Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Marwaan Macan-Markar BANGKOK, Sep 8, 2010 (IPS) – The World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging countries in Asia to remain vigilant about the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus, which the international body declared was no longer a pandemic a month ago. "In the current post-pandemic period, [...]
HAITI: Scraping by on Mud Cookies
August 27, 2010 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Wadner Pierre Credit:Wadner Pierre/IPS PORT-AU-PRINCE, Aug 27, 2010 (IPS) – At six in the morning in Cite Soleil, the poorest zone of Haiti’s capital city, the sun is already up. It’s the start of another workday for Lurene Jeanti, making cookies from mud, butter and salt. She’s [...]
SOUTH AFRICA: Public Health Strained by Nurses’ Strike
August 27, 2010 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Chris Stein JOHANNESBURG, Aug 27, 2010 (IPS) – Striking health workers have continued their work stoppage despite accusations that it endangers patients’ lives. They are part of a nationwide strike by public sector workers that has some observers concerned that rising wage demands could harm South Africa’s [...]
MIDEAST: Palestinian Patients Suffer From Political Rivalry
August 24, 2010 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Mel Frykberg RAMALLAH, Aug 24, 2010 (IPS) – Cancer patient Ahmed Abu Fuad needs chemotherapy to survive. Muhammad Subeh needs an eye-transplant while paramedic Alaa Sarhan desperately needs surgery to remove shrapnel from his body. But these Gazans are unable to leave the area to seek the [...]
Chernobyl Effects Could Last Centuries
August 20, 2010 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Pavol Stracansky KIEV, Aug 20, 2010 (IPS) – Almost 25 years after the world’s worst nuclear accident a series of new scientific studies have suggested the effects of the Chernobyl disaster have been underestimated. Scientists last month published information that, contradicting previous claims, animal populations are declining [...]
Privatization Leaves Billions in the Lurch
August 16, 2010 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IDN By Nirode Masson IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis LONDON (IDN) – Billions of poor people who lack adequate access to healthcare and old-age security are posing a key challenge in developing countries that undertook drastic reforms and privatized social security systems at the behest of the World Bank. A new report [...]
MEXICO: Oil Workers at Sea Without a Safety Net
August 13, 2010 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Emilio Godoy MEXICO CITY, Aug 13, 2010 (IPS) – The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has reawakened concerns about labour conditions on Mexican drilling platforms. Restrictions on trade union freedoms, lack of insurance and health coverage, low wages, poor training and corrupt practices are some [...]
AFRICA: Modified Banana Could Cure Deadly Disease
August 13, 2010 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Busani Bafana HARARE, Aug 12, 2010 (IPS) – An innovation by researchers in Nigeria could be a cure for the devastating Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) – responsible for annual losses in excess of 500 million dollars of crop across East and Central Africa. But it has also [...]
ECUADOR: All-Out Offensive Against Child Malnutrition
August 13, 2010 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Gonzalo Ortiz QUITO, Aug 12, 2010 (IPS) – The Ecuadorean government aims over the next five years to eradicate chronic malnutrition among children under one — 10 percent of whom are now undernourished — and reduce the rate among children under five from the current 22 percent [...]
PHILIPPINES: Despite Ad Ban, Tobacco Industry Seduces Customers
August 12, 2010 By
Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Kara Santos* MANILA, Aug 12, 2010 (IPS) – Adventure motorcycle tours, and driving and racing events organised by tobacco firms. Canopies bearing cigarette brands in popular restaurants. Tobacco brands appearing beside the signages of convenience stores, whether along the Philippine capital’s urban alleys or provincial roads. These [...]
