Jimmy Carter says Palestinians live in a ‘cage’

October 19, 2010 “AP” — – DAMASCUS, Syria — Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that Palestinians are “living in a cage” in Gaza and that the militant group Hamas must be included in all major efforts for peace.

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, right, meets with members of the The Elders, the independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. At centre left is former Irish President Mary Robinson, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, third left, Indian activist Ela Bhatt, second left and Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi, in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, left, embraces former U.S. President Jimmy Carter as former Irish President Mary Robinson, right, looks on in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010. Following a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, the Elders, an independent group founded in 2007 to support worldwide peace-making and challenge injustice, headed into a meeting with Mashaal. The Elders, who combined Carter, Robinson, former Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi and Indian activist Ela Bhatt, are on a regional tour to promote peace talks between Israel and the Arabs. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, left, shakes hands with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter as former Irish President Mari Robinson, right, looks on in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010. Following a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, the Elders, an independent group founded in 2007 to support worldwide peace-making and challenge injustice, headed into a meeting with Mashaal. The Elders, consisting of Carter, Robinson, former Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi and Indian activist Ela Bhatt, are on a regional tour to promote peace talks between Israel and the Arabs.

France Burning as Youth Protest

(H/T What Really Happened)

Confrontation builds between French workers and Sarkozy

by Alex Lantier, World Socialist Website

Strike action continued yesterday in France against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s pension cuts, with truckers joining energy workers on strike amid a looming gasoline shortage and reports of increasing police violence against student protests.

Workers and students are protesting Sarkozy’s planned two-year increase in the retirement age, with a corresponding increase in the pay-in period, contained in a pension “reform” bill passed by lawmakers despite overwhelming popular opposition. Polls show 71 percent of the population support strike activity against the cuts.

From Global Depression to Global Governance

by Andrew Gavin Marshall, Global Research

We now stand at the edge of the global financial abyss of a ‘Great Global Debt Depression,’ where nations, mired in extreme debt, are beginning to implement ‘fiscal austerity’ measures to reduce their deficits, which will ultimately result in systematic global social genocide, as the middle classes vanish and the social foundations upon which our nations rest are swept away. How did we get here? Who brought us here? Where is this road leading? These are questions I will briefly attempt to answer.