Archive for September, 2008
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Facing the Issues of Asia’s Urban Slums
Across Asia, millions of people are pouring into crowded and often unmanageable urban areas in search of a better life. To some, particularly those who are tasked with running cities, these denizens of the “informal sector” represent a social and planning nightmare.
By Fr. Shay Cullen
Thousands of villagers in Darfur have been shot, bombed, burned, raped and reduced to starvation by the attacks of the Chinese supplied army and militia forces of the Sudanese government. These are acts of genocide and crimes against humanity. Two million people or more have been driven from their lands and homes, [...]
David Cay Johnston, a prize-winning reporter of The New York Times, urges his colleagues in the press to “start your skepticism.” The coverage of the bailout, Johnston says, “focuses on the edges, on the details. The focus should be on the premise.”
By Michael Hudson | What happened on September 18-19 took years of preparation, capped by a faux ideology crafted by public-relations think tanks to be broadcast under emergency conditions to panic Congress — and voters — right before the presidential election. This seems to be our September election surprise.
Peasant federation Task Force Mapalad (TFM) has accused Finance Secretary Margarito Teves of being the major culprit in the failure of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to issue a certificate of cash deposit for a hacienda in Negros Occidental owned by the family of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.
“We realized that Secretary Teves, [...]
“The BI is practically saying toFiipino citizens,” pag di kayo pumirma dito, problema niyo na iyan, bahala na kayo mag-isa niyo” Migrante spokesperson Garry Martinez declared. “This is precisely the kind of response we expect from a self-serving government who cares little, if at all, for its citizens.”
According to research group Ibon Foundation, Philippine banks are merely a conduit of foreign capital, and being in a liberalized and deregulated environment, are vulnerable to the current volatility of global finance.
By LUIS G. JALANDONI
Chairperson, NDFP Negotiating Panel
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be in New York on 23 September 2008 to
address the United Nations General Assembly. Her executive secretary, General
Eduardo Ermita, reveals that she will also report to the UN Security Council on
the alleged use of child soldiers by the Moro Islamic Liberation Movement (MILF)
and the New [...]
Farmers decry the sharp decrease in the buying price of palay citing losses in their farming livelihood as the cost of production has gone up particularly this planting season due to increase in fertilizer prices and other cost of production inputs.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today assailed the virtual suspension of the government’s Land Acquisition and Distribution Program to the detriment of intended farmer-beneficiaries due to the failure of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to carry out its mandate under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.
Pimentel said that although the Comprehensive Agrarian [...]
Provence France 1872 unfolds before our very eyes on the 1st of October 2008 at the University of Makati Grand Theatre. An inspiring musical opus, presented by AGHAM Theatre Company, the same group that brought you the highly successful original Filipino pop-rock opera “Sakdal” and the mythological fantasy “Alamat”, is once again in the works [...]
Alternative poverty estimates say progress is too slow to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015
Contrary to repeated mainstream claims that poverty is diminishing fast in the world, the coverage of the basic needs required to escape poverty is slowing down and even regressing in many places, says the 2008 Basic Capabilities Index (BCI) released [...]
Fifty-ninth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific
22-26 September, 2008, Manila, Philippines
MANILA, 23 September 2008—The outgoing head of the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Region today identified the need to strengthen health systems and to prepare for climate change as two of the gravest health challenges facing countries in the Asia Pacific [...]
Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano today expressed dismay over the Department of Agriculture’s reply to the 2007 Commission on Audit Report on the department saying that “the DA reply is not only unsatisfactory, in fact, disappointing. He said that “the DA’s collated reply failed to overcome the conclusions of the COA report. It raises more [...]
Environmentalist group PANALIPDAN!- Southern Mindanao fears that the
recent declarations of DENR and Mines and Geosciences Bureau, that
mining has nothing to do with the Masara landslide and that the area
is a geo-hazard and prone to landslide, are just but ways of covering
up the real score behind the Masara tragedy that took the lives of 30
residents and [...]
Reds seek activation of NPA hit squads in cities After Ampatuan Massacre, 2009 a Record Year for Journalist Killings Worldwide CHR to military: Respect and protect human rights during martial law in Maguindanao Maguindanao, its political elite and a culture subservient to corruption U.S. Must Improve Responsiveness to Mass Atrocities; Absent UN Action, Make Clear Willingness to Act on Its Own, Says New CFR Report Martial law dilutes the Philippines’s human rights and democratic gains Martial law in Maguindanao sets ‘most dangerous precedent’ Lawyers will wear black armbands, ribbons in courts Law group shall file plunder cases against President Arroyo et al. UN Experts: Maguindanao massacre must be the start of a major reform process
Arroyo’s oil-price control a publicity stunt, cries Ibon Political Bloodbath Continues: Widow of Slain Activist Shot Dead New Wave of Protests Against Charter Change Set in April Comelec’s Automation to Worsen Election Fraud — Watchdog 2008: Another Bad Year for the Philippine Press ‘Unemployment Figures Wrong; Number of Jobless Higher’ ‘Nicole Is Not the Enemy’ ‘Nicole’: ‘My Conscience Bothers Me’ Is the Call Center Industry a Bright Spot for New Graduates? 6 Great Ways to Vent Your Frustrations Eating Dirt Is Actually Good For Children Australia Offers 150 Scholarship Slots for Philippines, Asia-Pacific mamert dolera: The horrible maguindanao massacre displays the “crueltiest 221; act of political warlordism... Don Untalan: I am also interested to buy (AROD) and the tall hybreed variety. Pls advice where to buy from Manila,... scott: Sports and politics do not mix. But the economy of the Philippines relies on Pacqiao. How much money would a... Bernadine Ebo: nov.11,2009 4:45 my husband and i wants to adopt