A Pro-Labor Rights Olympic Flame

Catch the flame for labour rights: from now until April 18 While the official 2008 Olympic torch relay ducks to evade the scrutiny of human rights activists, an unofficial Olympic torch relay for human rights starts its journey across Canada today. So far, nearly 9000 people around the world have carried the torch in support of labour rights for workers Olympics-branded merchandise. This week, it’s Canada’s turn. The flame is only in Canada until the end of the week (Friday, April 18), so join the relay now! How to participate in the “Catch the Flame” torch relay: Go to www.catchtheflame.org. Sign your name and add your location on the map so we can follow the progress of the flame as it travels around the world. Pass on this message to as many of your friends, family and colleagues as you can, and encourage them to join the relay. If you’d like to pass the flame on via cellphone, send MSN an email at responses@maquilasolidarity.org with your cell phone number and cell phone provider (e.g. Bell, Telus, Rogers, etc). We’ll send you a message to forward to your friends, family, and colleagues.and we’ll send you a message to forward to your friends, family, and colleagues. The Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN) is a labour and women’s rights organization that supports the efforts of workers in global supply chains to win improved wages and working conditions and a better quality of life. www.maquilasolidarity.org 606 Shaw Street, Toronto, ON M6G 3L6 Canada (416) 532-5854

Elvis and the Presidents

Here’s a news wire from Reuters worth quoting:

“BUCHAREST (Reuters) - It’s “Love me tender” between the United States and France after President George W. Bush compared French President Nicolas Sarkozy with rock’n'roll singer Elvis Presley.

Bush told NATO leaders at a Bucharest summit on Thursday that when Sarkozy visited the United States recently, he was seen as “the latest incarnation of Elvis”.

Such an example of “Burning love” marks a sea change from the “Suspicious minds” that clouded Franco-American relations under Sarkozy’s predecessor, Jacques Chirac, who often seemed to see Washington as “The devil in disguise”.”