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 »