Politics in Britain have changed. The neoliberal legacy of Tony Blair may have finally expired. The idea that anything resembling the left must remain on the periphery has died with it. The future now shows more promise than we have seen for years in Britain.
Obrador's political party is taking on neoliberalism and forging a viable alternative for Mexico. The fact that it’s now within striking distance of the presidency is a massive change of fortune for the Mexican left.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to call an early election for June 8th has got Britain guessing. Is it plot to legitimize a failing government in the face of Brexit? The UK is economically frail, homelessness is rampant, the welfare state is a disaster, and foreign affairs are rocky. The upcoming vote brings this crisis into sharp focus.
Guatemala is rapidly expanding its energy generation infrastructure with support from Washington and international banks. The construction of mega-dams has been met with a wave of resistance from communities set to be displaced by the projects. Indigenous activists are continuing their struggle in the face of the wider extractivist projects facing the region.
With the Trump administration seeking to entrench its renewed base presence in the Philippines and the president commending Duterte and similarly authoritarian leaders in Bahrain and Egypt, Turkey and Thailand, human rights violations are likely to escalate, fueling unknown brutality and baseworld blowback for years to come.
For many in Mexico, cacao is more than just a bean. In its preparation, there is resistance, memory, rituals, identity, and friends and family. There's also a melange of incredible flavors.
Copyright Toward Freedom 2019