TOP STORIES

1.      Power Struggles

Realities:

-          Struggles against occupation (eg Palestine, Western Sahara, Tibet, Chechnya, Kashmir, Basque Country, …)

-          Struggles for democracy and good governance (eg North Africa and Arab world, Burma (Myanmar), Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, Nepal, …)

-           Suppression of minorities (eg Sri Lanka, Australia, Indonesia, N.E.India, Pakistan, …)

-          New forms of economic domination/control (Africa, Asia, …)

-          World Economic Forum versus World Social Forum

Why?

-          Struggles for supremacy between countries (USA/Israel, Europe, China, BRICS, …), and within countries

-          Struggle for control of resources (oil, minerals, …)



2.      Economic Struggles

Realities:

-          Poverty

-          Inequality (between rich and poor  people and rich and poor  countries)

-          Corruption

-          Unemployment

-          Global Meltdown

-          Environmental Destruction/Climate Change

Why?

-          Greed

-          Dispossession of Land

-          Unbridled Capitalism

-          Development and Profits at any cost

-          Dependency on former “colonial powers” – aid that exploits or that promotes dependency

-          Trade inequalities (Free Trade that benefits the rich)

-          Neo-liberal economy favours imported goods which undermines local producers.





3.      Human Dignity Struggles

Realities:

-          Discrimination against and abuse of Women

-          Race supremacy

-          Children abandoned/orphaned/aborted

-          Dalits marginalized

-          Indigenous/Tribals marginalized

-          People living with HIV and AIDS stigmatized

-          Foreigners attacked (Migration and Xenophobia)

-          Religious discrimination – burning churches/blasphemy laws

-          Discrimination against and abuse of Homosexuals

-          Parental domination



Why?

-          The “Other” is perceived as a threat/the enemy – not worthy of the same dignity as me

-          “I and mine are the real images of God

-          This land is “Mine”.

-          Individualism and group solidarity.

-          System of Patriarchy (Males are believed to be superior to females)