please click on the image above for ideas to support Burma.

Protest in Cardiff on saturday

and in London




Help the People of Burma — Post this on Your Blog!

Note: This is a new kind of online protest that uses blogs to spread a petition globally. To participate, just add your blog by following the instructions in this blog post.

This not an issue of partisan politics, this is an issue of basic human rights and democracy. Please help to prevent a human tragedy in Burma by adding your blog and asking others to do the same.

By passing this meme on through the blogosphere hopefully we can generate more awareness and avert a serious tragedy. As concerned world-citizens this something we bloggers can do to help.

How to participate:

1. Copy this entire post to your blog, including this special number: 1081081081234

2. After a few days, you can search Google for the number 1081081081234 to find all blogs that are participating in this protest and petition. Note: Google indexes blogs at different rates, so it could take longer for your blog to show up in the results.

THE SITUATION IN BURMA AND WHY IT MATTERS TO ALL OF US

There is no press freedom in Burma and the government has started turning off the Internet and other means of communication, so it is difficult to get news out. Individuals on the ground have been sending their day-by-day reports to the BBC, and they are heartbreaking. I encourage you to read these accounts to see for yourself what is really going on in Burma. Please include this link in your own blog post.

The situation in Burma is increasingly dangerous. Hundreds of thousands of unarmed peaceful protesters, including monks and nuns, are risking their lives to march for democracy against an unpopular but well-armed military dictatorship that will stop at nothing to continue its repressive rule. While the generals in power and their families are literally dripping in gold and diamonds, the people of Burma are impoverished, deprived of basic human rights, cut off from the rest of the world, and increasingly under threat of violence.

This week the people of Burma have risen up collectively in the largest public demonstrations against the ruling Junta in decades. It’s an amazing show of bravery, decency, and democracy in action. But although these protests are peaceful, the military rulers are starting to crack down with violence. Already there have been at least several reported deaths, and hundreds of critical injuries from soldiers beating unarmed civilians to the point of death.

The actual fatalities and injuries are probably far worse, but the only news we have is coming from individuals who are sneaking reports past the authorities. Unfortunately it looks like a large-scale blood-bath may ensue — and the victims will be mostly women, children, the elderly and unarmed monks and nuns.

Contrary to what the Burmese, Chinese and Russian governments have stated, this is not merely a local internal political issue, it is an issue of global importance and it affects the global community. As concerned citizens, we cannot allow any government anywhere in the world to use its military to attack and kill peacefully demonstrating, unarmed citizens.

In this modern day and age violence against unarmed civilians is unacceptable and if it is allowed to happen, without serious consequences for the perpetrators, it creates a precedent for it to happen again somewhere else. If we want a more peaceful world, it is up to each of us to make a personal stand on these fundamental issues whenever they arise.

Please join me in calling on the Burmese government to negotiate peacefully with its citizens, and on China to intervene to prevent further violence. And please help to raise awareness of the developing situation in Burma so that hopefully we can avert a large-scale human disaster there.

MARCH FOR BURMA, 6th October London

To: burmacampaign@lists.burmacampaign.org.uk
Subject: [BurmaCampaign] March for Burma Saturday 6th October

Dear friend

MARCH FOR BURMA

JOIN THE UK¹S BIGGEST EVER DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF BURMA.

UN SECURITY COUNCIL MUST ACT!

No-one knows the true scale of the Burmese junta¹s brutal crackdown on Monks
and Burmese democracy activists. Troops fired directly into protesting
crowds, using automatic weapons on at least one occasion.

THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED

HUNDREDS MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED

PRISONERS FACE BRUTAL TORTURE

The message we are getting from Rangoon is: ³PLEASE HELP US.²

JOIN THE MARCH ­ SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF BURMA

Assemble 11am at Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG, nearest tube Pimlico, for
March and rally at Trafalgar Sq, 12.45pm.

If you are not in the UK, or cannot make the march in London, visit
to find out about protests in
your city or country.

Please forward this to friends who may be willing to join the march.

For more information, please visit


Anna Roberts
The Burma Campaign UK

Was this email forwarded to you by a friend? If you are not already a member
of the Burma Campaign UK e-mail network, and would like to receive these
updates directly, you can subscribe by sending a blank e-mail to:
burmacampaign-subscribe@lists.burmacampaign.org.uk

If you would like to unsubscribe from this mailing list, please send a blank
email to: burmacampaign-unsubscribe@lists.burmacampaign.org.uk

The Burma Campaign UK
Registered Company No. 3804730
Registered office
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London N1 6HT

_______________________________________________
BurmaCampaign mailing list
BurmaCampaign@lists.burmacampaign.org.uk
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__._,_.___

New Radical Political Economy

asked to put this on line, so here goes...babylon blog at
New Radical Political Economy

2007-2008
Dr. Derek Wall (visting tutor)

Department of Politics
Goldsmiths College
University of London

Office hour 5-6pm Tuesday

Course Syllabus

This course will provide students with an understanding of key issues in the field of contemporary radical political economy. The introductory lectures will examine debates around the economic influence and effects of globalisation. The core of the course will outline and evaluate contemporary radical critiques of the globalised economy including the neo-Keynesianism of Soros and Stiglitz, the anti-corporate apporach of Korten and Klein, green political economy, ecofeminism, neo-Marxism(s) and the autonomist perspective developed by Negri and Hardt. In the final section of the course alternatives to the market including monetary reforms such as the Tobin Tax together with commons regimes, embedded markets and open source/social sharing will be analysed.

Course aims:
Examine key theories and concepts in new radical political economy.
Provide the analytical and contextual tools to understand and evaluate the functioning of a globalised world economy.
Provide an understanding of the economic aspects surrounding issues of ecological sustainability, governance and social justice.
Analyse the differences and similarities of major schools of contemporary radical political economy.
Explore the economic, ecological, political and social implications of alternatives to the market.

Learning outcomes:
After completing this course, students will be able to:
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of conventional market based approaches to global economic institutions, structures and processes.
Outline the competing theoretical approaches to the field of new radical political economy.
Demonstrate a precise understanding of the central debates around the issues of globalisation, ecological sustainability, governance and social justice.
Articulate in depth the relevance of alternatives to the market in economic, ecological, political and social terms.

Assessment: One two hour written paper (three questions to be answered), plus assessment of written coursework (one in-depth essay, approximately 5,000 words). A plan of the essay will be submitted by students at the end of the first term. Course work counts as 50% of the final mark.


Reading List:
Wall, D., (2005) Babylon and Beyond: The economics of anti-capitalist, anti-globalist and radical green movements, London: Pluto Press. This title provides a textbook for the course, additional texts are provided below.

Journals
Capitalism Nature Socialism, Capital and Class, Historical Materialism, New Left Review and New Political Economy are academic journals that contain useful articles on contemporary radical political economy. The Economist is a highly recommended source along with magazines such as New Internationalist and Red Pepper.

Seminar Topics
The required readings constitute the minimum requirement for class meetings. You are expected to have completed these readings as part of your preparation for the lectures. This will aid your understanding of the issues discussed and constitutes thus a central part of the learning experience. The readings indicated form the basis for preparing seminar presentations and essays. Some of the ‘other readings’ will be found at the Senate House and libraries of the University of London.

1. Introduction:
Legrain, P. (2003) Open World: Truth About Globalisation. New York: Little Brown.
Wall (2005) Ch 1.
Wolf, M. (2004) Why Globalization Works: The Case for a Global Market Economy. Yale: Yale University Press

2. Globalisation in Question
Hirst, P. and Thompson, G. (1999) Globalization in Question: The International Economy and the Possibilities of Governance. Oxford: Polity.
Wall (2005) Ch 1.
Weiss, L. (1997) Globalization and the Myth of the Powerless State
New Left Review September-October 1997, pp. 3–27

II. Schools
3. Soros and Stiglitz
Cammack, P. (2002) Attacking the Poor, New Left Review January-February 2002, pp. 125–34
Latham, R. (1997) ‘Globalization and Democratic Provisionism; Re-reading Polanyi’, New Political Economy, 2: 53-63.
Soros, G. (1998) The Crisis of Global Capitalism. London: Little, Brown and Co.
Stiglitz, J. (2002) Globalization and its Discontents. London: Allen Lane
Wall (2005) Ch 2.

4. Korten's anti-corporate critique
Korten, D. (2001) When Corporations Rule the World. San Francisc: Kumarian Press.
Wall (2005) Ch 3.

5. No Logo and beyond
Klein, N. (2000) No Logo, London: Harper Collins
Mertes,T. (2000) On No Logo ( review) New Left Review , July-August 2000, pp. 168–72
Wall (2005) Ch 3.

6. Development as freedom.
Sen, A. (1999) Development as Freedom. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

7. Green localism
Morris, D. (1996) Free Trade: The Great Destroyer, Mander, J. and Goldsmith, E. (eds.) (1996) The Case Against the Global Economy: and for a turn towards the local. San Fransisco: Sierra Club.
Wall (2005) Ch 4.
Woodin, M. and Lucas, C. (2004) Green Alternative to Globalisation: A Manifesto. London: Pluto Press.

8. Global monetary reform
Grahl, J. (2001) The Sway of Finance? ( review) May-June 2001, pp. 149–53
Hutchinson, F., Mellor, M. and Olsen, W. (2002) The Politics of Money: Towards sustainability and economic democracy. London: Pluto.
Patomaki, H. (2001) Democratising Globalization: The Leverage of the Tobin Tax. London: Zed Press.
Wall (2005) Ch 5.

9. Marxist approaches to globalisation
Desai, M. (2004) Marx’s Revenge: The Resurgence of Capitalism and the Death of State Socialism. London: Verso.
Fine, B and Saad-Filho, A. (2004) Marx’s Capital. London: Pluto
Wall (2005) Ch 6.

10. Marxist approaches to globalisation 2
Callinicos, A. (2003) An Anti-Capitalist Manifesto. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Castro, F. (2003) On Imperialist Globalization: Two Speeches. London: Zed.
McNally, D. (2002) Another World is Possible: Globalization and Anti-Capitalism, Winnipeg: Arbeiter Ring Publishing.
Wall (2005) Ch 6.

11. Autonomism and Empire 1.
Dyer-Witheford, N. (1999) Cyber-Marx: Cycles and Circuits of Struggle in High-technology Capitalism. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
Glick, M. and Brenner, R. (1991) The Regulation Approach: Theory and History
New Left Review, July-August 1991, pp. 45–119.
Read, J. (2003) The Micro-politics of Capital. State University of New York Press.
Wall (2005) Ch 7.
Wright, S. (2002) Storming Heaven: Class Composition and Struggle in Italian Autonomist Marxism. London: Pluto Press.

12. Autonomism and Empire 2.
Hardt, M. and Negri, A. (2001) Empire. New York: Harvard University Press.
Hardt, M. and Negri, A. (2001a) From Movement to Society Anon. On Fire: The Battle of Genoa and the anti-capitalist movement. London: One-off Press.
Balakrishnan, G. (2000) Hardt and Negri's Empire ( review)
New Left Review, September-October 2000, pp. 142–8



13. Autonomism and Empire 3.
Capital and Class, no.85. Spring 2005 special issue on autonomism and diy culture
Dinerstein, A, (2003) Power or counter-power: the dilemma of the Piquetero movement in Argentina post-crisis. Capital and Class, no.81, autumn 2003
De Angelis, M. (2006) The Beginning of History: Value Struggles and Global Capital. London: Pluto.

14. Ecosocialism and globalisation
Wall (2005) Ch 8.
Foster, J. (2002) Ecology Against Capitalism. New York: Monthly Review Press
Kovel, J. (2002) The Enemy of Nature. New York: Zed Press.

15. Feminist approaches to globalisation

Bennholdt-Thomsen, V. and Mies, M. (1999) The Subsistence Perspective: Beyond the Globalised Economy. London: Zed Press.
Peterson, J. and Lewis, M. (1999) The Elgar Companion to Feminist Economics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Shiva, V. (1988) Staying Alive: Women, Ecology and Development. London: Zed Press.

III. Alternatives
16. Fair trade, free trade and embedded markets
Barret Brown, M. (1993) Fair trade : reform and realities in the international trading system. London: Zed Press.
Thekaekara, S. (2003) Beating the System: Local solutions to the globalisation crisis. London: New Economics Foundation

17. LETS, micro credit and monetary reform
Boyle, D. (ed.) (2002) The Money Changers: Currency Reform from Aristole to E-Cash. London: Earthscan.

18. Parecon and other experiments in participatory economics
Albert, M. (2004) Parecon. Life After Capitalism. London: Verso.
Wainwright, H. (2003) Reclaim the State: Experiments in Popular Democracy. London: Verso

19. Open Source
Frow, J. (1996) Information as Gift and Commodity, New Left Review , September-October 1996, pp. 89–108
Moody, G. (2001) Rebel Code: Linux and the Open Source Revolution. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Wall (2005) Ch 9.

20. Social sharing beyond cyber space
Klein, N. (2001) Reclaiming the Commons, New Left Review, May-June 2001, pp. 81–9
Ostrom, E. (1991) Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wall (2005) Ch 9.

Don't forget to register to vote

general election- don't forget to register to vote‏
From: Phelim Mac Cafferty

Hello
as Gordon Brown seems intent on calling a general election v soon (Friday and Tuesday seem to be popular with the pundits) please make sure you're registered to vote. Apparently over a million people will have moved since the last general election and won't have been put on the local register. The link below is for Brighton and Hove but your local council will have a similar link on their website.
Phelim

http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1147583

thanks Phelim!

bolivar Hall meeting on thursday

On Thursday at Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way W1 at 6.30pm, theVenezuelan Embassy is holding an event entitled "Conversation onConstitutional Reform", with speakers including Colin Burgon MP andambassador Alfredo Toro Hardy debating the important changes to the Venezuelan constitution which will be voted on in December. PLEASE NOTE:we have learned that members of the Venezuelan opposition here in Londonare planning to disrupt the event by taking up as many seats as possible. If you can make it, please arrive early to keep this disruption to aminimum! And later on Thursday, Movimentos is back at the Salmon & Compass inIslington, with its usual mixture of revolutionary films and music. 7pm-2am, Free entry/donations before 9/ £3 after - 58 Penton Street(Corner of Chapel Market) N1 9ES (Angel tube/Northern Line).



thanks to hands off Venezuela for this info...

Plastic bags: Satan's wrappers

had this from Penny Kemp who is of course a good friend and some one I used to write books with.

For information



Penny



-----Original Message-----
From: enquiries@green-england.co.uk [mailto:enquiries@green-england.co.uk]
Sent: 01 October 2007 11:47
To: penny.kemp@virgin.net
Subject: We've hit 10,000!



Dear Penny Kemp,

We did it! In less than two months we smashed through the 10,000 signatures mark, and currently have just over 12,000 people in support of the pastic bag tax. We can't thank you enough for your help and support.

We have put out a press release, and have sent an official letter regarding the petition to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and Hilary Benn (SoS DEFRA).

But we don't want it to end here. There has been much buzz in the press recently about a plastic bag tax, which is now supported by the Lib Dems as well as the Greens. We'd like to keep this momentum going, focussing people's attention on this issue and making a change for good.

What You Can Do

We would like you to take to the streets and spread word about the petition and the levy. We have created a document version of th e petition, and we would be massively grateful if you could spend an hour or so in your local shopping centre or supermarket to get some signatures, or take it to your place of work, place of worship or social club. When you are finished you can either enter the information on the online petition and send the paper copies through to us, or just send them through and we'll add them ourselves. Our address is Green England, 17 Hardwick Avenue, Newark, NG24 4AW.

Also, it would be great if you could write to your local MP and your local paper to tell them about the issue - make the most of any contacts you have to spread the word. If you haven't got round to adding a link to the petition to your site, please do so. Please also keep us informed of anything you do, and send us photos of you in action. We'd love to have a section of the site devoted to people's activities around the country.

As always, thank you so much for your support and we look forward to hearing about your endeavours!.

Rob
www.green-england.co.uk

----------------

Zac versus Redwood: Tories at War

this is a guest blog from Adrian from Green Reading blog to give you a taste of other Green party blogs....I have blogged on the Goldsmiths on comment is free


www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/28/david-cameron-and-greenery-2 has some interesting stuff, I thought it was a good example of the failure of the tories green policies. Ive blogged about it, see below, or at www.greenreading.blogspot.com

On the subject of Cameron going green, www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/09/28/david-cameron-and-greenery-2/ he seems to think there’s been a u turn. ‘Radical’ ideas like paying to park at the supermarket are out. John says ‘we would be living in fear of delays at the checkout as our car park ticket ran out. It would be shopping under more pressure, worrying lest our car had been clamped because the shopper in front of us had more in the trolley than we reckoned, or the check out employee changed over before taking our cash.’ Has he ever been to a pay car park? For most drivers that’s a normal part of life, not the stuff of nightmares. Johns Green ideas (with my comments in brackets): 1. Good recycling services that are easy to use (First reduce waste, then reuse, then recycle. He puts the last option first) 2. More fuel efficient vehicles (About time, but also improve public transport, cycle and pedestrian facilities to reduce traffic) 3. Better home insulation and more efficient boilers (About time, shame the Tories have done so little on this so far) 4. More fuel efficient lighting (as above) 5. Better public transport so that it is more of an option for more of our journeys(see item 2) 6. Fewer new migrants coming to the UK putting pressure on greenfields and transport facilities (right wing people love to blame migrants for everything, see UKIP or the BNP for more of this. The poorest households in Britain consume the least energy and natural resources) 7. Better protection of local green gaps between settlements and beautiful countryside from developers (and the rest) 8. Better managed roads so there are fewer traffic jams causing pollution (but no details to explain how. Why not stop building roads and airports?) He also says ‘We do already have massive taxes on some polluting activities, especially motoring’ despite evidence that cars are cheaper to run than ever before. According to the DfT the cost of travelling by private car has fallen in real terms by 10% since 1997, while the cost of travelling by bus has risen by 13% and by train has risen by 6%. www.bettertransport.org.uk/bus_blog/public_transport_costs_rise_car_costs_fall Adrian