Ratification of Human Rights Treaty Reaffirms SA’s Commitment to Socio-Economic Rights and Internationalism
By Daniel McLaren — On 12 January 2015, South Africa ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Though ratification is long overdue, given that President Nelson Mandela signed the Covenant in 1994, this statement of renewed commitment to social and economic justice and internationalism has been roundly and justifiably welcomed. But […]
How Wall Street Killed Entrepreneurs
by Yves Smith — Since it conflicts with Americans’ widely-held image of self-reliance, the fact that new business creation has fallen to the point that even Hungary has a higher rate of starting new ventures than the US hasn’t gotten the attention it warrants in the mainstream media. Unfortunately, many of the explanations for why […]
Local vendors, not supermarkets, key to Africa food security
By Reuters — Local vendors, not supermarkets, key to Africa food security Traditional markets sell more than 85% of the food consumed in sub-Saharan Africa, and rather than replacing them with Western-style supermarkets, governments should train local vendors to improve food safety, researchers say. Contrary to popular conceptions, open-air local markets often have safer milk […]
A Richer World, but for Whom?
BY Martin Sorrell, Winnie Byanyima, Christine Lagarde, Klaus Kleinfeld, Robert J. Shiller, Mark J. Carney, Evan Davis — Are existing growth models failing to deliver jobs and address income inequality? This session was developed in partnership with the BBC. The BBC World Debate: A Richer World, but for Whom? | World Economic Forum – The BBC World […]
Inequality: what Brazil got right
By Murray Leibbrandt and Pippa Green — Ask a random sample of South Africans what the major illness affecting the economy is, and inevitably, the word ‘inequality’ comes up. But a comparison between the contrasting trajectory of inequality in two developing countries – South Africa and Brazil – highlights some pretty alarming findings. Those who […]
Greece shows what can happen when the young revolt against corrupt elites
By Paul Mason — The rise of Syriza can’t just be explained by the crisis in the eurozone: a youthful generation of professionals has had enough of tax-evading oligarchs Greece shows what can happen when the young revolt against corrupt elites | Comment is free | The Guardian At Syriza’s HQ, the cigarette smoke in the […]
Zimbabwe’s unemployment rate is 5.42 percent, the United Nations said on Tuesday
Unemployment rates in Zimbabwe are often reported to be between 80 and 90 percent, but these rates did not take into account the vast numbers of people in informal employment. According to a chart published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a UN agency, on its website Zimbabwe’s real unemployment rate has hovered around five […]
Killings, hunger in Boko Haram’s ‘state’
By Julia Payne — Yola, Nigeria – Boko Haram says it is building an Islamic state that will revive the glory days of northern Nigeria’s medieval Muslim empires, but for those in its territory life is a litany of killings, kidnappings, hunger and economic collapse. The Islamist group’s five-year-old campaign has become one of the […]
SA to help flood-hit Malawi
By ANNA COX and SAPA-AP — A number of South African aid organisations are preparing to fly to Malawi on Monday to help the flood-stricken country where 176 people have died and 200 000 have been displaced. A second cyclone is due to hit the country during the week. Rescue SA, a non-governmental organisation, is […]
Zambia presidential hopeful eyes mining tax
Lusaka – A leading contender in Zambia’s presidential elections, Hakainde Hichilema, on Sunday vowed to review a new “penal” mining tax regime that has spooked investors in the copper-rich nation. Zambia tripled mining royalties to 20% from 6% on January 1, putting the government at loggerheads with mining firms already buckling under a fall in […]
