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China: Striking crane drivers demand better pay and conditions  Chinaworker.info reporters 4 May 2018 Crane drivers in China’s construction industry have taken strike action in dozens of cities across the country. That the strikes are coordinated is a stunning achievement for these workers. On May 1, Labour Day, the workers’ called for a nationwide strike after a week filled with rolling strikes in different regions. Although May Day is a legal holiday in China, large numbers of workers are required to work often without extra pay. This is China where strikes are illegal, organising is illegal, and protests are illegal. It is unclear how effective the May Day strike action was, given that this was in the face of mounting police repression and attacks against the strikes by state propaganda, in some cases accusing the workers of collusion with “foreign forces”. But that takes nothing away from the incredible nature of a strike wave embracing perhaps 20 of China’s provinces, organised mainly through online messaging, in the face of the world’s most powerful dictatorial state. From media reports chinaworker.info has seen the strikes which began on 25 April have been reported from Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Shanxi and Sichuan provinces. At the time of writing there are reports of arrests, beatings, and police repression from several areas. The Epoch Times reported ten workers arrested in a protest march in Chongqing. Radio Free Asia report 20 arrests in Zhengzhou, Henan province. http://www.socialistworld.net/index.php/international/asia/101-china/9770-china-striking-crane-drivers-demand-better-pay-and-conditions Hong Kong: New international protest day for democratic rights  Vincent Kolo (China Worker) 4 April 2018 Noam Chomsky among signatories of worldwide petition launched by Stop Repression in Hong Kong campaign The Stop Repression in Hong Kong campaign is planning a day of worldwide protests on Friday 4 May. chinaworker.info urges readers around the world to participate in the protests against increasing political repression in Hong Kong and China. More information and campaign material can be found on the campaign’s website stophkrepression.net. The Stop Repression in Hong Kong campaign was launched last October with protests in 22 cities around the world. It explicitly targets support from left activists and workers’ organisations, explaining that capitalist politicians and the right are too enamoured by economic links with the Chinese regime and conflicted by their own undemocratic policies to offer real support for democratic rights in Hong Kong or China. Donald Trump’s response when China’s leader Xi Jinping changed the rules allowing him to rule for life, was to praise Xi and tell a public rally, “Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday!” http://chinaworker.info/en/2018/03/29/17348/ The Murder of Marielle Franco and the Birth of a Movement  The Real News Network 3 April 2018 Massive protests against the killing of Marielle Franco blanketed Brazil in recent weeks. An anti-police violence activist from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro was killed to silence her, it appears her assassination has done just the opposite http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21487:The-Murder-of-Marielle-Franco-and-the-Birth-of-a-Movement Lula Leads in Polls as Court Upholds Conviction  The Real News Network 29 March 2018 Former president of Brazil Lula da Silva's corruption conviction was upheld by an appeals court, which, according to Brazilian law, mean's he's not allowed to hold office for 8 years. But that hasn't stopped Lula from campaigning for the upcoming presidential election in October. Journalist Mike Fox explains http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21455:Lula-Leads-in-Polls-as-Court-Upholds-Conviction The Kisan Long March and the living hell of Indian farmers  Liza Roy and Hamid Alizadeh 20 March 2018 On 6 March, some 35,000 farmers from across Maharashtra marched to Mumbai, demanding of the state government land rights, loan waivers, fair compensation for their produce, respect and dignity for farmers from indigenous tribes (adivasis) and improvements in the agriculture sector, which makes up half of India's workforce and 14 percent of the economy. The march was led by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and lasted six days, during which the farmers marched to the main area of Mumbai and then surrounded the state legislature building (Vidya Bhavan). On 12 March, the protest came to an end after the state government agreed to address the farmers' demands. Inspired by the events in Maharashtra, farmers in Uttar Pradesh organized a similar march to Lucknow on 15 March, demanding the state government address their dire situation. Some of the farmers’ demands included loan waivers and removing private companies from their lands https://www.marxist.com/the-kisan-long-march-and-the-living-hell-of-indian-farmers.htm Brazil: PSOL councillor Marielle Franco murdered in Rio de Janeiro  CWI 16 March 2018 On 14 March, Marielle Franco, a veteran member of PSOL in Rio de Janeiro, was barbarically executed in the city centre. Anderson Pedro Gomes, the driver of her car, was also killed in the attack. Police investigation identified 9 gun shots in the back window of the car, showing that the murderers targeted Marielle, and knew where in the car she was sitting despite the blacked-out windows of the car. Marielle was 39 years old and has a 18 year-old daughter. A black, lesbian women, she lived in the Favela of Mare, in Rio, where she worked in defence of black women and human rights. She was a long-time militant activist for just causes in the interests of the poor in the city. http://www.socialistworld.net/index.php/international/americas/45-brazil/9693-brazil-psol-councillor-marielle-franco-murdered-in-rio-de-janeiro China: Xi Jinping plans to extend his rule  Chinaworker.info reporters 3 March 2018 The news from Beijing is historic – nothing less than a political earthquake with repercussions around the world. At its upcoming “parliamentary session” (the National People’s Congress, NPC, which starts next week), China will remove the two-term limit for the presidency and vice presidency. This confirms what was widely expected; that Xi Jinping plans to extend his rule after his current second term finishes in 2023. Xi has cemented his grip over the Chinese regime through a ruthless power struggle and anti-corruption purge, forcing factional opponents and recalcitrant regions to “bend the knee”. This was further confirmed by his “coronation” at the so-called Communist Party’s (CCP) 19th Congress in October, at which Xi imposed his own choice of leaders, eliminating or demoting possible challengers, and inserted his “thought” into the constitution. Despite being widely expected, the latest move to allow Xi to indefinitely extend his reign as president (there is no limit on Xi’s other and actually more powerful position as CCP general secretary), has elicited shock and alarm from international commentators and Chinese dissidents alike. http://www.socialistworld.net/index.php/international/asia/101-china/9671-china-xi-jinping-plans-to-extend-his-rule Movements of Millions Say No to Gene Drives as Brazil Attempts to Legalize Genetic Extinction Technology ETC 22 February 2018 The largest rural movements in Brazil, representing well over a million farmers, are protesting a new Brazilian regulation that would allow release of gene drives, the controversial genetic extinction technology, into Brazil’s ecosystems and farms. On February 3rd and 4th, the National Coalition of Farmworkers and Rural, Water and Forest Peoples met near São Paulo, Brazil and sounded the alarm about new Brazilian regulatory changes – a resolution passed on January 15th by Brazil’s National Technical Commission on Biosafety that would allow the release of gene drive organisms into the environment. The effect of this change is that Brazil becomes the first country in the world to establish a legal channel for the release of gene drives into the environment. The new rule could potentially make it even easier to release a living gene drive organism than a GMO seed. The largest rural movements in Brazil, representing well over a million farmers, are protesting a new Brazilian regulation that would allow release of gene drives, the controversial genetic extinction technology, into Brazil’s ecosystems and farms. On February 3rd and 4th, the National Coalition of Farmworkers and Rural, Water and Forest Peoples[1] met near São Paulo, Brazil and sounded the alarm about new Brazilian regulatory changes – a resolution passed on January 15th by Brazil’s National Technical Commission on Biosafety that would allow the release of gene drive organisms into the environment. The effect of this change is that Brazil becomes the first country in the world to establish a legal channel for the release of gene drives into the environment. The new rule could potentially make it even easier to release a living gene drive organism than a GMO seed. http://etcgroup.org/content/brazil-movements-say-no-to-gene-drives Zuma's Catastrophic Presidency Ends in Forced Resignation  The Real News Network 16 February 2018 South African President Jacob Zuma resigned under intense pressure from his political party, the ANC, which ordered him to step down or face a no-confidence vote. Zuma has had a disastrous effect on South Africa's nascent democracy, but a surging countermovement gives reason for hope, says Vishwas Satgar of Wits University http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21144:Zuma%27s-Catastrophic-Presidency-Ends-in-Forced-Resignation Youth protests take place ahead of Russia’s 'no-choice' presidential election  Rob Jones, Socialist Alternative (CWI Russia) Moscow 14 February 2018 Once again, a presidential election in Russia looms and for the fifth time since 2000 there is a simple choice; either Putin or one of the other candidates, none of whom has a chance of winning. The only exception to this was in 2008, when Medvedev stepped in to hold the presidential chair warm for four years before Putin could not stand for technical reasons. After the last election in 2012, protests against voter manipulation broke out. This time protests are taking place in advance. A few weeks ago saw another wave of youth protests sweep Russia, affecting over 100 cities – from the several thousand who turned out in Moscow’s balmy minus six to the thirty people who managed to brave Yakutsk’s minus 45! Police carried out widespread raids on dozens of offices of Alexei Navalnii, who called these protests in the days before Sunday. They stopped passengers at airports and stations and searched student hostels to confiscate any agitational leaflets. But on Sunday itself, “only” 300 protesters, including Navalnii himself, were detained by police. Undoubtedly, the regime is concerned that a crackdown before the election could provoke wider discontent. The Ministry of Defence, according to some soldiers, has been surveying the rank and file asking them who they think is the most popular pro-western politician, calling for a “coloured revolution”, and whether they would be “prepared to obey an order to use force against people calling for the forcible overthrow of the constitution in Russia”. http://www.socialistworld.net/index.php/international/europe/70-russia/9649-youth-protests-take-place-ahead-of-russia-s-no-choice-presidential-election Pro and anti-Zuma protesters face off outside the ANC's headquarters Daily Maverick 5 February 2018  Buoyed by Cyril Ramaphosa's win at the ANC's elective conference, a growing negative perception and a series of damning court judgments against President Jacob Zuma, a group calling themselves Defend Luthuli House gathered at the ANC headquarters in the Johannesburg city centre to stop pro-Zuma supporters from handing over a memorandum at the offices. https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/national/supernumberoccupyluthulihouse-round-2-pro-and-anti-zuma-protesters-face-off-outside-the-ancs-headquarters/ar-BBIJ0Fc?ocid=spartanntp China: Tibetan activist latest victim of vicious crackdown Adam N. Lee (chinaworker.info) 17 January 2018 A nine-minute video made by the New York Times may cost Tibetan language rights activist Tashi Wangchuk fifteen years in prison. He is the latest victim in an unprecedented crackdown in which hundreds of dissidents and rights advocates have been arrested, abducted, ‘disappeared’, tortured, forced to appear in televised ‘confessions’ and in many cases served with harsh prison sentences as a deterrent to others who would challenge Beijing’s policies. 32-year-old Tashi, a shopkeeper from the Tibetan prefecture of Yushu in Qinghai province, was arrested two months after featuring in the Times’ video documentary. He was held for two years in secret detention and then tried on 4 January this year for “inciting separatism”. The video film (see link below) was played at the four-hour trial and, according to Tashi Wangchuk’s defence counsel, was the main “evidence” against him. The court will pronounce sentence at a later date but it is feared he could be handed a fifteen-year prison sentence. China’s courts are under tight control by the regime and have a 99 percent conviction rate, 100 percent in the case of political trials like this one. International observers have condemned the detention and trial of Tashi Wangchuk, with Amnesty International calling it a “sham” based on “blatantly trumped-up charges”. http://www.socialistworld.net/index.php/international/asia/101-china/9607-china-tibetan-activist-latest-victim-of-vicious-crackdown Campaign for jailed journalist Ali Feruz to join annual Moscow anti-fascist demo Socialist Alternative in Russia (CWI) Reporters 16 January 2018 Nine years ago, in the centre of Moscow, a lawyer, Stanislav Markelov, and journalist, Anastasia Baburova, were both murdered by fascist thugs. They had been known for their anti-fascist activities and Stanislav was an activist with the Russian ‘Youth against Racism in Europe’. Each year since, there has been an anti-fascist demonstration to mark their murders, with the slogan, “Never again”. The19th January march is never more relevant; everyday hate crimes continue in Russia against immigrants, Muslims, the LGBT community and increasingly the attacks come not just from far right radicals but from the state. Therefore Socialist Alternative (CWI Russia) takes part in the demonstration not just in memory of the two murdered anti-fascists, but also to openly speak out and organize against migrantophobia, islamophobia, homophobia and other hatreds. The clearest example of this today is the case of the journalist Ali Feruz (actual name Khudoberdi Nurmatov). The Russian courts took the decision to deport Ali to Uzbekistan, where he was born, and where he faces repression and possible torture for his refusal to cooperate with the authoritarian regime’s police. Working for the Russian paper, ‘Novaya gazeta’, Ali Feruz exposed the death of conscripts in the army and the slave-like conditions in which many immigrants in Russia are forced to work. Ali is a member of a journalists and media workers union. He is an immigrant and openly gay. While Ali’s supporters from the newspaper and his friends have been lobbying in support of Ali, it has been the public and international campaign that has, so far, prevented the Russian courts from forcing Ali back to Uzbekistan. http://www.socialistworld.net/index.php/international/europe/70-russia/9605-campaign-for-jailed-journalist-ali-feruz-to-join-annual-moscow-anti-fascist-demo India's Capital of Delhi has the World's Worst Air Pollution - Why?  The Real News Network 26 December2016 Fossil fuels, especially coal, is the main culprit, but despite the public health emergency, the government is not acting on this issue, says Shouvik Chakraborty, research fellow at PERI On November 8th, the Indian capital city of Delhi gained the dubious distinction of becoming the most polluted city on the planet. The air quality is now so bad that it's equivalent to smoking 50 cigarettes a day. So how did Delhi and India become so polluted, and what can be done about this severe public health problem? Joining us to discuss this is Shouvik Chakraborty. Shouvik is currently a research fellow at the Political Economy Research Institute, UMass Amherst. He received his PhD from the Center for Economic Studies and Planning at JNU in New Delhi. He's published a variety of progressive economic articles, especially in the areas of development banking, international trade, food security, and energy and the environment. Shouvik's current research focus is on the generation of jobs through investment in clean, renewable energy and developing an egalitarian green growth program. http://therealnews.com/t2/story:20781:India%27s-Capital-of-Delhi-has-the-World%27s-Worst-Air-Pollution---Why%3F |
MULTIMEDIA  Trump's Stark Warning to BRICS: What South Africa and Global Leaders Need to Prepare For Trump's Stark Warning to BRICS: What South Africa and Global Leaders Need to Prepare For Political economist Prof. Patrick Bond weighs in.  BRICS, China, Africa & The Crisis in Imperialism With Patrick Bond The deepening crisis in capitalism and imperialism and how it is reflected in Africa is an important focus of political economist Patrick Bond who is a professor at the University of Johannesburg. Bond talks about the early investment in China and how that has transformed as China has become the biggest exporter of capital and the largest industrial country in the world. He looks at the development of BRICS and the Belt and Road and how the BRICS is now part and parcel of the world capitalist economic structure despite claims that is an alternative to the the imperialist economic structure. He reports on the experiences of countries in Africa with Chinese investments and how that has affected workers, communities and the environment and climate. He also discusses how many of the countries of BRICS and China are helping to prop up the apartheid Zionist regime and their genocidal policies. This interview was done on 10/16/24.  Boris Kagarlitsky at the People's Forum on BRICS 2022 Every year a number of civil society organizations, trade unions and people’s movements come together to organize People’s BRICS where we try to deliberate on the several aspects of the bloc, the developments over the past year and present a people’s alternative. These efforts of solidarity are in continuum with the parallel summits organized by peoples movements, CSOs and trade unions in Durban (2013), Fortaleza (2014), India (2016), Hong Kong (2017), Johannesburg (2018), Brasilia (2019) and India (2021). This year, the People’s Forum on BRICS organized a roundtable titled “BRICS in 2022: Economic and Geopolitical Quandaries” to review the developments in the past one year and what its implications would be for the BRICS bloc. You are listening to Boris Kagarlitsky of the Institute of Globalisation and Social Movements, Russia speaking at the People's Forum 2022 Roundtable.  Prof Patrick Bond comments on Government of National Unity South African markets seem happy ahead of the eagerly awaited cabinet announcement. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce his cabinet soon, following inauguration last week Wednesday. The African National Congress is establishing a Government of National Unity with the hopes of governing effectively after it failed to win an absolute majority in the elections. Political economist and UJ Sociology professor, Patrick Bond discussed this with eNCA. More  Can Vladimir Putin Drive Ramaphosa's Second-Term Foreign Policy? Russia's President Vladimir Putin dialled South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as he gears up for his swearing-in ceremony in Pretoria. During the call, the two leaders vowed to strengthen the partnership between Russia and South Africa in all aspects. The conversation reflects on the continued good relations between Moscow and Pretoria despite uncertainty over Russia's war in Ukraine. South Africa abstained in several votes at the UN General Assembly condemning Russia's actions. It even attended the Ukraine Peace Summit hosted by Switzerland. And while the war in Gaza rages, South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice accusing it of genocide. Earlier this year, Ramaphosa hosted the leader of Sudan's paramilitary RSF, which has been accused of human rights violations. How will Cyril Ramaphosa navigate tricky global diplomatic endeavours in his second term? Watch this video for details. More  Democracy 30 | Macro-economic policy impact: Prof Patrick Bond As the country celebrates 30 years of Democracy, how impactful has macro-economic policy been for the South African economy and, more particularly, for the ordinary South African? While the economic policies of the governing party have often been given the thumbs up, the lack of their implementation has been a common gripe. However, fundamentally, there has been a real fight about whether the country pursues more socialist or capitalist policies. The governing party has tried to strike the balance between the two, but with high unemployment, poverty and inequality still being at the forefront of the country's woes, questions around policy effectiveness remain. More  Heat Wave Alert: Impact of extreme weather and poor infrastructure on society: Prof Patrick Bond The South African Weather Service has issued a warning of a heat wave across several provinces. They include the Northern and Eastern Cape, North West, Gauteng, Free State and Limpopo. In the Northern Cape areas such as Upington and Kakamas are expected to peak at 42 degrees Celsius between today and tomorrow. Health authorities have advised members of the public to stay hydrated and avoid direct sunlight. On this we are joined via video link by Patrick Bond, Professor of Sociology at the University of Johannesburg to unpack the heat wave phenomenon experienced by many parts of the country. More  SA-US relations | Trump-backer wants ties with SA reviewed Two US Congressmen are seeking a full review of bilateral ties with South Africa. Republican John James and Democrat Jared Moskowitz introduced the bipartisan bill last week. It claims that contrary to its declared non-alignment, the government has been siding with ‘malign actors’. This includes diplomatic and military connections with China and Russia. It also claims SA is providing support to Hamas, which the US labels a Terrorist Organisation and a recognised Iranian proxy. More  SA-US Relations: Discussion on US Congress calling for a review of SA relations The bill that has been submitted to the US Congress calling for a full review of the country’s bilateral relationship with South Africa will not succeed. That’s according to The Head of Public Diplomacy for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Clayson Monyela. The bipartisan Bill threatens South Africa’s prospects to benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Monyela says South Africa and the US continue to maintain strong relations. Now let us get a reaction we are now joined by Professor Patrick Bond, University of Johannesburg Distinguished Professor and Director of the Centre for Social Change. More  US-Africa trade relations | US agrees to 10-year extension of AGOA JOHANNESBURG - The US has agreed to extend the African Growth and Opportunities Act agreement for another 10 years. It means over 30 African countries will keep duty-free exports to the American market. Economist Patrick Bond has more on this. #dstv403 More A New World Order and Emerging Global Players POWER Talk is a mid-morning talk show programme, hosted by Lerato Mbele. The show delves deeper into the news of the day along with larger societal themes, inviting listeners to help unpack issues on the day’s current affairs agenda and topics close to their hearts. Mbele also interviews the biggest newsmakers and experts in South Africa, helping listeners makes sense of their world. In October, Russia expressed reservations about the U.S. president's assertion that Washington should be the driving force behind a new "world order," dismissing it as an outdated and overly American-centric vision. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasised the need for a "new world order" but argued against concentrating all global governance mechanisms in the hands of one state, particularly the United States. He stated that any new system should be free from such dominance. Furthermore, he insisted that the world will no longer revolve solely around the United States, pointing to the emergence of alternative global formations like BRICS. This alliance allows resource-rich and labour-abundant countries to create a new trading system, enhancing their influence in the evolving world order. In this conversation, our aim is to delve into what a new world order entails, particularly in the context of alternative global formations, and to monitor developments that showcase the rise of influential players worldwide. Distinguished Professor and Director of the Centre for Social Change at the University of Johannesburg Patrick Bond joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation. More SAP fined R 4,1 billion for State Capture charges SAP has been fined R4 billion for bribing public officials to acquire government business in South Africa. The German software company settled out of the court given the investigations that have been conducted by the US Department of Justice. According to their report, SAP had engaged with officials at the City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, Eskom and Department of Water and Sanitation. To tell us more about the significance of the fine and whether accountability is possible when it comes to economic crimes, we are joined by Prof. Patrick Bond - Political Economist and Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the University of Johannesburg More  Economic Forecast for 2024 Chief Economist at Antswisa Capital, Miyelani Mkhabela and Economist and distinguished professor at the University of Johannesburg Prof Patrick Bond discuss the country's economic situation this year, whether things will improve next year, and what needs to be done to help boost the economy. SAfm (Johannesburg) 19 December 2023 More South Africa’s Economic and Political Landscape in 2023 As we wrap up the year, we take a look at the issues that affected South Africans the most in 2023, primarily through the lens of economic and political events. Distinguished Political Economist and Professor of Sociology at the University of Johannesburg Professor Patrick Bond and Political Science Lecturer at the North West University Sysman Motloung join Morio Sanyane for the conversation. 20 December 2023 702 Radio (Johannesburg) More Botswana has been receiving bids from investors on the Trans-Kalahari Railway project. These bids eminate from China, the United Emirates, Qatar and India To tell us more about the implications on the logistics and customs industry in SADC, we are joined by Prof. Patrick Bond - Political Economist and Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the University of Johannesburg More  Rand Manipulation Saga: Professor Patrick Bond weighs in More  Sasol AGM cancelled after protest Sasol had to cancel its annual general meeting after being disrupted by protesters from the environmental activism movement, Extinction Rebellion. Just One Lap founder Simon Brown says Sasol was one of the biggest polluters in the world. More  Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato) - How the U.S. Helped Destroy Brazil's Democracy On January 8th, a mob of Jair Bolsonaro supporters stormed the Brazilian capital. But contrary to some of the simplistic explanations for this act that have been pushed since, its roots were planted long before Bolsonaro or Trump had ever entered the picture. The true story begins with Operation Car Wash in 2014, a lawfare campaign to destroy the Brazilian left, backed by the international media & US Government. This video is the complete story of this judicial persecution & propaganda campaign, which brought down a president (Dilma Rousseff), jailed another (Lula da Silva), and brought Jair Bolsonaro to power in the first place. More  South Africa to host Africa Growth and Opportunity Act Forum For more on AGOA we’re joined by international relations expert and professor Patrick Bond. More  Patrick Bond at protest outside World bank office, South Africa 12 Oct 2023 Patrick Bond (Director of the Centre for Social Change at the University of Johannesburg) in an October 12 protest outside the World Bank office in Pretoria, South Africa with Debt For Climate,, Fight Inequality Alliance, SA Federation of Trade Unions, Abahlali base Mjondolo/Freedom Park, Black Consciousness Movement South Africa, General Industries Workers Union of South Africa and other civil society groups. More  BRICS: Talk Left, Walk Right - Patrick Bond (pt 2/2) In part 2, Patrick Bond broadens out his analysis of the BRICS countries engaging in what he terms "talk left, walk right." He explains the economic theories of "accumulation by dispossession" and refers back to the aims of the Non-Aligned Movement of 1961 and the spirit of the 1955 Bandung Conference. More  BRICS: An Anti-Imperialist Fantasy and Sub-Imperialist Reality? - Patrick Bond Patrick Bond, political economist, Professor of Sociology at the University of Johannesburg, and Director of the Centre for Social Change, discusses the recent BRICS summit in Johannesburg. The BRICS countries continue to call for greater representation within Bretton Woods institutions, while their opposition to US-dollar hegemony has been feeble at best. Patrick Bond lays out the complicity of the BRICS and soon-to-be BRICS+ elite in corruption networks as they profit from Big Oil and Gas contracts and accelerate environmental disasters. This is part 1 of 2. More  Chinese Modernisation Lesson for and from 21st Century Africa  NOLUTHANDO MTHONTI-MLAMBO speaks to Patrick Bond, Political Economist and Professor of Sociology, University of Johannesburg & Redge Nkosi, Economist & Director, First Source Money about South Africa's access to AGOA More  BRICS unions confront a dynamic dangerous world Patrick Bond made the opening input to the session on the “Current Structure of Global Economy and How It Reproduces Inequality and Underdevelopment” at the BRICS Trade Union Summit More  SA to host AGOA Forum in November Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel and his US Trade representative Katherine Tai have announced that South Africa will host the 20th AGOA Forum in Johannesburg from the 2nd to the 4th of November. The Forum will draw AGOA participants together with US officials with a focus on strengthening trade and investment ties for the benefit of sustainable and inclusive economic growth on the African continent. However, there are concerns that politics may be the switch that ultimately decides South Africa's fate in terms of continuing to benefit from the US' African Growth and Opportunity Act. This Act allows for South Africa and other African countries to enjoy the benefits of exporting their goods to the United States with no duties or tariffs. More The Deep Dive with Brooks Spector Prof Patrick Bond, UJ distinguished professor of Sociology, on BRICS+ More  G20 set to grant AU permanent membership: Prof. Patrick Bond The G20 grouping of nations has agreed to grant permanent membership to the African Union, the move would give the African Union, a continental body of 55 member states, the same status as the EU, from its current designation of invited international organization. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to the leaders of the G20 nations in June proposing the African Union be given full, permanent membership of the bloc at the upcoming summit in the Indian capital. Prof. Patrick Bond professor of sociology at the University of Johannesburg. India prepares to host the G20 Summit As India prepares to host the G20 Summit, which commences tomorrow in New Delhi. We chat to Professor Patrick Bond about some of the key issues that are likely to be discussed by world leaders as this year’s Summit is aimed at creating a more inclusive world. But what’s in for South Africa and Africa as a whole, what kind of agenda is our president going to advance at the Summit? More African Union expected to join G20 Officials at the G20 summit in Delhi say the African Union could become a member. The proposal has been backed by the US and by India, which is hosting the meeting. Roger Hearing discusses this topic and more other stories with Rachel Pupazzoni, Business Reporter at ABC News Australia and Simon Littlewood, Singapore based economics and the President of ACG Global Growth Delivered. More 
BRICS, South Africa, Labor & Imperialism With Patrick BondThe BRICS trade organization set up as an alternative to the US and European dominated economic organizations recently met in Johannessburg on August 22, 2023. University of Johannesburg political economist Patrick Bond talks about the formation of BRICS, its history and its role today. He also talks about the role Chinese investment in Africa for working people and the climate. Professor Patrick Bond, Distinguished Professor Of Sociology at University Of Johannesburg – Discussing the reply of President Ramaphosa about the inclusion of IRAN and Saudi Arabia to the BRICS summit More  CRITICAL THINKING ON BRICS DEDOLLARISATION  South Africa Hosts Major BRICS Summit as Bloc Eyes Global South Expansion to Counter Western power Democracy Now 21 August 2023 BRICS — the five-country bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — is holding a monumental summit in Johannesburg this week where the group will discuss a number of major issues, including expanding membership and how to improve financial cooperation. Over 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, and 23 countries have formally applied to join the bloc, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Indonesia, Egypt and Ethiopia. The summit is a “very unstable situation,” as member countries vary greatly on priorities and many potential candidates for membership are “mostly tyrannies, carbon-addicted economies,” says Patrick Bond, director of the Centre for Social Change at the University of Johannesburg. “Some of these machinations are hegemonic projects to stop dissent at home and actually call for a unity that does not benefit the masses,” says South African activist and scholar Trevor Ngwane, who criticizes BRICS as “projecting a false hope to the masses” for posing as an alternative to U.S. and Western imperialism.  BRICS FROM ABOVEBrics from the Middle, and brics-from-below prior to the Johannesburg 2023 BRICS+ summit:  CRITICAL THINKING ON BRICS- ECOCIDE V2  CRITICAL THINKING ON BRICS UKRAINE V2 10TH BRICS SUMMIT MEDIA LINKS BRICS covered by Chinese state television CGTN  The BRICS Summit 2018 is underway in Johannesburg. As trade battles threaten to blaze across the world, how can BRICS countries band together to embrace free trade? Prof. Patrick Bond, in Johannesburg, from the School of Governance at the University of the Witwatersrand, and in the Beijing studio, Prof. He Wenping, Senior Research Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences joined The Point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q69ZPP5r6YI BRICS covered by Russian state broadcaster Sputnik Radio Sputnik discusses the BRICS summit with Professor Patrick Bond https://soundcloud.com/radiosputnik/radio-sputnik-discusses-the-brics-summit-with-professor-patrick-bond Analysis of the BRICS summit so far - Prof. Patrick Bond (SABC NEWS) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDmrlH7FNnE Trevor Ngwane on the Break the BRICS Coalition planned protest ... On Thursday different formations calling themselves "Break the BRICS Coalition" will be marching to the Sandton Convention Centre where the 10th BRICS Summit is currently underway. The march is a protest against what the coalition calls the capitalist nature of the BRICS states, their anti-working class behaviour, and their environmentally destructive policies. Its intention is to put forward their demands for world to see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z11ZfinxU4c Break The BRICS coalition demand arrest of some leaders attending the summit As heads of states signed agreements and talked multilateralism inside the BRICS summit...Outside, hundreds of civil society members protested in the vicinity of the summit. The Break The BRICS coalition delivered a memorandum demanding the arrest of some leaders who are attending the summit today. And they are demanding a response before the summit wraps up tomorrow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30FokIbnCx8 BusinessDay TV: What the Brics summit has achieved for its members 
University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) political economy lecturer Patrick Bond spoke to Business Day TV about what the leaders of the Brics countries might have achieved and how their power could affect the world order. https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/world/2018-07-30-watch-what-the-brics-summit-has-achieved-for-its-members/ BRICS Summit report on Al Jazeera (including protest at BRICS New Development Bank) Leaders from the BRICS bloc - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - are meeting for the first time since the Trump administration in the US said it was ready to impose tariffs on all Chinese imports, a move economists say could also hurt smaller countries like South Africa. "A trade war should be rejected because there will be no winner," Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the opening of the 10th BRICS summit of emerging economies in South Africa's main city, Johannesburg. President Xi is urging the leaders of developing economies to work together, in the face of threats of tariffs by US President Donald Trump. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_t1RNsn_ok BRICS MEDIA LINKS BRICS from below - Home | Facebook We network activists and scholars in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa addressing inequity that impacts people. https://www.facebook.com/BRICSfrombelow/ Images for "brics from below" https://www.google.com More images for "brics from below" www.google.com *BRICS from below (@BricsFromBelow) | Twitter The latest Tweets from BRICS from below (@BricsFromBelow). Centre for Civil Society • University of Kwa Zulu Natal • Developing Progressive Global Alliances with a focus on Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Durban, South Africa. https://twitter.com/bricsfrombelow?lang=en Brics-from-below fears exploitation of Africa | Daily News - IOL Mar 26, 2013 - The first Brics-from-below civil society summit takes place parallel to the fifth Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit that begins ton Tuesday. Hosted by environmental group groundWork, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance and the UKZN Centre for Civil Society, the ... https://www.iol.co.za/.../news/brics-from-below-fears-exploitation-of-africa-1491800 Put people first, urges Brics-from-Below | Daily News - IOL Mar 28, 2013 - NGOs concluded their Brics-from-Below civil society summit on Wednesday with a march to Durban's International Convention Centre, where the fifth Brics Summit is being held. There they hand over a memorandum which was accepted by a UN Ambassador on behalf of the Minister of International ... https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/.../put-people-first-urges-brics-from-below-1493217 'brics-from-below' – counter summit hosted in Durban – Earth Life Mar 20, 2013 - In anticipation of the 5th BRICS meeting, peoples' organisations, NGOs and academics from BRICS countries will gather in Durban, South Africa in March 22- 27 to foster 'brics-from-below Rebuilding BRICS, bottom up. At this counter summit, civil society aims to play two major critical roles: firstly, acting as a ... http://earthlife.org.za/2013/03/20/brics-from-below-counter-summit-hosted-in-durban/ Interview with Bobby Peek from groundWork, Friends of the Earth The parallel meeting, BRICS from Below, was hosted by environmental group groundWork, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance and the UKZN Centre for Civil Society. www.radiomundoreal.fm/6584-a-new-imperialism-from-the-south |
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