vigil will be held to honor him in this time of grieving. #JusticeForMarcellis #NoJusticeNoPeace #blacklivesmatter

Note: Strike settled October 24, 2020

By Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement

Labor and community supporters on October 23 joined members of the Machinists Union (IAM District 10) on strike at AstenJohnson in Appleton. Union supporters including from the Teamsters Local 344 and USW District 2 and members of the Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement walked the line with their fellow workers. Food not Bombs – Fox Valley set up a “solidarity not charity” kitchen on the line offering hot food, beverages and snacks to the strikers and supporters. Support posters and leaflets were distributed on the line. Community support literature distribution is ongoing.

Machinists Union members at AstenJohnson have been on strike for a week and Teamster members in the facility are honoring the lines. The strikers have received solidarity from across the state with the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO and affiliated federations such as the Fox Valley Area Labor Council providing a variety of support.

IAM Media Release: https://bit.ly/34p3AML

Join the picket line at: 6480 W College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54914

For more information: (920) 219-4919 / iamdistrict10@gmail.com

All Photos: Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement

Women activists and their organizations are the drivers of positive change worldwide—and the freedom to form unions and freely associate is key to their ability to do so, according to a landmark report released this week. “Celebrating Women in Civil Society and Activism,” prepared by Clément Voule, United Nations special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, was released during an event featuring Voule, Netherlands Ambassador for Human Rights Bahia Tahzib-Lie and Solidarity Center Executive Director Shawna Bader-Blau. “Women around the world are building economic power by exercising freedom of association and assembly,” said Bader-Blau. “Unions and the right to collective bargaining is one way we fight back.” Find out more at the Solidarity Center.

Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement

Milwaukee Protests

Link for the Updated List of BLM and related events (Compiled by Lee Stedman): https://docs.google.com/…/1uLk5DYYMqlxZAbO…/edit…

“Events” section of the People’s Climate Coalition FB Page