Globalisation

Activists cross a field to reach the G8 summit. Credit: Indymedia Germany

G8: Cacophony on Global Warming

By Julio Godoy
The summit of the heads of government of the eight most industrialised countries opened Wednesday in this Baltic seaside resort, surrounded by impressive security measures, and dominated by a total cacophony on the group's efforts to curb climate change.

G8: Despite Differences, Mexico Comfortable as G5 Emerging Power

By IPS Correspondents
The Mexican government says it feels comfortable forming part of the five countries identified by the world's richest nations as the "emerging powers." However, it has marked differences and even conflicts with China and Brazil, two other members of the so-called Group of Five (G5)

G8: Poverty Reduction and Climate Change Inextricably Linked, Say Activists

By Moyiga Nduru
In the final hours before this week's Group of Eight (G8) summit gets underway in Germany, activists have underscored the need for progress with both climate change and poverty alleviation - key items on the meeting's agenda - for there to be real improvement in Africa's living conditions.

G8-BRAZIL: Guest Brings Biofuel Arguments to Summit

By Fabiana Frayssinet
As a guest at the G8 summit this week in Germany, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will present arguments to convince the leaders of the world's eight richest countries of the importance of biofuels in the fight against global warming.

G8: Demonstrators’ Rights and Africa at Heart of Summit

By Julio Godoy
With two weeks to go to this year's summit of heads of state and government of the world's eight most industrialised countries (G8), respect for demonstrators' rights and the fulfilment of the group's economic aid promises for Africa are at the heart of the preparations.

INDIA: Trillion Dollar Economy Status – Mixed Blessing

By IPS Correspondents
India's emergence as the 12th country in the world with a trillion-dollar economy could prove to be a mixed blessing. There are fears that it could slow down the growth of this country's computer software and information technology (IT)-enabled services as well as the export of textiles and garments.

MAY DAY-KENYA: Export Processing Zones Still a Bone of Contention

By IPS Correspondents
With working conditions around the world set to be placed in the spotlight on May Day (May 1), Emily Mugo has an axe to grind about her place of employment - in one of Kenya's Export Processing Zones (EPZs).

LABOUR-INDIA: Worker-Turned-Owners Revive Failing Tea Estates

By IPS Correspondents
Faced with unemployment in their failing tea estates, about two years ago, tea pluckers in the rolling highlands of this southern state responded by forming cooperatives to buy out their former employers Tata Tea and turn the gardens into profitable enterprises.

DEVELOPMENT: Australia Social Forum Is Possible

By Stephen de Tarczynski
While the organisers have proclaimed the third Melbourne Social Forum (MSF), which concluded here on Sunday, a hit, some participants say the event could have been more representative.

ECONOMY-ASIA: Gender Discrimination Can Hit Growth – UN Expert

By IPS Correspondents
Asia Pacific economies are expected to face another year of strong growth, led by China's and India's economic expansion but United Nations economists warn of impediments that range from poor management of capital inflows to gender discrimination.

ECONOMY-CHINA: Trillion Dollar Investment Blues

By IPS Correspondents
As China's foreign exchange reserves continue their explosive growth, questions about the ways the country's financial mandarins manage its pool of wealth are growing both inside and outside China.

HEALTH-MALAYSIA: Privatisation of Health Care Feared

By IPS Correspondents
Civil society activists worry that a plan to fund health care in Malaysia through private initiatives is about to be put into place and in such a way that the poor will end up being disproportionately burdened.

ECONOMY-INDIA: After Violence SEZs Downsized

By IPS Correspondents
Faced with growing opposition from its political opponents as well as civil society, the Indian government has drastically limited the size and use of special economic zones (SEZs) that are meant to attract foreign direct investments and promote exports.

TRADE-MALAWI: Tobacco Industry Going Up in Smoke

By Pilirani Semu-Banda
Tobacco prices and production levels are dropping amid pressure from the anti-smoking lobby and the general downturn in agricultural produce markets. But Malawi has still not made adequate progress in promoting crops to replace its primary foreign exchange earner.

HUMAN RIGHTS: Developing Countries Regain the Initiative in UN Council

By Gustavo Capdevila
The United Nations Human Rights Council's fourth session wrapped up Friday with good results, particularly because developing countries "regained the initiative," said Swiss academic Jean Ziegler, U.N. Rapporteur on the Right to Food.

TRADE-KENYA: East Africans May Be Stripped of the Kikoi

By IPS Correspondents
Kenyan activists are fighting to retain cultural designs that have been developed in East Africa but are being patented by companies in rich countries. After losing the kiondo basket trademark to Japan, the popular kikoi fabric design is currently at risk of being patented by a British company.

TRADE-KENYA: Shopping With a Clean Conscience

By Stephanie Nieuwoudt
It is early morning and the Undugu Fair Trade Shop, tucked away in a suburban shopping centre in Nairobi, is bustling. Apart from the few locals, there are the usual tourists, recognizable from their safari outfits: khaki shirts and trousers and the obligatory hat worn even when indoors.

EDUCATION-SOUTH AFRICA: ”Schooling That Hampers Development”

By IPS Correspondents
For 16 years, Themba was proud to be a teacher in South Africa but a wave of violence at her school has proven so nerve-wracking that she may leave the profession.

TRADE-ZAMBIA: Is China Sneaking in Deals Through the Back Door?

By IPS Correspondents
The recent state visit by Chinese president Hu Jintao has sparked renewed debates among Zambians about whether their country is receiving real benefits from its close economic relations with the Asian giant.

DEVELOPMENT-INDIA: Project-Displaced Camp in India’s Capital

By IPS Correspondents
Through this week, a broad pavement on a leafy road in the Indian capital has served as venue for a spirited ‘parliament of people' from across the country, come to protest a relentless globalisation drive that is stripping them of their land and livelihood.

TRADE-AFRICA: Liberalisation May Boost Growth But Not Create Jobs

By Stephanie Nieuwoudt
Even if trade openness boosts economic growth, such growth may not create jobs or alleviate poverty. Therefore the much-vaunted Aid for Trade concept should be redesigned so that ‘‘the major focus is shifted from simply creating more trade to the more important objectives of poverty reduction''.
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