Last week the consortium holding a £22bn contract to clean up the Sellafield nuclear site was sacked, writes David Lowry. But this is just the end of a long and scandalous tale of corporate profit at taxpayers' expense, and the active collusion of ministers and senior officials in fighting off Parliamentary scrutiny.
… Sellafield - how the nuclear industry fleeced taxpayers David … sellafieldpond-a-cut.jpg Last week the consortium holding a £22bn contract to clean up the Sellafield nuclear site was sacked, writes …
The health of Europe's citizens is on trial as the EU's food safety regulator challenges the World Health Organisation over glyphosate and cancer, writes Corporate Europe Observatory. On the WHO side, published, peer reviewed science, real world epidemiology and open processes. While the EFSA conclusion is based on secret industry studies and opaque procedures. Will science or realpolitik win the day?
… EU Corporations Toxics cancer-walk-cut.jpg The health of Europe's citizens is on trial as the EU's food safety regulator challenges the World Health Organisation over glyphosate …
Peru is in hot competition with Brazil to be the main focus of Amazonian deforestation, writes Clément Doleac. A neoliberal government desperate to hand over the country's forests, oil, gas, minerals and indigenous lands for corporate exploitation is unafraid to break national laws, turn a blind eye to air and water pollution, and respond to any challenges with overwhelming violence.
… with chainsaws: deforestation in Peru and the future of the Amazon Clément Doleac | 5th October 2015 … Peru is in hot competition with Brazil to be the main focus of Amazonian deforestation, …
In California, water no longer runs to the sea - it runs towards money, writes Will Parrish. Most of the state's water is already controlled by agribusiness elites. Now, backed by politicians, they are planning to grab the little that's left, leaving nature and indigenous communities high and dry.
… Stealing the Sacramento River - California agro-barons' … In California, water no longer runs to the sea - it runs towards money, writes Will Parrish. Most of the state's water is already controlled by …
The true nature of western civilization is hard to grasp from within, says Professor John McMurtry, because we perceive it through media whose primary purpose is not to convey the truth, but conceal it. What is actually playing out is a global war of empire and capital against the Earth and her people, backed up by the omnipresent threat of overwhelming force.
… Genocide, ecocide and the Empire of Chaos Professor John McMurtry | … Climate Change Ecocide barbed-wire-cut.jpg The true nature of western civilization is … media whose primary purpose is not to convey the truth, but conceal it. What is actually …
The British establishment does nothing quite so well as lies, cover-ups and high-level corruption, writes Georgina Downs - whether it's the Hillsborough disaster or permitting polluters to poison us. Georgina won her own High Court legal victory protecting rural residents from pesticide exposure as long ago as 2008 - only to have it snatched away as Court of Appeal judges closed ranks.
… Health Farming Corporations spraying-cut.jpg The British establishment does nothing quite … corruption, writes Georgina Downs - whether it's the Hillsborough disaster or permitting …
After an apparent cave-in to Europe's pesticide industry, the European Food Safety Authority's latest guidance on pesticides conflicts with European law, writes Georgina Downs - by ignoring the real-life agrochemical exposure of rural residents. Commission President Juncker must step in and demand the withdrawal of this disgraceful document.
… cave-in to Europe's pesticide industry, the European Food Safety Authority's latest … law, writes Georgina Downs - by ignoring the real-life agrochemical exposure of rural … President Juncker must step in and demand the withdrawal of this disgraceful document. …
In Brazil's microcephaly epidemic, one vital question remains unanswered: how did the Zika virus suddenly learn how to disrupt the development of human embryos? The answer may lie in a sequence of 'jumping DNA' used to engineer the virus's mosquito vector - and released into the wild four years ago in the precise area of Brazil where the microcephaly crisis is most acute.
… vital question remains unanswered: how did the Zika virus suddenly learn how to disrupt the development of human embryos? The answer may lie in a sequence of 'jumping …
Apparent 'victories' in the fight against toxic chemicals - like the EU's failure to re-approve glyphosate yesterday - are illusory, writes Jonathan Latham. The real problem is not one of specific 'bad actors', but the entire system that allows new, likely to be toxic compounds to pollute the environment in near-total ignorance of their impacts. It's time to take our campaigning to a whole new level.
… The problem is not glyphosate, or DDT, or BPA - we must challenge the entire system! Jonathan Latham | 20th May … Apparent 'victories' in the fight against toxic chemicals - like the EU's failure to re-approve glyphosate …
What's the point of farming? To produce an abundance of wholesome food, writes Colin Tudge, while supporting a flourishing rural economy and a sustainable, biodiverse countryside. Yet the powers that be, determined to advance industrial agriculture at all costs, are achieving the precise opposite. It's time for a revolution in our food and farming culture, led by the people at large.
… Six steps back to the land: an agricultural revolution for … Society Politics GMOs tractor-cut.jpg What's the point of farming? To produce an abundance … a sustainable, biodiverse countryside. Yet the powers that be, determined to advance …
The months-old protest at Preston New Road, Lancashire, is no longer just about fracking, writes Mat Hope. This dispute is now about London versus the North. It is about the government failing 'the people' from which it has become detached. It is about people sensing hopelessness and helplessness and trying to find a means to resist. And it is about holding on, steadfast, in spite of it all, knowing this is the forgotten frontline of a far greater struggle.
… Fuels polar bear and police close up-cut.jpg The months-old protest at Preston New Road, … Hope. This dispute is now about London versus the North. It is about the government failing 'the people' from which …
The opposition of Ecuador's Shuar People to large scale mining and hydroelectric development in their ancestral forests has triggered a full-scale military occupation of their lands in the Amazon cloud forest, writes Jake Ling, accompanied by a surge in state-sponsored murder and violence - for which Chinese and Canadian mining companies must share responsibility.
… Blood and fire: mining and militarization in the Ecuadorian Amazon Jake Ling … Human Rights Corporations shuar-1-fb.jpg The opposition of Ecuador's Shuar People to … scale mining and hydroelectric development in their ancestral forests has triggered a …
There's absolutely no evidence for BBC Panorama's claim of 90% success for Bt brinjal in Bangladesh, writes Claire Robinson. But that has not stopped the BBC Trust from dismissing all complaints against its monstrously dishonest report. Nor has it diminished the jubilation of GMO cheerleaders.
… Farming Corporations brinjal-cut.jpg There's absolutely no evidence for BBC … Claire Robinson. But that has not stopped the BBC Trust from dismissing all complaints … dishonest report. Nor has it diminished the jubilation of GMO cheerleaders. I was one …
First corporations gained legal personhood, writes Don Fitz. Next they seized the right to force 'free trade' on unwilling populations. Now they are making sure that 'corporate rights' trump citizen rights - like the right to wholesome food and a healthy environment. That's where the 'Right to Farm' constitutional amendments come in ...
… legal personhood, writes Don Fitz. Next they seized the right to force 'free trade' on unwilling populations. Now they are making sure that 'corporate rights' …
Farmers on Palawan are being tricked into giving land away to palm oil companies with local government support, writes Rod Harbinson. Under the palm oil company 'leases' the farmers lose all rights to their land, never receive any money, and are saddled with 25 years of debt. Those who resist the land grabs are now in fear for their lives following the murder of a prominent campaigner.
… support, writes Rod Harbinson. Under the palm oil company 'leases' the farmers lose all rights to their land, never receive any money, and are …
According to classical economics Adam Smith's 'invisible' hand' of free markets produces the greatest good for us all, writes JP Sottile. But what happens when rip-roaring 'external costs' are left out of the equations? Wars, repression, pollution, resource destruction and climate change. And because that invisible hand is connected to Mother Nature, it's coming back to strike us.
… Mother Nature's 'invisible hand' strikes back against the carbon economy JP Sottile Truthout | 20th … 'invisible' hand' of free markets produces the greatest good for us all, writes JP …
The very first GE product, a dietary supplement, poisoned thousands of people of which dozens died, writes Steven M. Druker. The first GE food, the 'Flavr Savr' tomato, caused stomach lesions. But a long campaign of concealment and deception by regulators and corporate scientists re-engineered the truth to present GMOs as so safe they did not even need to be tested for safety.
… The GMO food venture is built on a foundation … The very first GE product, a dietary … which dozens died, writes Steven M. Druker. The first GE food, the 'Flavr Savr' tomato, caused stomach …
Journalism in the United States is a dying profession, says Paul Craig Roberts, recipient of the International Award for Excellence in Journalism 2015. Corrupted by corporate wealth and power, and intimidated by a repressive state, the mainstream media have assumed a new role as messengers of fear, hatred and naked aggression that's driving the world to nuclear war.
… Corporations true-story-cut.jpg Journalism in the United States is a dying profession, says Paul Craig Roberts, recipient of the International Award for Excellence in … power, and intimidated by a repressive state, the mainstream media have assumed a new role …
Moms Across America founder Zen Honeycutt took on Monsanto chief Hugh Grant at the company's Annual General Meeting - and won, winning 53% of the vote on a call for Monsanto to reform its practices and safeguard the health of millions of children exposed to its toxic products - and Roundup in particular. In her own words, this is what took place ...
… In the lion's den: my victory against Monsanto … took on Monsanto chief Hugh Grant at the company's Annual General Meeting - and won, winning 53% of the vote on a call for Monsanto to reform its …
As thousands rely on food banks to make it through the winter and a milk price crash threatens the survival of Britain's independent dairy farmers, Colin Tudge - co-founder of this week's Oxford Real Farming Conference - examines the growing need for an agrarian renaissance to tackle the increasingly obvious failings of neoliberal agriculture.
… rely on food banks to make it through the winter and a milk price crash threatens the survival of Britain's independent dairy … Oxford Real Farming Conference - examines the growing need for an agrarian renaissance …
Are we getting the facts about the world from a free press, or being led astray by a corporate media uninterested in the real issues? Writer and thinker David Edwards argues it out with environmental journalist Caspar Henderson
… Can we trust the media on the environment? David Edwards Caspar … And Economics Archive_150.jpg Are we getting the facts about the world from a free press, …
After 20 years of oil spills, deforestation, waste dumping and ill health, farmers and indigenous people in the the Ecuadorian Amazon have been fighting the Chevron-Texaco corporation. But despite its three times conviction and a $9.5 billion damages award to the victims, the oil giant looks no closer to making good its damage.
… Ecocide in the Amazon - Chevron evades $9.5bn restitution … ill health, farmers and indigenous people in thethe Ecuadorian Amazon have been fighting the …
Naomi Klein's magnum opus on climate change, capitalism and the growing resistance to extreme energy is positive, inspiring and full of hope, writes Jonathon Porritt. But it's also deeply challenging: the 'everything' that has to change is not just government and corporations, but you, me and the ideas that guide our lives.
… magnum opus on climate change, capitalism and the growing resistance to extreme energy is … Porritt. But it's also deeply challenging: the 'everything' that has to change is not … government and corporations, but you, me and the ideas that guide our lives. This is one of …
Four years ago today the world's biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl took place at Fukushima, Japan. Total clean-up costs are estimated around $0.5 trillion, writes Jim Green - but work to defuse the dangers has barely begun, the site is flooded with radioactive water making its way to the sea, and underpaid and illegally contracted workers are suffering a rising toll of death and injury.
… All fouled up - Fukushima four years after the catastrophe Jim Green | 11th March 2015 … Four years ago today the world's biggest nuclear disaster since … writes Jim Green - but work to defuse the dangers has barely begun, the site is …