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[KODAO KLASIK] ‘Sayaw sa Bubog’ by Chickoy Pura of The Jerks, Nato Reyes of BAYAN

Today marks the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power revolt that ousted the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. who was replaced by Corazon Aquino of the landlord class. The Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government did not bother to declare today as an official holiday.

This performance by Chickoy Pura of The Jerks and Renato Reyes Jr. of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan was performed in a Benigno Aquino ouster rally in March 20, 2015. The song warns against blindly placing one’s hopes for social change in members of the ruling elite.

There have been two Marcoses and two Aquinos as presidents.

KODAO KLASIK: Maling Akala (sa ChaCha)

This is a 2006 music video criticizing the charter change scheme by the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government. Their reasons for pushing it then as well as the people’s reasons opposing it remain the same in 2024.

(Based on the song ‘Maling Akala’ by the Eraserheads)

WATCH: Calls for Gaza ceasefire ring out in Dubai as 2,000 protesters march on COP28 grounds

From the UAE to Uganda, more than 300 cities are standing up for Palestine, the activists say

By Angel L. Tesorero / Khaleej Times

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (UAE)–About 2,000 climate activists attending the ongoing COP28 in Dubai have joined the global action on Saturday — demanding climate justice and protection of human rights.

Carrying a huge black banner emblazoned with “Ceasefire Now” in bold letters, written in English and Arabic, the protesters shouted their call while marching around the UN-controlled Blue Zone.

“We are coming together to march for climate justice to show solidarity with the people of Palestine and demand ceasefire now,” speakers at the protest said.

From the UAE to Uganda, more than 300 cities are standing up for Palestine for the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice, COP28 Coalition, an alliance of more than 350 climate civil society organisations from 75 countries, told Khaleej Times.

Here’s a video:

“It is up to the peoples of the world to call not only for a ceasefire but for the end of decades of settler colonialism and apartheid. The climate justice movement echoes the call being made by social movements everywhere,” the coalition added.

COP28 has two zones – first is the Blue Zone which is under the jurisdiction of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) while the climate summit is underway. It is open only to UN-accredited participants and it is where formal climate negotiations are taking place. The other one is Green Zone, which is open to the general public and is under the UAE.

Largest demonstration

The protest on Saturday, approved by the UNFCC, was the largest demonstration yet at the UN Climate Summit in Dubai which concludes on Tuesday. The number of demonstrators was tenfold than the previous sit-down rally held on December 3, which turned emotional as climate activists teared up when names of Palestinians who died in Israeli bombing were read out.

The organised march on Saturday that lasted for two hours was louder and more defiant. Numerous protesters wore keffiyehs, waved watermelon banners and carried placards that say ‘Land back; Stop the occupation; Right of return’ as loud chants of ‘Ceasefire now!’ ‘Hey, hey, ho, ho, the occupation has to go’ and ‘The people united will never be defeated’ reverberated around the UN-controlled Blue Zone at COP28.

Photo by Angel Tesorero

Photo by Angel Tesorero

There were also calls for immediate climate action and equitable financial support to communities highly impacted by climate change.

Speeches focused on the key demands for climate justice and outright end of violence in Gaza as Israel’s bombardment, according to Palestinian Health Ministry, has killed more than 17,000 people – with 70 per cent of them women and children, and also injured more than 46,000 individuals.

Storytelling, singing at the protest

Chants and agitations were constantly made but there were also storytelling, humming, and invocations conducted by Indigenous people who also came in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Protesters also sang a song for peace, which is also a “prayer for healing, justice and a cry for liberation.” Part of the lyrics say “May this body be a bridge for the healing of this land… teach us oh Great Mother to bring peace to this land.”

Global actions

Meanwhile, the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) shared with Khaleej Times pictures of protest actions simultaneously held across Asia, including cities and towns in the Philippines; Katmandu, Nepal; Manipur and several states in India; and various locations in Pakistan.

Philippines (Photo supplied by APMDD)

Philippines (Photo supplied by APMDD)

Kathmandu, Nepal (Photo supplied by APMDD)

Kathmandu, Nepal (Photo supplied by APMDD)

Kathmandu, Nepal (Photo supplied by APMDD)

Kathmandu, Nepal (Photo supplied by APMDD)

Manipur, India (Photo supplied by APMDD)

Manipur, India (Photo supplied by APMDD)

Pakistan (Photo supplied by APMDD)

Pakistan (Photo supplied by APMDD)

They said: “We are making it clear: Climate advocates stand for victims of genocide. We fight for the oppressed as we stand for the environment.”

The Global Day of Action for Climate Justice also condemned the US veto on Friday of the UAE-led UN resolution demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The vote in the 15-member council was 13 in favour of the resolution while one (US) was against, while UK abstained. #

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This report is original to the Khaleej Times where the author is a senior deputy editor.

ON PALESTINE: If you continue the struggle, you will be free–Leila Khaled

War again rages in Palestine. Initial media reports parroted the narrative that it was started by a “terrorist attack” by Palestinians and that the Zionist government of Israel is only retaliating.

In November 2015, Palestinian struggle for freedom icon Leila Khaled visited the Philippines and granted Kodao an exclusive interview. In this video, she explains the Palestinians’ fight to reclaim their homeland from the imperialist-designed occupation by Zionists.

[Interviewer: Raymund B. Villanueva]

PISI [String of Debt and Resistance]

It has been seven years since the Philippines won the arbitration case against China over the West Philippines Sea (WPS). Filipino fisher folk and Philippine vessels continue to be harassed and intimidated by the Chinese. At least 1,500 fisher folk in Masinloc, Zambales have been directly affected by China’s ongoing unlawful control of Scarborough Shoal, a chain of reefs and rocks within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, while the small fisher folk are in the most vulnerable position, tied up and drowning both in fear and in debt.

This documentary captures the resilience and determination of Filipino fisher folk as they grapple with both debt and the relentless fight for our rights in the West Philippine Sea.

(A video by Sanafe Marcelo and Jek Alcaraz)

THE MEMORY PROJECT: The Marcos Dictatorship In The Eyes Of Survivors

This year marks the 51st year since Ferdinand Marcos Sr. martial law on Septembef 21, 1972. In light of efforts by the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government at revising historical judgement of the dictatorship, Kodao re-issues videos and other productions on Marcos’ martial rule in this special section of our website.

Radyo Sagada holds broadcasting and filmmaking workshop

Radyo Sagada holds community radio and mobile phone filmmaking workshops for its new batch of volunteer broadcasters last September2 to 4. Kodao Productions was again its training partner.

VIEWFINDER: Arian Nu Muddulo (You Are Not Welcome)

This month marks the 72nd anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States of America. The agreement has been opposed by patriots such as Claro M. Recto, Lorenzo Tanada and Jose W. Diokno as a surrender of Philippine patrimony and sovereignty.

Seventy-seven years after the country’s supposed independence from the US, the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government agreed to the establishment of four more sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) where American soldiers could operate to continue its military and imperialistic dominance in the Western Pacific region.

In this Kodao Viewfinder report, watch how a province in Northern Philippines opposes the decision to have two more US military sites in their home. ARIAN NU MADDULO [You Are Not Welcome] is a look at how the usually welcoming people of Cagayan resists the coming of United States of America forces to their province. Aside from not being consulted in the decision to build two new EDCA sites in two of their towns, they oppose becoming pawns in a conflict between imperialist powers.

This video may also be viewed on Cinemata: https://cinemata.org/view?m=4Xs3Vbjfp&fbclid=IwAR0OMAVd_jSBmkpvCahMa6g8tLEf_g9HCy6SyNbou7n_Ne8mQnezyNohaXE

Pagpapalitaw kina Dexter at Bazoo, hiling ng mga kaanak sa militar at pulis

Nanawagan ang mga kaanak nila Dexter Capuyan at Gene Roz Jamil ‘Bazoo’ De Jesus na ilitaw sila matapos dukutin noong Abril 28, 2023 sa Taytay Rizal. Giit ng mga kaanak na nangangamba sila sa kaligtasan ng dalawa matapos bigong hanapin sa kampo ng mga pulis at militar nitong mga nagdaang araw.

Sina Capuyan at De Jesus ay mga aktibista at dating mag-aaral ng University of the Philippines-Baguio. Sila ngayon ang ika-pito at ika-walong biktima ng enforced disappearances sa administrasyon ni Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

TEDDY TALKS: Tales from the Northern Philippines – bombings, mining and dams

By Teddy A. Casiño

Bakit binobomba ng Armed Forces of the Philippines ang iba’t-ibang bahagi ng Kalinga, Cagayan at iba pang lugar sa North Luzon? Simplent operasyon lang ba ito kontra New People’s Army o may mas malalim na dahilan?

Subscribe to Teddy A. Casiño‘s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@TeddyCasinoChannel