Translation by Scott Campbell

Recommendation 050/2008

By David Venegas Reyes, Translated by Scott Campbell

By Riccardo and Diana

Wind power has been praised internationally as a possible solution to the world's energy problems. Renewable so long as the wind blows and purportedly a cleaner, less damaging source of energy, wind power has companies jumping on the bandwagon to invest in such "green technology".

However, just as in any matter where money and power are concerned, careful attention must be paid to the power relations involved.

By ARK

Radio replaces telephone and newspaper in Oaxacan indigenous villages.

Alfredo Landa walks into a small room, the walls of which have been covered with egg cartons.

Landa sits in front of the microphone and chooses the same song he starts every morning with. At seven o’clock, the community radio of San Juan Guichicovi plays the Mexican national song in local Mixe indigenous language. Mixe is one of the many indigenous languages spoken in the state of Oaxaca.

By Anna-Reetta Korhonen

October 15, 2006

By Riccardo D'Emidio

“We Want Tortillas, Not PAN!”

On January 31, 2007, tens of thousands of Mexicans filled the central plaza of the capital in the March for Food Sovereignty and In Defense of a Minimum Wage and Employment. This megamarcha in Mexico City was a mass expression of similar protests that have mobilized all over the country since the beginning of January when the price of tortillas increased drastically.

By Chris Thomas

An analysis of the hurricane relief processes compares Hurricane Stan with Katrina.

Article written by Michelle Akane Storey

The Dominican Republic - Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) narrowly passed through US Congress a few weeks back.  Here's a look at the opposition to and possible effects of this accord.

 

Article written by Melissa Mundt

World coffee prices are notorious for being unstable. The "mood swings" of this market are part of the justification behind Fair Trade certification. Producers who are certified Fair Trade, comply with just labor and transparent accounting practices, among other requirements and are offered a base "fair" price for their coffee, no matter how low the conventional market sinks. But what happens when the price of coffee is high, higher than the Fair Trade price? This is precisely what occurred last year, and the destabilizing effects for cooperatives, Fair Trade buyers and small growers are still being felt and discussed.