Privacy and the Right to Strike in Canada

Published on The Bullet, Socialist Project’s E-Bulletin No. 902, by Charles Smith, November 28, 2013.

The neoliberal assault on labour has now entered its fourth decade. While Canada’s labour union density continues to hover around thirty percent, that number hides declining density rates in the private sector. Equally concerning for the labour movement has been the long assault on the post-war labour freedoms to organize, bargain, and strike. As Leo Panitch and Donald Swartz have shown in their book, governments routinely seek to limit labour’s core freedoms, especially the right to strike. When Stephen Harper’s government claimed that the fragility of the Canadian economy was justification to take away the right of thousands of federal workers to strike, it became clear that strikes themselves were in danger of being legislated away … // Continuer la lecture de « Privacy and the Right to Strike in Canada »

Land Grab: Foreign Firms Drive Cambodians from Farms

Published on Spiegel Online International, by Andreas Lorenz, Nov 27, 2013 (Photo Gallery).

Each year, foreign agricultural corporations deprive thousands of Cambodian farmers of their fields — with the government’s help. Human rights groups claim German taxpayer money is used to fund a program that benefits land grabbers.

Everyone in the Cambodian village of Chouk remembers what happened on the morning of May 19, 2006, when bulldozers appeared on National Route 48, which cuts through the town. Men from a Thai company, Khon Kaen Sugar Industry PCL, presented the Cambodian villagers with documents and said: « This land now belongs to us. »   Continuer la lecture de « Land Grab: Foreign Firms Drive Cambodians from Farms »

Eric Hobsbawm

10 Problems with Markets

Published on ZNet, by Mitchell Szczepanczyk, Nov 25, 2013.

In a time when supposedly nothing is taboo and anything goes and everything is up for re-evaluation, it’s as close to an untouchable taboo catechism as there is in current times: Markets (by which I refer to the formal economic institution of markets) are awesome. Markets are efficient. Markets can do no wrong. Markets are the greatest economic system humans have created, and ever will create. Markets are the best thing since sliced bread and multiple orgasms … // Continuer la lecture de « 10 Problems with Markets »

Interest-Free Money – Dept-Free Economy

in english:

Articles published on Al-Ahram weekly online, Nov 20, 2013

… Nov 20, 2013:

Beyond the constitution, by Gamal Essam El-Din: Major obstacles still lie in the path of implementing the post-30 June political roadmap …;

Radical shifts, by Ahmed Eleiba: The significance of Cairo’s drawing closer to Moscow continues to stir debate …;

A heap of tangled metal, by Reem Leila: Tough talk, by Nader Noureddine: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/4736/17/Tough-talk.aspx
Ethiopia fails to see reason over the River Nile …;   Continuer la lecture de « Articles published on Al-Ahram weekly online, Nov 20, 2013 »

The Kennedy Assassination, November 22, 1963: 50 Years Later

on Global Research.ca, by Paul Craig Roberts, Nov 21, 2013.

… The true story of JFK’s murder has never been officially admitted, although the conclusion that JFK was murdered by a plot involving the Secret Service, the CIA, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff has been well established by years of research … //

… To briefly review, the facts are conclusive that JFK was on terrible terms with the CIA and the Joint Chiefs. He had refused to support the CIA organized Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba.  He had rejected the Joint Chiefs’ “Operation Northwoods,” a plan to commit  real and faked acts of violence against Americans, blame Castro and use the false flag events to bring regime change to Cuba.  Continuer la lecture de « The Kennedy Assassination, November 22, 1963: 50 Years Later »

Cyprus University world first to accept bitcoins for tuition

Published on Russia Today RT, Nov 21, 2013.

The University of Nicosia (UNic), one of the major English language universities in the Mediterranean, will become the world’s first to accept bitcoins for tuition. The university will also begin a new Master of Science course in Digital Currency.

According to the university those who wish to pay tuition fees in bitcoins, will be able to use an online merchant processing service or by paying directly to the university’s finance office.   Continuer la lecture de « Cyprus University world first to accept bitcoins for tuition »

Unprepared: Government Failings Intensify Haiyan Aid Disaster, Part 1

Published on Spiegel Online International, by Katrin Kuntz, Jonathan Stock and Bernhard Zand, (Photo Gallery).

Typhoon Haiyan has left entire regions all but inaccessible in the Philippines, while the ensuing chaos has hampered the efforts of relief workers. A country hit by about 10 typhoons a year ought to be better prepared … //

… Aid Catastrophe Follows Typhoon: … //

… Government Unprepared for Disaster:   Continuer la lecture de « Unprepared: Government Failings Intensify Haiyan Aid Disaster, Part 1 »

Western firms hawk mass surveillance technology to developing world

End to privacy? – Published on Russia Today RT, November 19, 2013.

Human rights groups are sounding alarms as Western firms sell mass surveillance technology in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, equipping governments and companies new capabilities to snoop on citizens.

Despite the public outcry over mass global surveillance being carried out by the NSA and the GCHQ, brought to light in May by US whistleblower Edward Snowden, the scandal has not prevented tech companies and countries from closing contracts on spy technology.  Continuer la lecture de « Western firms hawk mass surveillance technology to developing world »

Egypt: A better start for child's rights

The National Council for Childhood and Motherhood seeks to promote children’s rights in the new constitution – Published on Al-Ahram weekly online, by Reem Leila, Nov 13, 2013.

The National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) is playing a leading role in suggesting amendments to child-related articles in the new constitution and protecting children’s rights.

In coordination with several NGOs the NCCM is calling for the amended constitution to define anyone below 18 years of age as a child and for all children’s rights to be protected regardless of family situation.  Continuer la lecture de « Egypt: A better start for child's rights »

NSA vs Anonymous and The Young Turks

Public banking in Costa Rica: A remarkable little known model

Published on Intrepid Report, by Ellen Brown, J.D., Nov 15, 2013;

In Costa Rica, publicly-owned banks have been available for so long and work so well that people take for granted that any country that knows how to run an economy has a public banking option. Costa Ricans are amazed to hear there is only one public depository bank in the United States (the Bank of North Dakota), and few people have private access to it … //

… The dire effects of the IMF’s austerity measures were confirmed in a 1993 book excerpt by Karen Hansen-Kuhn, titled “Structural Adjustment in Costa Rica: Sapping the Economy.” She noted that Costa Rica stood out in Central America because of its near half-century history of stable democracy and well-functioning government, featuring the region’s largest middle class and the absence of both an army and a guerrilla movement.  Continuer la lecture de « Public banking in Costa Rica: A remarkable little known model »