BRICS - alternative or complementary to IMF & World bank (Bretton woods institutions)?

BRICS: Progressive Rhetoric, Neoliberal Practice.

Published on 19 Jul 2014 | Patrick Bond: All the governments behind the New Development Bank practice intense neoliberalism.

Wealth Inequality Around The World

Published on Apr 17, 2013 : The extreme truth about how wealth is divided globally. Inspired by the amazing "Wealth Inequality in America" video.

Growth : India down to forth place.

India behind China Philippines and Indonesia
India's self-inflicted economic crisis .

Published on Jun 8, 2012 by ReutersTV : Political inertia and rampant corruption are to blame for the country's economic woes

New age colonialism: West buying up Third World?

RT 22May 2012 : Multinational corporations are buying up swathes of land in underdeveloped countries in an unchecked scramble towards new-age colonialism. So-called “land grabbing” sees western powers vying for economic control of the developing world’s resources.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently gathered with members of the corporate elite and NGOs to develop guidelines against “land grabbing”.  Matters have been prepared over the last three years, leading to the present guidelines being published at the beginning of May 2012. While in principle a perfectly legitimate idea, it’s best to stay cautious.

Media have used the epithet “historic” to describe this new UN initiative. Days have long gone since the word was used to describe events that had a proven impact over time. These guidelines still have to be proven in practice.  Maybe they will lead to substantial changes. My experience with history tells me otherwise.

Once the flashy press brochures are left untouched on some desk and everybody runs off after new pressing issues, then it is time to take a closer look. What exactly are we talking about? Let’s look at this so-called “land grabbing”.   This is what Wikipedia has to say:

“Land grabbing is the contentious issue of large-scale land acquisitions; the buying or leasing of larger pieces of land in developing countries, by domestic and transnational companies, governments and individuals. While used broadly throughout history, land grabbing as used today primarily refers to large-scale land acquisitions following the 2007-2008 world food price crisis … the target locations of most land grabs lie in the Global South, with 70% of land grabs in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Wikipedia being what it is – mostly an excuse for people (like me) too lazy to do real research – one can certainly not suspect it of having leftist tendencies. Precisely that makes their definition interesting. Let’s do some cross-checking.

Perspective from China:

Rising silver & gold demand in China :

 Uploaded by PressTVGlobalNews on 19 Nov 2011 - On the Edge with Max Keeiser-11-18-2011.

World population

hits 7 billion

 Uploaded by cctvnewschannel on Oct 27, 2011 - The world's 7 billionth person will be born into a population more aware than ever of the challenges of sustaining life on a crowded planet but no closer to a consensus about what to do about it. To some demographers the milestone foreshadows turbulent times ahead: nations grappling with rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation and skyrocketing demand for healthcare, education, resources and jobs. 

 To others, a shrinking population, not overpopulation, could be the longer-term challenge as fertility rates drop and a shrinking workforce is pushed to support social safety for an ageing populace.

Keynes, Crisis and Monopoly Capitalism.

TheRealNews on Apr 29, 2011 - Robert Skidelsky and Paul Jay discuss Keynes, the IMF, concentration of ownership, political power and rebellion.

Be an Active Economic Citizen.

Apr 25, 2011 - Things needed for healthier economic. Prof Ha-Joon Chong of Cambridge University:

Most people in the rich countries are paid more than they should be!

Apr 8, 2011 - Ha-Joon Chang : From 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism Pt.3



Courtesy | TheRealNews on Apr 6, 2011

John Pilger - The Perils of Privatisation

MaritimeUnion | April 02, 2009 - Award winning author, journalist and documentary film maker John Pilger gives a candid account of the perils of privatisation threatening Sydney's Ferry Service.

Play back a 2009 Video :: US was facing apocalypcal economic collapse? What will Obama do?

RussiaToday | May 04, 2009 - The world economy is not only showing few signs of recovery, but we are also looking at the end of the American century, according to German author and economist William Engdahl.

Bangladesh :: Remittance income eclipse all Aids put together.

Economy crisis hits food industry

AlJazeeraEnglish | December 06, 2010 - The strain of the global economic crisis is affecting the Asian food industry in the UK.

China in Latin America : The Dragon in the Room

TheRealNews | November 16, 2010 - Kevin Gallagher: Chinese investment in resources creating lopsided economy in Latin America.