Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: protecting the private good? – Jeanne Lenzer

After revelations that the CDC is receiving some funding from industry, Jeanne Lenzer investigates how it might have affected the organization’s decisions The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) includes the following disclaimer with its recommendations: “CDC, our planners, and our content experts wish to disclose they have no financial interests or other relationships with the manufacturers of commercial products . …

They Say “Peace” But Really, It’s War – ANDRE VLTCHEK

They say “may peace prevail on earth”, but every night, there are fires burning in the terrible slums of Nairobi, Jakarta, Guatemala City and Mumbai. The World Education Forum is now taking place in Seoul, South Korea. UNESCO and Korea organized this colorful event. Everyone is talking, others are singing, and a few are dancing. The Secretary General of the …

World’s Water Future Demands Action Today

In 2050 there will be enough water to produce food for a global population of nine billion, but over-consumption and climate change will increase water scarcity in the planet’s neediest regions, finds a new report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Water Council. The report, “Towards a water and food secure future” was released Tuesday at …

The “Fight for $15″ and the Return of the Vanishing Worker – Richard Eskow

On April 15, perhaps as you’re reading these words, working people in 200 American cities will rally for a $15 base wage and the right to form a union. Solidarity demonstrations are planned in more than 30 cities on six continents, and have already taken place in Switzerland, the Philippines, South Korea, New Zealand, and Japan. The “fight for $15” matters …

Inequality or Living Standards: Which Matters More? – Max Roser, Brian Nolan, Stefan Thewissen

For many years inequality in income and wealth received little attention in public debate and was only a minority interest in the economics profession. GDP per capita was widely considered to be a satisfactory indicator of economic prosperity. Yet, inequality has now become the focus of remarkably wide-ranging attention, from Davos and the State of the Union address to academic …

WHY ARE WE PLANNING TO WALK ACROSS THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE (DMZ) THAT SEPARATES NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA?

Almost two years ago, when Christine Ahn proposed international women peacemakers walk across the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) which separates North and South Korea as an important action to help support Korean women and men working for reconciliation and reuniting of Korean families, I couldn’t resist. This was an important first step in establishing a peace process in which women and …

A decisive turning point in the crisis of American imperialism

Yesterday was the deadline for countries to sign up as founding members of the China-backed Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). It will go down in history as marking a significant defeat for the global foreign policy and strategic objectives of United States imperialism. Against strenuous opposition from Washington, more than 40 countries have now indicated they want to be part …

America’s Post World War II Global Dominance Has Just Ended

On March 22nd, I headlined “Why the Western Alliance Is Ending,” and I listed the recent events which indicate that the Western Alliance doesn’t have much longer to go. And, now, it has actually already ended. The handwriting is on the wall, for everyone to see; it’s so out-in-the-open, as of today. Here is what has just happened (as reported in German Economic …

Major American Allies Ignore U.S. Pleas and Join China’s Development Bank

UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and India All Sign On … South Korea Next? This week, 2 major U.S. allies – 2 of the “Five Eyes” – have disregarded American please and joined China’s development bank … a new alternative to the US-dominated IMF and World Bank lending order. (A third member of the Five Eyes – New Zealand – previously signed …

US Weapons Exporters Lead World in War Profiteering

U.S. weapons exporters lead the world in profits from the booming military arms and equipment business, driven by rising tensions and conflict around the world, according to a new report from London-based analysts. The annual study by IHS Inc.—which looks at military markets in 65 nations, excluding small arms, munitions, and surveillance programs—finds that the United States is behind one-third of all …