New Economic Reality

Jun 19

“We need to re-think the whole concept of having a job.” Allan Sheahen (via thesmithian)

Jun 18

In Focus: Protests Spread Across Brazil

Starting late last week, with several small protests denouncing a hike in public transport fares, demonstrations flared up yesterday, encompassing larger public anger at poor public services, police violence and government corruption. More than 200,000 took to the streets of Brazil’s biggest cities yesterday, voicing frustration with the billions of dollars set aside for upcoming sports events like the World Cup and the 2014 Olympics, despite crushing levels of poverty in some places, and underfunded public education, health, security and transportation. Though the majority of the protests were peaceful, a few violent demonstrations were broken up by police in Rio de Janeiro.

See more. [Images: AP, Reuters, Getty]

‘Unemployment and underemployment early in adult life is likely to have an effect…on young people’s earnings and job prospects persisting for a decade or more…’

All a part of creating a new normal in which working people expect—and get—less and less.

Jun 17

George Papandreou: Imagine a European democracy without borders - Video from the TEDGlobal speech in Edinburgh

elladastinkardiamou:

Video of the TEDGlobal 2013 speech in Edinburgh by former Greek Prime Minister George Papandrou.

Transcript here: http://blog.ted.com/2013/06/11/the-failure-of-leadership-in-global-politics-george-papandreou-at-tedglobal-2013/

Jun 16

imreallysorrythisisamistake:

If you have 11 minutes, or even if you don’t, watch this video. Zizek’s incredible explanation of the issues with charity, social democracy, and liberalism combined with RSAnimate’s beautiful illustrations results in a masterpiece.

(via amodernmanifesto)

Jun 15

Jun 14

Guess who’s moving to Germany: Greece

elladastinkardiamou:

Immigration of citizens of European countries with high unemployment increased considerably, with a 90% increase in flows from Greece and a 52% increase in flows from Spain. Comparing the first three quarters of 2012 with the same period of 2011, inflows of non-nationals from EU10 countries were about 31% higher, from Italy 38% higher, from Spain 48% and from Portugal 49% higher, and from Greece 64% higher.

fastcompany:

Here, some of the amazing DIY barricades put up in and around Istanbul’s Taksim Square after the Turkish government’s brutal crackdown on protestors.

More images, and the latest on Turkey’s conflict

[Photos by Victor Kotsev]

Turkey: Kurds belong in Gezi protests | Green Left Weekly

amodernmanifesto:

During the early days of the Gezi protests, researchers from the University of Istanbul surveyed 3000 activists in the heart of the struggle around Taksim Square.

Seventy-one percent of respondents described themselves as “pro-freedom” with no affiliation to any organisation, most of them first-time activists. Only 7.1 % said they were a member or supporter of any group.

Barricades on the streets are nothing new to Turkish people. Barricades have been put up against the authorities many times.

But people kissing on the barricades is new. There have been many such “firsts” in the last two weeks in Turkey.

Even the 7% in Taksim Square that day who were members or supporters of organisations — environmentalists, nationalists and leftists — were not the experienced street fighters.

Although Istanbul is known as the “biggest Kurdish city in the world” due to immigration from occupied Kurdistan over 30 years of military oppression, there were very few Kurds in Gezi at the start.

Jun 13

guardian:

Steve Bell on David Cameron’s spin of the unemployment figures.

Cartoon: Steve Bell