What’s New April 2000

Date of Update

Description

April 24, 2000

1. A number of updates about the protests in Washington, D.C. at the IMF and World Bank have been added. You will find additional links reflecting on how the mainstream media handled the reporting, critique on the police handling as well as additional links for more detailed analysis and coverage. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Fair Trade / Poverty / Geopolitics
   
   
   
2. While thousand die on the front lines between Ethiopia and Eritrea, thousands more could die of starvation in both countries. A long drought has heightened the situation, while both Eritrea and Ethiopia fight a border dispute, which itself has claimed numerous lives. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Conflicts in Africa / Geopolitics
   
   
   
3. Diamonds have been one of the important sources to continue and fuel the rebel struggle in Sierra Leone. There have been serious and grotesque human rights violations since 1991 when the civil war erupted. According to Human Rights Watch, over 50,000 people have been killed to date, with over one million people having been displaced. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Conflicts in Africa / Geopolitics
   
   
   
4. There is a possible cease-fire is Chechnya. However, it may be a tense one. The recent months has involved a conflict where human rights groups have deplored the violent actions and brutality of the Russian crackdown. Oil and its access has been another factor in this conflict. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Geopolitics
   
   
   
5. People are increasingly concerned at environmental problems caused by large corporation. The Don't Be Fooled Awards, for example, remind us that the ad campaigns about environmental friendliness of some of these multinational companies may just be largely what is termed as greenwash. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Geopolitics
   
   
   
6. The Sri Lankan government bans imports of genetically engineered foods. This was on the grounds that the long term effects are not known and could therefore be a safety concern to consumers there. To even ban something on the way it was made, was possible based on the Biosafety Protocol earlier this year. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Genetically Engineered Food / Biosafety Protocol 2000 / Environmental Issues
   
   
   

April 17, 2000

1. There were protests in Washington, D.C. at the IMF and World Bank. The media has, predictably, concentrated more on the sensational issues, such as the small proportion of protestors that clashed with police, the traffic in D.C, the policing efforts and so on. It has distorted much of what the protests are about. While some attention has been given to the issues at hand this has been disproportionately less than the sensationalism. Many links have been added so you can read more about the event, but also about the in-depth reasons for protests against the IMF and World Bank. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Fair Trade / Poverty / Geopolitics
   
   
   
2. Russia finally endorses the START II treaty to reduce the number of nuclear weapons it has. However, it warned that it was at risk if the USA continued to go against the Anti Ballistic Missile treaty which both signed in 1972. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Geopolitics
   
   
   
3. The poverty GAP in UK continues to grow. Increased globalization is helping provide more wealth to more people. However, the proportion between those who benefit from globalization and those who do not, is increasing as well and hence more people are missing out. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Poverty / Fair Trade
   
   
   
4. Corporate influence in children and their education is increasing in the United States and elsewhere. It is realized that children are an enormously powerful group of consumers. Hence corporate influence aims to promote that and ensure children remain consumers. A professor of marketing points out that in the 1960s, children aged 2 to 14 directly influenced about $5 billion in parental purchases. By 1990, the direct influence had reached $132 billion, and in 1997, it may have peaked at around $188 billion. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Poverty / Fair Trade
   
   
   
5. A lot of US reporting during the Vietnam war was fabricated or distorted. Most wars involve some form of media propaganda and information handling by involved parties that lead to less than objective reports. The objective is often to arouses the support of the population and to justify a military action. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): War, Propaganda and the Military / Mainstream Media / Human Rights / Geopolitics
   
   
   
6. Water shortages are increasing around the world. Causes include global warming, industrial pollution, high-tech agriculture, even misplaced development priorities as well as increasing populations in some areas. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Human Population / Global Warming / Environmental Issues
   
   
   
7. A link to an additional source of information about poverty has been added. This one is from the Bretton Woods Project, who work to monitor and reform the IMF and World Bank. In their own words, they track key policy statements and reports, and provides critiques and early warnings used by non-governmental organisations across the world. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Poverty / Fair Trade
   
   
   

April 9, 2000

1. A new section on the up-coming April 16 protests against the World Bank and IMF has been added. After Seattle, and the protests against the WTO for a more democratic, transparent and fairer system of globalization, the other two large western institutions for neoliberalism are being going to be the focus of major protests as they meet in Washington, D.C on April 16. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Fair Trade / Poverty / Geopolitics
   
   
   
2. Is the US Star Wars, or national missile defense system, warranted? The program is very expensive and largely paid for by the public. However, the variety of reasons to justify the continued development are not very strong. However, the corporate backing is. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Geopolitics
   
   
   
3. The IMF and World Bank Structural Adjustment Policies have led to a spiraling race to the bottom for most developing countries. It is one of the back bones to the so-called "free" trade as it is designed to open up and liberalize the nation, but it is also one of the major causes of poverty. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Causes of Poverty / Fair Trade
   
   
   
4. Some major governments have signaled that they are willing to forgive some debt owed to them by certain developing countries. They include Canada, US, UK, and Germany. Japan is also being asked to rise to the challenge. Public pressure has been key in getting these governments to do something. However, debt relief is one of the many steps required to help reduce and eventually eradicate poverty. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Causes of Poverty / Debt / Fair Trade
   
   
   
5. What are the effects of military expansions? They can help to serve national interests. However, whether those national interests are also in the interest of international interests is hardly debated. The expansion of military industries and alliances can also help to foster an environment of hostility. Military might has often been used to further globalization in unfair ways. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Geopolitics
   
   
   
6. As the Ozone in the arctic has been depleted by over 60 percent in the past winter, there is a new study that says Northern Europe will face a cooling.. As the arctic ice melts, the fresher water that comes further south would result in pushing the Gulf Stream further down as well. The Gulf Stream keeps places such as Britain warmer than usual at that latitude. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Global Warming / Environmental Issues
   
   
   
7. The US are pursuing the development of more anti-personnel landmines. Human Rights Watch reports that they are looking a victim-activated mine. The US were the first to call for an international ban, yet when it came to signing the Ottawa treaty, they were one of the few that did not. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Arms Trade / Geopolitics
   
   
   
8. UNICEF estimates that 2 million children have been killed in conflicts in the past decade. Children, as victims and as soldiers, have often been an overlooked aspect of conflicts. There have been numerous movements to ban the use of child soldiers, but also a number of political obstacles from unexpected places. However, progress is being made. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Geopolitics / Human Rights
   
   
   
9. Some additional sources of information on human rights have been added. They are resources from Human Rights Watch, a leading campaigner on human rights issues world wide. Find Out More »
   - Related Section(s): Human Rights and Justice Issues / Human Rights