Brendan Smith

Brendan Smith is an journalist, oysterman and labor activist. He is co-founder of Global Labor Strategies, a consulting partner with the Progressive Technology Project, and has recently joined the staff of the Labor Network for Sustainability. As a proud member of the emerging "green jobs" movement, he also runs an 50 acre organic oyster farm off the Thimble Islands of Long Island Sound.

Brendan has published two books, In the Name of Democracy (Holt/Metropolitan) and Globalization From Below (South End), and co-produced the PBS documentary Global Village or Global Pillage?, which was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2000. He also served as a consultant on the documentary about Lt. Ehren Watada titled In the Name of Democracy: America's Conscience, A Soldier's Sacrifice. His commentary has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Nation, The Guardian, CBS News.com, YahooNews and the Baltimore Sun Times. He is a graduate of Cornell Law School. To contact or read more about Brendan's work, go to: www.bsmith.org.

Lieutenant Watada’s War Against the War Lieutenant Watada’s War Against the War

In a remarkable, media-savvy protest, First Lieut. Ehren Watada has refused orders to go to Iraq, claiming the war and the occupation violate the Constitution, international law an...

Jun 26, 2006 / Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith

The Pincer Strategy The Pincer Strategy

Growing concern over Bush's abuses of executive power could be the force that unites Democrats, Republicans and libertarians in a broad, nonpartisan effort to defend the Constituti...

Jun 8, 2006 / Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith

Attack Iran, Ignore the Constitution Attack Iran, Ignore the Constitution

Congress and the American people must challenge the Administration's assertion that the President can take military action without consulting Congress.

Apr 21, 2006 / Feature / Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith

Where Are the Good Americans? Where Are the Good Americans?

When the day comes for America to be judged for its war on terror and the human rights crimes that have been done in the name of its citizens, who can say they stood up and said no...

Feb 28, 2006 / Feature / Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith

Congress Stirs to Rein in the President Congress Stirs to Rein in the President

In the wake of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on warrantless spying, bipartisan efforts to rein in the Bush Administration's exercise of executive power are gaining momentum.

Feb 10, 2006 / Feature / Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith

The Limits of Power: Questions for Alito The Limits of Power: Questions for Alito

Revelations of the Bush Administration's domestic spying program have sharply shifted the focus of Samuel Alito's Supreme Court confirmation hearings from domestic and social issue...

Jan 6, 2006 / Feature / Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith

Fixing the Torture Fix Fixing the Torture Fix

Congress has passed legislation allowing evidence obtained through torture to be used against terror suspects in court. But human rights groups and some Congressional leaders will ...

Dec 21, 2005 / Feature / Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith

Ban Torture or Protect Torturers? Ban Torture or Protect Torturers?

A showdown looms in Congress this week over two competing measures involving bedrock human and legal rights: John McCain's legislation to ban all forms of torture and Lindsey Graha...

Dec 2, 2005 / Feature / Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith

Break Up Cheney’s Cabal Break Up Cheney’s Cabal

If the United States is to extricate itself from the Iraq debacle, the first step is to break up the cabal of Bush Administration officials who have led the nation to war.

Nov 18, 2005 / Feature / Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith

Right to Trial Imperiled by Senate Vote Right to Trial Imperiled by Senate Vote

Civil libertarians were stunned last week when the Senate approved a measure that would allow government officials to essentially bypass the courts and lock up people suspected of ...

Nov 14, 2005 / Feature / Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith

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