Issue 5/Sep-Oct 2007

Article no: EN20071228-Issue-5-2007

Issue 5/Sep-Oct 2007

* The Most Latest Financial Crisis. From market turmoil to credit crunch
Almost exactly ten years after the Asian crisis, the world is again confronted with a veritable financial crisis. This time the harbingers arise on the other side ? the USA rather than East Asia. Whereas ten years ago a real estate bubble in Thailand burst, triggering the flight of international speculative capital, today it is the fallout of the real estate crisis in the USA which threatens the financial markets. By Rainer Falk
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* New Global Exchange Rate Arrangements Needed: UNCTAD's Trade & Development Report 2007
The world economic situation is more favourable for developing countries than at any time since the early 1970s (see box in article). But a safe correction to the increasing imbalances would be much easier with more appropriate global exchange-rate arrangements, the just published Trade & Development Report (TDR; see reference) of the UN Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD) argues. WDEV summarises the report.
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* What the G5 Expects from Dialogue with the G8: Joint position paper for the Heiligendamm Process
When the so-called Heiligendamm Process will be launched by the G8 next October the group of five emerging economies (Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa) will be well prepared. The group, also known as ?Outreach-5?, has developed its common position already prior to the Heiligendamm Summit last June. WDEV documents the text of the G5?s joint position paper for the Heiligendamm Process in full length. The paper if compared with the G8 declaration on the Process reveals remarkable differences of interest between the both sides of the table.
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* Catalogue of Murder, Violence, and Intimidation: Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights Violations
An appalling total of 144 trade unionists were murdered for defending workers? rights in 2006, while more than 800 suffered beatings or torture, according to the Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights Violations, published by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The 379-page report details nearly 5,000 arrests and more than 8,000 dismissals of workers due to their trade union activities. 484 new cases of trade unionists held in detention by governments are also documented. WDEV gives an overview of the report.
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* Vital Signs: World Record Levels of Consumption. EU should raise pressure on US
Consumption of energy and many other critical resources is consistently breaking records, disrupting the climate and undermining life on the planet, according to the latest Worldwatch Institute report, Vital Signs 2007-2008. The 44 trends tracked in Vital Signs illustrate the urgent need to check consumption of energy and other resources that are contributing to the climate crisis, starting with the largest polluter, the United States, which accounted for over 21% of global carbon emissions from fossil fuel burning in 2005. An overview by WDEV
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* Child Labour: New ILO Study on Girls in Mining. Out of sight
A new study of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) shows that not only are children still being forced to work in mines, but many of them are girls. It is child labour in its worst form: Young girls risk permanent injury from carrying heavy loads of rock and contamination from nerve-damaging mercury. Without a chance to go to school, they are locked into a life of poverty. WDEV presents the report.
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* WDEV News Blog: European Civil Society Round-Up
Our continuously updated newsblog with civil society news from Europe comes now as free content, with a fresh look and all functions necessary for debate und additonal links to further relevant sources.
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* WDEV New Online Resources
New online resources (recent papers, documents and analyses) you will find now regularly and free in our link section.
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