October 2011
Danny Carranza and Joann Fernandez (Rightsnet)
A Philippines biofuel project would appear to fit the World Bank's definition of a "win-win" scenario with its promise of jobs and conversion of 'idle land'. However a closer look unveils corporate manipulation, political corruption and exploitation of subsistence farmers that typically accompanies so-called "responsible investment"
June 2011
Sietze Vellema, Fransisco Lara
Conflict in Southern Philippines is caused as much by agrarian economics and politics as ethnic and religious differences.
March 2011
Robin Broad
As anger mounts in response to rising global food prices, small-scale farms rooted in local markets are showing how to avert international disaster and lead the way to "food democracy."
February 2011
Robin Broad
After decades of chemicals, farmers in the Philippines are seeing the benefits of organic farming. But what convinced them to make the switch in the first place?
January 2011
Robin Broad
The successful initiatives of farmers to take back control of their lives and gain food security are empowering communities in the Philippines and around the world.
November 2010
In the third of a series of interviews with civil society activists from Asia we hear about the damaging impacts of free trade agreements on labour rights in the Philippines.
May 2010
La máxima "corrupción-causante-de-pobreza" se ha convertido en una herramienta frecuente en el hegemónico kit discursivo de los líderes de los países en vías de desarrollo. A pesar de que en la práctica resulta que las políticas económicas neoliberales son realmente las culpables de la pobreza, asegura Waldon Bello. Sin embargo, los "camisas rojas" en Tailandia no se dejan distraer por la línea de "corrupción" que marcan el Banco Mundial y el FMI. Todo lo contrario; han decidido mantener su mirada en el objetivo (la verdadera respuesta a la pobreza) y luchar por que las políticas económicas a favor del pueblo sustituyan al neoliberalismo.
May 2010
The “corruption-causes-poverty” narrative has become a standard tool in the hegemonic discourse kit for leaders in some developing countries - where in fact, Waldon Bello argues, it is neoliberal economic policies that are really to blame for poverty. Thailand’s “Red Shirts” are not, however, being distracted by the “corruption” line the World Bank and IMF are pushing, choosing instead to keep their eyes on the prize - the real answer to poverty - replacing neoliberalism with pro-people economic policies.
April 2010
For the most part, conservative interests still rule the Philippines' Congress, but it is not at all hopeless as a platform for change.
March 2010
Corruption is blamed by most Filipinos for its economic quagmire, but it has been neoliberal policies and clean-cut technocrats who have been most responsible for causing poverty.
