Recapping the World Social Forum

The World Social Forum celebrated its ninth reunion in Belem, Brazil in the Amazonian state of Pará from January 26 to February 1, 2009. A lot of expectations are piled on to this peculiar event. 91,000 delegates registered, a majority from Brazil, and probably a majority well under 35 years old. But there are hundreds […]

February 11th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Category: History, Nowtopia, Public Space, Travel report, Work and The Economy | Leave a comment

Trade Unionism: Long Past the Peak

The panel on the proposed Global Labour Charter here at the World Social Forum on January 29 demonstrated in stark terms the historic dead-end of trade unionism. The Charter was cautiously embraced by some, dismissed by others, but in any case, has yet to be written by a broad effort (Peter Waterman, who […]

January 30th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , | Category: History, Travel report, Work and The Economy | One comment

Waterworld

Great white herons soar among stained highrises, landing on mudflats to compete with vultures for the endless decay of a city that is always helplessly resisting humidification and flooding. At the edge of a forest of such breadth and density, the bird life in Belem is more than North American cities, […]

January 28th, 2009 | Category: Book Reviews, General Musings, History, Nowtopia, Public Space, Travel report | Leave a comment
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