To drive real change in politics and in public policy, we need to
build a powerful, unified progressive movement. Few of the measures our
country needs are likely to get very far without a vigorous social and
political movement that we don’t now have, writes James Gustave Speth.
We must reject any proposal that supports
the further commodification and financialization of nature, and call on the
United Nations to initiate the drafting of a new framework that begins with a
recognition that life is the foundation and proper measure of value, writes David Korten.
Against the background of the existential threat that our planet
and humans face today, the words ‘common goods’ (CGs) and
‘common good for humanity’ (CGH) are now commonly used. This paper analyses the relevance of these concepts in the struggle for alternatives to neoliberal
capitalism. By Yash Tandon.
An investigation into cases of land grabbing in Uganda, focusing in particular on oil palm plantations in Kalangala, Lake Victoria. This report assesses the impacts on rural communities and on the local environment, and questions who benefits from these projects, by Friends of the Earth International.
Peer-to-peer, debt-free currencies could mark the journey of return to a sane monetary system that requires neither
infinite growth nor the impoverishment of many, and no waiting for the
agreement of the 1 per cent and their institutions, writes Michel Bauwens.
To believe that nuclear weapons are a generally positive contributor to establishing a just and peaceful world is an irresponsible view. It is unimaginable to reach any plateau of global justice
without acting with resolve to rid the world of nuclear weaponry, argues Richard Falk.
The extreme neoliberal model has failed to produce economic growth, exacerbated inequality, and is transferring wealth away from the majority of
people and into the pockets of big corporations. It is time to support movements for justice, and to get involved, writes Deborah James.
Industrialised countries have mounted an unprecedented campaign to stop the
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) from providing policy
advice to the poorest countries in Africa and across the globe - but developing countries and progressive economists are fighting back.
Why wasn't debt and the money system mentioned in the recent UN Happiness Summit? It is
all well and good to voice lofty intentions to uphold the things that
the debt system is destroying, but if that system isn't addressed as
well, those intentions will never be kept, says Charles Eisenstein.
A review of speakers at a selection of lectures and workshops at The Economics of Happiness Conference, sponsored by The International Society for Ecology & Culture and held from March 23-25th in Berkeley, California. By Jeff Hutner.
