August 2010

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Ailing Climate Negotiations and the Future of Coal

Picture: Jono Brennan Saliem Fakir - What is uncertain for one is also not certain for the other. Following last year’s Copenhagen Climate Summit, the five days of negotiations in Bonn last week in preparation for the big climate change meeting in Cancun, Mexico, at the end of the year, has been met by a profound display of disinterest.  Every step forward has been replied with a two-steps backward intervention by countries that hold the key to global action on climate. It looks like Copenhagen’s indistinct...

How Facebook Betrayed Users and Undermined Online Privacy

Picture: Alternet Allan Badiner - In just six years Facebook has crossed the threshold of 500 million users. In the past nine months it has doubled in size and is now the number one most visited Web site in the world, surpassing Google. Facebook’s motto is “Making the world open and connected,” where a lone voice can have a powerful impact, as evidenced this year by one activist’s post on Facebook that sparked a demonstration of 12 million people against the Revolutionary Forces of Columbia (FARC),...

Noam Chomsky: Obama is Building Up for a War against Iran

Video Renowned linguist and political critic, Noam Chomsky, delivered an address by pre-recorded video to the attendees of the United National Peace Conference in Albany, New York on July 24, 2010. Amongst broader issues related to America’s military offensive in the Middle East, Chomsky argues that the US is gearing up for a war against Iran. Noam Chomsky: The US is now fighting two wars of aggression in Asia and is planning a third. Military spending is escalating to unprecedented heights...

Nationalisation in South Africa: Which Way are We Going?

Glenn Ashton - Nationalisation been returned to the agenda, causing disquiet amongst investors and miners and a quickening in the pulse of the left. We cannot allow Malema to dominate this discussion. Besides raising the issue he has imparted little meaningful analysis and has provided neither nuance nor insight. This issue requires careful examination if we are to advance beyond delivering spoils to well-connected cadres, while leaving the people in poverty.  The Freedom Charter did mention the...

Where Did the Love Go?

Picture: Sasha Y. Kimel Liepollo Pheko - Social inclusion is one of those catchall terms that evokes various meanings and conjures up varied visions depending on context. In recent weeks, two things have struck me on the issue of social inclusion. The first is a trip to the United States (US) Social Forum in Detroit. The second was the recent FIFA Soccer World Cup and attendant euphoria. It was altogether appropriate that the US Social Forum took place in the belly of the proverbial beast bringing together a plethora of American...

Committing Class Treason to Save the World

Video The Pinky Show examines power, structure and agency with respect to where we are located within the global system of injustice as well as how our values and behaviour perpetuate it. Essentially targeted at middle class audiences in the first world, this episode of the Pinky Show makes essential viewing for privileged people all over the world. The beauty of the Pinky Show lies in its ability to deconstruct complex issues with measured simplicity that is, at the same time, hugely...