Corruption

The Amazon’s fires could burn Jair Bolsonaro

The Economist The outside world is right to worry, but must show finesse in its dealings with Brazil PICTURES OF FIRES raging in the rainforest. A social-media storm in which #AmazonIsBurning dominated what passes for the global conversation. A war of words in which Emmanuel…

Corruption

How Viktor Orban hollowed out Hungary’s democracy

THE ECONOMIST His achievements are bad for Hungarian liberty—and an object lesson in what is possible for would-be autocrats elsewhere BUDAPEST AND DEBRECEN, Aug 29th 2019. “Aking”, Bruce Springsteen has pointed out, “ain’t satisfied ‘til he rules everything.” It was to thwart…

Democracy

East Timor marks 20 years since historic independence vote

By  CNA – English language Asian news network DILI: East Timor on Friday (Aug 30) celebrated 20 years since a UN-backed vote ended a bloody, decades-long occupation by Indonesian forces and paved the way for it to become an independent nation. Dotted with banners and flags, the…

Climate Change

The Trump Ally Who Is Allowing the Amazon to Burn

By Carol Pires – The New Yorker As fires have surged in the Amazon, the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s disdain for environmental-protection measures has drawn international attention. In January, 2012, Jair Bolsonaro, who was then a retired military officer and colorful…

Neo-liberalism

Amazon Fires Heat Up Political Crisis in Brazil

By Mario Osava* RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug  2019 (IPS) – August is the month of major political crises in Brazil, but no one suspected that an environmental issue would be the trigger for the storms threatening the government of President Jair Bolsonaro, just eight months into his…