MEDIA WATCH: If you thought you missed some 'news' about resistance in the USA, you probably haven't been tuning in to Al Jazeera USA... Massive protests against 'Pension Reform' are rocking Puerto Rico (and setting a model for Illinois in February 2014)
While it's possible to get a tiny bit more news by reading The New York Times and Wall Street Journal every day in Chicago, most Chicagoans are still at the mercy of Rahm Emanuel's "Chicago Sun-Times" and the Plutocratic Press Barons at the Chicago Tribune. While it may be true to say that the Tribune isn't as bad as when J. Edgar Hoover was authoring Tribune "news" stories attacking the sex life of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. or the "hippies" protesting the Vietnam War, the Tribune is still the more slick in packaging its plutocratic propaganda as "news."
Teachers surround senators in San Juan to protest "pension reform." So... For a 2014 New Year's Resolution -- Where to go to get real news? Chicago has Substance every day, and DNAInfo is doing a decent job from time to time (they still miss most of what is happening at the Board of Education meetings, but at least they are trying to catch up). WBEZ may get back to extensive coverage of the Board meetings now that their reporters have a union, and of course Catalyst can't swoon before every lies poured out from City Hall and the CPS "Office of Communications" just because their funding is tied to their genuflections.
So...
Al Jazeera is looming larger and larger in accurate coverage of real news from across the USA.
Take the Christmas Week coverage of the protests in San Juan against Puerto Rico's version of "pension reform." You'd think there would at least be a Chicago link for the Chicago press to cover, since after all "pension reform" is one of the biggest talking points of both the talking heads in the media and the talking heads in politics. Pat Quinn and Paul Vallas can't open their mouths without the programming going on auto- pilot and pension reform prattling out.
Also, there is the history of "Madison!" After all, what's the difference between a protest in the state capitol of a state and the capitol of a colony (er., "commonwealth").
Well, below is the latest from Al Jazeera on "pension reform" in the colony...
Since December 19, members of Puerto Rico's teachers union and their supporters have been protesting both inside the island's Senate chamber and outside its Capitol against pension reform legislation advocated by governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla. The purpose of the action was to "ensure that the 150 designated [chamber] seats are occupied by teachers," according to Eva Ayala, a protest leader. In response on Monday, Garcia Padilla warned teachers to desist, saying the Puerto Rican constitution "does not give [teachers] the right to protest."
Despite Garcia Padilla's warning, the protests continued Monday, while Puerto Rico's Senate considers a final vote on the plan. The island's House of Representatives approved the reform bill over the weekend.
The hashtag #RetiroMaestros (#TeachersRetirement) contains the latest updates, which include reports of three arrests today.
By: albert korach
AL JAZEERA
I found it refreshing to read our editors comments regarding Al Jazeera news channel. While channel surfing and taking a rest from CNN I stumbled upon Al Jazeera. It caught my interest and I continued to tune in. I found the station to be most interesting with a variety of topics that are covered in depth. Education and political issues were covered with a variety of viewpoints. I suggest you give it a try.