That’s a question that seemingly nobody can answer. This is empire logic. Nick Turse investigates for TomDispatch: Afghanistan may turn out to be one of the great misbegotten “stimulus packages” of the modern era, a construction boom in the middle of nowhere with materials largely shipped in at enormous expense to no lasting purpose whatsoever.… …
Category General
Here’s why the New York Times (and much of the Western press) doesn’t get Haiti
One of the great gaps in Western media coverage of Haiti is the constant ignoring of American and corporate complicity in keeping the place on its knees. It’s something I saw during my visit there last week. A story in yesterday’s New York Times was a perfect example of this curse. There is barely any…
Haitian disaster capitalism in photo form
I’ve just returned from a reporting trip in Haiti with New York film-maker Thor Neureiter. A book and a film about disaster capitalism and exploitation is the goal. Here are my photos.
Wall Street getting away with murder
The American banking system came close to complete collapse in 2008 and yet to this day barely anybody has been prosecuted. The Obama administration has a policy of looking forward and not looking back (and this includes national security, torture and finance). Here’s a new Al Jazeera documentary about the issues:
Haiti run, controlled and influenced by too many foreign interests
Being here in Haiti for the last while, it’s striking how often I hear how many locals say that their independence was taken from them years ago, particularly by the US and foreign NGOs. This story has only inflamed sentiments (via GlobalPost): Sean Penn’s aid foundation, J/P HRO, began tearing down the once-picturesque National Palace…
When a country privatises the kitchen sink, quelle surprise when things go wrong
Interesting development in Britain (via the Guardian) that shows deep concern with the companies both major sides of politics increasingly believe should run the country: Home Office ministers have ordered weekly reports on the progress of two new contracts with the private security companies… G4S… and… Serco… to house and provide support services for thousands of asylum seekers and…
The aid economy that fuels Haiti’s misery
I’m currently in Haiti working on my book about disaster capitalism and a documentary with New York film-maker Thor Neureiter. It’ll be a global picture to show how privatisation and outsourcing, in the military, aid, intelligence, detention centres and mineral exploitation businesses, are creating a world of even greater disparity. Cholera remains a massive issue…
Light posting due to disaster capitalism book/film commitments
Normal programming will resume soon. Ish. Thanks for your patience and stay tuned.
Desmond Tutu rightly calls for Bush and Blair to be brought before The Hague over Iraq war
Legendary South African figure Desmond Tutu pulled out of speaking alongside Tony Blair recently due to the former British Prime Minister’s criminal record in Iraq. Now, writing in the UK Observer, Tutu expands the argument. Everybody in the mainstream media, who still fawn before Tony Blair, take note: If leaders may lie, then who should…