Money Laundering Canadian Style

The notorious money laundering operations of The Bank of Nova Scotia put it in the view of law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Canada in the late seventies and eighties. The Bank used its operations in the Caribbean for money laundering operations. Today they have expanded their potential in this area by buying a 'private offshore bank' Your service charges and interest payments at work.

Scotiabank paying $330M for parent firm of Costa Rica's largest private bank

Canada's third-largest bank said Tuesday it will acquire Corporacion Interfin and merge it with its existing Costa Rican subsidiary, resulting in a 13 per cent loan market share

Money laundering, on the other hand, involves the intent to conceal criminal profits to make them appear legitimate. We have seen the Royal Bank, the Bank of Montreal, the Bank of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce account for 80% of local banking in the Bahamas. Both the Royal Bank and the Bank of Nova Scotia have been implicated in money laundering cases in the Caribbean on more than one occasion. In one case the court ordered the Bank of Nova Scotia to pay $2,500,000 in fines, noting that laws should not be used as a blanket device to encourage or foster criminal activity. 36th Parliament, Hansard #079, April 5, 2000

And this is the real reason the Banks are pushing for the ability to merge in Canada, not for our good but for their ability to then invest in the U.S. and offshore by buying up other banks, insurance and stock brokerages. And thus be beyond Canadian legal requirements.

Of course more beign than money laundering, but by no means less outrageous, the Bank of Nova Scotia's purchase of the Costa Rican bank means that more of Canada's wealthy can move their cash off shore to avoid paying taxes.

Also See:

Canadians investing offshore grows sharply

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Israel Murders Innocents

The Zionist War State in Occupied Palestine murdered eight more innocent civilians today.

While denying having murdered another eight over the weekend, while they were on the beach.

That assault was overlooked in the press frenzy over another precision bombing, that was less than precise, in this case in Iraq.

Now with President Bush in Baghadad this story will probably be overlooked.

Children murdered by the Zionist State is less important news than a car bombing in Israel. Where is the outrage? The demands to the UN, the international threats to boycott or bomb or invade?

Because as Zionist apologists like Warren Kinsella remind us there are no innocent Palestinians. IAF: Hurting civilians was inevitable

Israel missiles kill 10 in Gaza
Eight Palestinian civilians were killed and more than 40 wounded Tuesday by an Israeli missile strike on Islamic militants riding in a van that Israeli officials said was carrying rockets to launch at Israel. Two men in the van were also killed, including a noted rocket maker.

Israelis deny slaughter in Gaza Times Online
ISRAEL denied responsibility yesterday for the explosion on a Gaza beach last week that killed eight Palestinian holidaymakers, but failed to offer an alternative explanation for the tragedy.

And while we are at it the Zionist Occupying State is now interfering in the internal affairs of the Palesitinian authority with the support of the U.S. of course. What they couldn't get done through democratic elections they will do through civil war! Hello where is that outrage?!

Olmert approves arms shipment to boost Abbas

Also See:

Zionist Response To CUPE

Historical Revisionism

Take A Valium

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A Progressive Conservative

One of the founding members of the Blogging Tories has left the building. Andrew over at Bound By Gravity has "voted himself off the island". The reason, hmm how about shallow analysis, Harpocrite cheerleading, redundant arguments, ah heck let Andrew tell ya;

"Many - and perhaps most - of the Blogging Tories are far more interested in holding power at all costs than they are in bringing (fiscal) conservative policies and solutions to Canadians. Many Blogging Tories were more than happy to gloss over the ethical betrayals that Stephen Harper committed in the early weeks of his Prime Ministership, and many have acted as apologists for some of the more un-conservative policies that we have seen so far. Precious few seem to be champions for conservatism - most seem to be all about The Party."

To which I left the following comment:

Andrew we have clashed on some issues but I would say that we have also agreed on some. Yes that may seem strange but it's true. Your comments are right on, which may be why I tend to generalize in my attacks on the BT as they generally appear to be (a. hopelessly parroting American republicanism (b. hopelessly parroting Ezra Levant (c. hopelessly parroting PMO press releases.
You have argued from a consistant fiscal conservative position and at times a libertarian one. You are right to leave this little den of self congratulatory back slappers. The CPC needs criticism in Canada as it does in Cuba.
You should consider joing the Progressive Bloggers to balance out the Liberal self congratulatory back slappers I have to put up with there. Your Progressive Conservative voice would be welcome I am sure.


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Class War In Iran

I find it interesting that the right wing embraces feminism in Iran while denoucing it at home. They embrace unions in Iran while attacking them at home. Yep don't ask for consitency out of the right the only consitency they show is the one that says the enemy of my enemy is my friend. For a little while.

Once the working class becomes revolutionary and threatens capitalism and its state, the right quickly returns to its fascist roots to deal with the threat of Bolshevism.

Recently the right wing has taken to reporting on womens and workers struggles in Iran. However the struggle for womens rights ,which is the class struggle, challenges the very nature of the family whether in North America or Iran.
It is the struggle of women as proletarians which is the challenge of this age.
See:Whose Family Values?

The right wings support of unions abroad is not unusual remember Ronald Reagan declaring we are all Solidarity Now, in support of the Polish labour movement, while busting the striking PATCO union which represented air controlers.

The right likes to challenge the left to show solidarity with Women and workers in Iran, which we do contrary to their allegations, such as the case in Canada with support for Nazanin Fateh. Which I have seen no Blogging Tories write about.

Islamic Regime's thugs attack and assault attendants of the peaceful Women's March Iran Press News: It is estimated that approximately 5000 women and supporting men showed up to the General Women's March at Haft'eh Teer Square in Tehran today. The march which was meant to be a peaceful protest against the misogynist rule of the Islamic Republic was slated for 5 to 6 pm Tehran time (9 to 10 am eastern standard time in the U.S.). The participants carried placards, signs and banners protesting the medieval regulations imposed on women and continued to chant slogans supporting women's, children's and human rights.Among those present at the march were academics, well-known human and women's rights activists, student leaders, members of the greater Tehran bus drivers union etc.

Women held up banners calling for equal rights

Demonstration by women in Iran capital – photo report

Iran police beat women activists

Because of course they were protesting without a permit.

No permit issued to women's rally: Official

RIGHTS-IRAN : Braving Threats, Women Demand Legal Reforms

"Women's organisations have not asked for permission for this peaceful event, which is not political at all. Out right to protest peacefully has been recognised by the constitution," one of the organisers of Monday's rally told IPS.

Feminists who organised the event will form a follow-up committee, in hopes that the larger civil society will continue to bring pressure on the government. So far, none of Iran's 12 conservative women MPs have acknowledged the Jun. 12 protest. No group has taken responsibility for this event, because of security fears. Last year, the organisers of a similar event were threatened by unknown security forces.

"One of the security entities has summoned some of the women activists. They have not pointed out any reason," an Iranian woman activist told IPS on condition of anonymity. "They probably asked them to cancel the protest," she added.

The workers movement around the world recognizes the importance of womens rights in civil society. And the womens struggle has been essential to any successful revolution in the past. Whether it was the Paris Commune, the Bolshevik Revolution or the revolution in Tehran that was subverted by the fascist counterrevolution of the Mullahs.

In these revolutions women took the lead over the issue of Bread and Roses, wanting food and being recognized as persons.. And the demonstration the other day in Tehran had that same theme again. The crowd chanted "Rights, Bread & Justice for women".

This is the call of women since the turn of last century as they were exploited in the dark satanic mills of American manufacturing. And as they are today around the world in the new tigers of capitalism.

This is why workers rights and womens rights are the key elements in any proletarian program for revolution.

Unions Around World to Protest Iran's Treatment of Bus Workers

Campaign to Support Workers Fund Iran
The idea to set up an Iranian workers fund has been discussed for a number of years, however, over the last few months the unprecedented escalation in workers struggles to save their jobs against privatisation, or against non payment of wages and the subsequent attacks by security forces and agents of the Iranian Government, have forced us to act urgently. About half of Iran’s workers are currently employed with either temporary or “blank” contracts, depriving them of any rights.

Workers Fund Iran was set up in December 2005 and aims to reduce and relieve poverty amongst Iranian workers (both employed and unemployed) who are victims of the economic policies of the Iranian regime including privatisation. It aims to put at the center of its activities the need to rebuild international working class solidarity, directly with the workers of Iran, in contrast to the funds set up by the US administration to support those Iranian NGOs who follow US policy in the region (including Regime change from above) and its Neo Liberal economic agenda.

Labor Rights Now Blasts Iran Labor Repression

Labor Rights Now blasted the Iranian government for sentencing worker activists to long prison terms for exercising fundamental trade union rights.

"American workers are outraged at the sentencing of Mahmoud Salehi to five years in prison and three years of exile in the city of Ghorvey," LRN President Don Stillman said in a letter to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Salehi is the former president of the Bakery Workers' Association of the city of Saqez and a co-founder of the Coordinating Committee to Form Workers' Organizations.

"We also condemn the sentence of Jalal Hosseini, a member of the Bakery Workers' Association, to three years imprisonment and the two-year sentences given to Mohsen Hakimi, Mohammad Adipour, and Borhan Divangar," Stillman said.

According to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), Salehi and Hosseini were sentenced for their trade union activities.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) Committee on Freedom of Association urged Iran to drop the charges against the worker activists. Iran is a member of the ILO and is obligated to uphold the right to freedom of association, but failed to do so in these cases.

"Labor Rights Now condemns the utter disregard that the government of Iran has displayed toward internationally recognized worker rights," Stillman's letter to Iranian President Ahmadinejad.

"American workers call upon you to recognize the innocence of Salehi, Hosseini, Hakimi, Adipour, and Divangar and to free them from prison immediately."

More Information

• ICFTU's Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights in Iran

Of course the greatest impediment to independent labour and womens movements in Iran and other countries in the Middle East is the appearance of their being used as puppets of US Imperialism. the enemies of our ememies are NOT our friends. No matter how much they want to be.

Reaching Out to (and messing with) the People of Iran

By fubar
Feb 15 2006 - 1:41pm

From a State Department press release:Reaching Out to the People of Iran

As the Secretary noted in her February 15 Senate testimony, we will work with our friends and allies on a range of measures to reach out to the Iranian people and support their calls for freedom. These will include:

* Empowering Iranian Civil Society: The Administration will spend at least $10 million in FY06 funds to support the cause of freedom in Iran this year. These funds will be used to support political dissidents, labor union leaders and human rights activists. We will also work with NGOs to help build networks of support inside and outside Iran.

How to Stop Iran (Without Firing a Shot)
Current diplomacy isn't working. Here's Plan B.

BY BRET STEPHENS

Support an independent labor movement. On May Day, 10,000 workers took to Tehran's streets to demand the resignation of Iran's labor minister. And despite last year's $60 billion oil-revenue bonanza, the Iranian government routinely fails to pay its civil servants, leading to chronic, spontaneous work stoppages.

Workers' rights got a boost in January when Tehran's bus drivers went on strike to demand the release of their imprisoned and tortured leader Mansour Ossanloo. In a state that bans independent labor unions, the strike was an unprecedented event, calling to mind the 1980 Gdansk dock strike that became Poland's Solidarity movement. That movement succeeded largely thanks to the support of Lane Kirkland's AFL-CIO, which in turn received funding from the National Endowment for Democracy. The same model needs to be energetically applied to Iran today.

"The neat thing about the labor movement is that wherever it goes, it's welcomed," says a source familiar with Iranian workers' groups. "It actually makes America look good."

The real workers movement in Iran and Iraq is represented by the Workers Communist Party of Iran, a group which is left communist and beleives that workers need to create workers councils as an alternative to State Power. This organization will never serve the needs of U.S. Imperialism.

International Labour Solidarity Page of the Worker-communist Party of Iran

References:

Labour and taxation (from Iran) -- Encyclopædia Britannica
Although Iranian workers have, in theory, a right to form labour unions, there is, in actuality, no union system in the country. Workers are represented ostensibly by the Workers' House, a state-sponsored institution that nevertheless attempts to challenge some state policies. Guild unions operate locally in most areas but are limited largely to issuing credentials and licenses. The right of workers to strike is generally not respected by the state, and since 1979 strikes have often been met by police action.

Durham e-Prints - Labour unions, law and conditions in Iran (1900 -1941)

Amazon.com: Labor Unions and Autocracy in Iran (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East):

Also See:

Islam And Class War

Anti Islamism Manifesto

The Need for Arab Anarchism

Muslim

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Speaking of Hell

Yes I was, in the previous post, so when I googled for Hell I came across this new quiz.

Dante's Inferno Test - Impurity, Sin, and Damnation

Which of course temptation led me to take.

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Eigth Level of Hell - the Malebolge!

---

Many and varied sinners suffer eternally in the multi-leveled Malebolge, an ampitheatre-shapped pit of despair Wholly of stone and of an iron colour: Those guilty of fraudulence and malice; the seducers and pimps, who are whipped by horned demons; the hypocrites, who struggle to walk in lead-lined cloaks; the barraters, who are ducked in boiling pitch by demons known as the Malebranche. The simonists, wedged into stone holes, and whose feet are licked by flames, kick and writhe desperately. The magicians, diviners, fortune tellers, and panderers are all here, as are the thieves. Some wallow in human excrement. Serpents writhe and wrap around men, sometimes fusing into each other. Bodies are torn apart. When you arrive, you will want to put your hands over your ears because of the lamentations of the sinners here, who are afflicted with scabs like leprosy, and lay sick on the ground, furiously scratching their skin off with their nails. Indeed, justice divine doth smite them with its hammer.

Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	Very High
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	High
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very High
Level 7 (Violent)	Very High
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Extreme
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	High

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test


And of course I suppose I deserve that since I am really out of step with the rest of Canada when it comes to Christian morality. But then I am not a hypocrite like the majority of Canadians who answered this poll.

And I would say that this quiz would be right up the alley for this particular Dante.

For more quiz's see; another-character-generator

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