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Bad Samaritans: How Rich Country “Help” Hurts the Developing World

Ha-Joon Chang September 29, 2008 Ha-Joon Chang

In theory the world's wealthiest countries and supra-national institutions like the IMF, World Bank and WTO want to see all nations developing into modern industrial societies. In practice, though, those at the top are 'kicking away the ladder' to wealth that they themselves climbed. Why? Self-interest certainly plays a part. But, more often, rich and powerful governments and institutions are actually being 'Bad Samaritans': their intentions are worthy but their simplistic free-market ideology and poor understanding of history leads them to inflict policy errors on others.

Cooperation as Rebellion: Creating Sustainable Agriculture in Paraguay

April Howard September 25, 2008 April Howard

Campesino Removes Soy Crops

In Paraguay, where 1 percent of the population owns 77 percent of all arable land, corrupt agrarian reform and the booming soybean industry is leading the country towards an industrial agricultural export model that leaves no room for small food producers. While many Paraguayancampesino families have moved into urban peripheries, tenacious farmers have fought not only for their right to land, but also to redefine and recreate the agricultural model based on cooperative, organic and people-friendly alternatives.

Gem Slaves in Tanzania: Tanzanite’s Child Labor

One World TV September 25, 2008 One World TV

The Final Failure of Reaganomics

Greg Guma September 25, 2008 Greg Guma

The government is currently debating a $700 billion bailout of distressed banks under a plan that initially proposed to give Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and the Bush administration unprecedented power. How did all this happen? The root of the problem can be traced back to the deregulation era that began during the Reagan administration.

Toward a Movement for Peace and Climate Justice

Brian Tokar September 24, 2008 Brian Tokar

Complaining about the weather is about as American as apple pie, sitcoms and rock and roll. But while the rest of the world has been noticing for years that our increasingly unstable weather is an initial sign of potentially devastating global climate changes, our nation's collective heads have mostly remained in the sand. Finally, over the past year or so, things have begun to shift a little.

Why Washington Should Stop Bailing Out Corporate America

Jeff Nall September 23, 2008 Jeff Nall

The time has come to revolt against free market fundamentalism and the way it is destroying our society. The illusion of the capitalists' "free" market has long been revealed for what it really is: a mystification of class interest. When everyday people suffer from poverty, the ruling elite say, 'there's nothing we can do. There has always been poverty, we can't prevent it.' But when an edifice of greed, corruption, and illusory wealth begins to crumble, it's a crisis of the greatest degree. Hundreds of billions of dollars later, it's clear that our government will spare no expense to prevent the wealthy from losing their yachts, luxury cars and mansions.