Jaitapur’s French-built nuclear plant is a disaster in waiting, jeopardising biodiversity and local livelihoods. The global “nuclear renaissance” touted a decade ago has not materialised. The US’s nuclear industry remains starved of new reactor orders since 1973, and western Europe’s first reactor after Chernobyl (1986) is in serious trouble in Finland – 42 months behind schedule, 90% over budget, and in bitter litigation.
The worst is unleashed in Fukushima!
18 March 2011, byThe gravity of the situation is worsening by the hour at the site of the nuclear power station at Fukushima, in Japan. The managers of the installations are apparently no longer in control of the sequence of events. The risk is growing of a disaster as serious, indeed more serious, as that of Chernobyl.
The ANC government’s ‘talk left, walk right’ climate policy
18 March 2011, byDumping on Africans. “Durban’s methane-electricity conversion at three local landfills shows the futility of the CDM, not to mention the historic injustice of keeping the Bisasar Road dump (Africa’s largest) open in spite of resident objections to environmental racism.”
Women at the sharp end
18 March 2011, byWomen make up the majority of teachers, municipal and state government workers - an interview with some of those involved in organising an International Womens Day March in Madison, Wisconsin where women are on the sharp end of Walker’s union busting attacks.
The crisis of capitalism is used as a pretext to attack collective rights
18 March 2011, byThe systemic crisis of capitalism puts on the agenda draconian measures which are supposed to make it possible for the capitalists to restore their rate of profit. The counter-reform of pensions in France is just one illustration of this policy. It sums up the economic objectives (to make the workers and the people pay for the crisis) and the social and political objectives (looking for consensus, for ways to get the victims themselves or their representatives to accept such counter-reforms.
The evidence from Fukushima: nuclear power means nuclear catastrophe
16 March 2011, byOnce again the evidence shows that nuclear technology can never be 100% secure. The risks are so frightening that the conclusion is obvious: it is imperative to abandon nuclear energy, and to do so as quickly as possible. This is the first lesson of Fukushima, one which raises absolutely fundamentamental social and political questions, requiring a real social debate about an alternative to the capitalist model of infinite growth
What Cuba’s reforms may bring
15 March 2011, byPeople have been encouraged to speak freely about the economic guidelines of the Sixth Party Congress set for April, so with all due respect I am expressing my point of view.
Neoliberal strategy failing in Cuba
15 March 2011, byIn an update to his article "What the reforms may bring" Pedro Campos looks at the situation in Cuba today.
US Hands off Libya!
14 March 2011, byIn late February the masses of Libya revolted against the regime of Muammar el-Qaddafi. As we go to press, the opposition controls the country’s second largest city, Benghazi, and other cities in the oil-rich eastern part of the country as well as many towns in the west. Qaddafi maintains control in the capital, Tripoli, and is trying to retake other cities. Pro-Qaddafi army, militia, and mercenary units have inflicted high casualties on the civilian population—often using tanks and warplanes in their strikes.
Detroit: Disappearing city
14 March 2011, byForty per cent of Detroit today is considered virtually “unoccupied.” The administration of Mayor Dave Bing is trying to figure out how to move the remaining residents of these areas out, in the name of “rightsizing” the city. Of course he hasn’t revealed any specifics — and the devil is in the details! Residents are wary: without the money to relocate people and the services needed, it’s just another round of displacing the urban poor.