The implications of promoting the market-oriented production of modern plant breeds among Cordillera peasants If former President Marcos had his “Green Revolution” and “miracle rice” program, the Arroyo administration has its agricultural modernization program and Bt corn. But the effects on the peasantry are the same dependence on creditors, indebtedness, soil degradation, and worsening pest…
Category: Other Stories
Learn from Cuba, Says World Bank
By Jim Lobe InterPress Service (IPS) WASHINGTON, Apr 30 (IPS) – World Bank President James Wolfensohn Monday extolled the Communist government of President Fidel Castro for doing “a great job” in providing for the social welfare of the Cuban people. His remarks followed Sunday’s publication of the Bank’s 2001 edition of ‘World Development Indicators’ (WDI),…
Half the World Hit by US Unilateral Sanctions
by Someshwar Singh South-North Development Monitor – Third World Network Dec. 1999 Geneva, 21 Dec 99 — More than half of the world’s population in 75 countries is subject to unilateral coercive economic measures or ‘sanctions’ by one country alone – the United States of America – according to a recent report by the United…
Impressions of Cuba
Health care is a model, but tourist economy brings changes. By Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman Our first, short visit to Cuba has left us impressed with the accomplishments of the island-nation that for more than 40 years has stood up to global capitalism. We also returned home aware of the many limits of the…
Lessons in Standing Up
How does one of the smallest countries in the world stand up to bullying by the sole superpower? There are answers to be found in No Mas Bloqueo (No More Blockade), an inter-active multi-media CD produced and distributed by Cuba’s Ministry of External Relations. BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO How does one of the smallest countries…
Budget proponent an illegitimate president – Beltran
Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Crispin Beltran called for a stop to the budget appropriation hearings, saying that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the main proponent of the 2006 Budget proposal, “is an illegitimate president.” Beltran said that the bulk of higher budget allocations will only go to automatic debt payments and the military. He added that Congress “is being…
Bayan Muna office in Tarlac burned
The front portion of the office of the Bayan Muna Party-list in Tarlac City (125 kms. north of Manila) was damaged as suspected military men tried to burn the office on Oct. 18. At least 10 armed men, some of them in military uniform, arrived at the bungalow which housed the Bayan Muna office in…
Political earthquake to rock presidential palace
Rep. Rafael Mariano of the Anakpawis (toiling masses) party-list described Oct. 14 the “stern” warning by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s allies against the “option” to declare martial law as “tremors of a political earthquake that will rock Malacanang.” If the president declares martial law or national emergency while Congress is not in session, Mariano cited “three…
Government ‘bounty system’ endangers peace talks
Reacting to a top police official’s proposal to restore the reward system for the arrest or killing of suspected leaders of the underground Left, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said Oct. 14 that the government’s revival of its “bounty system” only exposed government’s “complete disinterest in pursuing peace negotiations.” CPP spokesperson Gregorio “Ka…
Progressive congressman wants U.S. warships probed, seized
Bayan Muna Rep. Joel Virador this week urged local officials of Zamboanga City, southern Philippines to probe and seize a U.S. warship escorted by a gunboat reported to be anchored off the province on Oct. 11. Virador said that “no foreign vessel is allowed to enter the Philippine coastal territory.” “Is this part of the…
With or without dengue, many Filipino children are dying
A health professionals group, Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), this week warned the Filipino public to be alert on what the Department of Health (DoH) is not saying. The warning was issued following an announcement by the DoH that the season of dengue – which kills several children every year – is over. In a…