Focus on the Global South Site Sydication http://focusweb.org 2010-03-17T01:11:52+01:00 http://focusweb.org http://focusweb.org/images/M_images/logo1-transparent.jpg text/html 2010-03-17T00:38:34+01:00 http://focusweb.org http://focusweb.org/the-reds-war-against-the-aristocrats-reflections-on-the-events-issues-and-perspec.html by Jacques-chai Chomthongdi The key weapons used by Thaksin’s opponents to destroy him are corruption and disloyalty; other issues seem irrelevant in comparison to these. The disloyalty charge lost steam because of the difficulties in proving it; leaning on the institution is risky for both the leaners and the institution itself. More importantly, the red shirt and an increasing number of people tend to lose interest in this particular aspect. The corruption charge has been clearly reinforced by the court verdicts, from hiding assets to using policies to favour vested interests. Thaksin’s defense itself did not fully fight back against this charge, but focused more on the calculation of the amount to be confiscated and the illegitimacy of the process of ousting him through a coup. text/html 2010-03-08T02:54:32+01:00 http://focusweb.org http://focusweb.org/women-on-with-the-march-toward-the-elections-and-beyond.html (Militarism, Sexism, WTO, Arroyo, RETREAT) Today, March 8, the International Day of Women, we march, together with our sisters across the globe, to celebrate the lessons, the triumphs as well as the challenges of our many-faceted struggles. We are workers marching for full employment with dignity and equal opportunity, amidst a backdrop of a hollowed-out domestic economy, of unwieldy migrationand contractualization, precarious and informal work, and chronic unemployment. We are rural women, marching for food sovereignty, sustainable livelihoods and meaningful asset reform, in a country characterized by increasing hunger, where profit continues to define the production and distribution of food; and wealth, inputs and productive assets remain concentrated in the hands of a few families and corporations. text/html 2010-02-18T04:10:13+01:00 http://focusweb.org http://focusweb.org/walden-bello-in-carbon-trading-debate-with-dorjee-sun-aljazeera-schedule.html?Itemid=168 Al Jazeera Special on Carbon Trading 101 EAST: Cash for Carbon Imagine a way to save tropical rainforests without having to reduce greenhouse gases. Imagine a way to make environmental conservation profitable. Some claim carbon trading is the best option for major corporations to pay for emitting pollution. They can do this by buying a forest, or funding a conservation program in a developing country. But critics say this billion dollar business will only benefit banks and investors and allow polluters to keep on polluting. The global carbon market is expanding, particularly in Asia. But is it reducing emissions or impeding real solutions to climate change? On this edition of 101 East, we ask if carbon trading can slow down global warming. This episode of 101 East airs from Thursday, February 18, 2010 at the following times GMT: Thursday: 1230; Friday: 0300; Saturday: 0530, 1730; Sunday: 0330, 1130; Monday: 1630; Tuesday: 1430; Wednesday: 0830, 1930; Thursday: 0630. For more information please visit: http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/101east/ text/html 2010-02-09T22:48:43+01:00 http://focusweb.org http://focusweb.org/extreme-weather-events-focus-on-the-philippines-2009-yearbook.html?Itemid=118 We are pleased to share with you the release of the FOCUS ON THE PHILIPPINES 2009 YEARBOOK: Extreme Weather Events. The 320-page publication covers key issues and events in the Philippines. The book was first shared with Focus friends and partners during our 15th Year Anniversary Celebration last January 20, 2010. To request for a copy, please contact: Lourdes Torres at lou_torres[at]focusweb.org, +63 2 4330899 text/html 2010-01-22T00:54:44+01:00 http://focusweb.org http://focusweb.org/the-prince-of-denmark.html?Itemid=168 by Akbayan! Representative Walden Bello Like Hamlet, Shakespeare’s conflicted Prince of Denmark, China was caught between conflicting currents in Copenhagen. Its failure to manage these led to its biggest diplomatic debacle in years. Almost a month after the debacle at the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen (Conference of Parties or COP 15), the question of who scuttled the talks elicits fury and derision. Interestingly, in many accounts, President Barack Obama comes across either as a figure who valiantly tries to rescue a doomed conference or as a well-meaning head of state whose hands are unfortunately tied by the realities of US politics