As delegates to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual
meetings converge in Washington DC, so do social activists. The October
Coalition - which has representation from organizations working on
health care, housing and international trade and debt issues - has
planned four days of actions to coincide with the meetings. The long
weekend includes workshops,
protests and marches. Organizers want to raise awareness of social
justice issues that are affected by IMF and World Bank policies.

Katherine Jarmuhl has more from the protests in Washington DC.

The United States Africa command, AFRICOM, which was set up to promote U.S.
National Security objectives in Africa, has now begun its operations
from a military base in Germany. The command's headquarters will move
to Africa next year. The Pentagon claims that the primary focus of
AFRICOM will be humanitarian, but some say the command's goals are
actually related to protecting U-S oil interests there. And most
African states are skeptical at best. Critics agree that AFRICOM will
protect US military and economic interests, but they also say the
command will have negative consequences for the continent.

Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.

Immigrant groups from and around the country are organizing a boycott
of Western Union. 150 groups launched boycotts last month. They say
that workers transferring money to their families are being gouged by
large fees and
unfair exchange rates. This criticism is exacerbated by Western Union's
poor track record of investing in immigrant communities. Today they
launch their campaign in Oakland, California.

Eric Klein has more on the situation.

The first presidential primaries are only three months away – maybe sooner
if state jockeying over who goes first continues. In this week's
political round up, F-S-R-N takes a look at some other political
elbowing. Republican candidates are courting religious conservatives,
and another presidential hopeful is looking more hope*less. He's
dropped out of the race entirely.

FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell has more on this week's election news.