Strike!

Things are getting bad: the cold wave has caused large damages to the farm sector and 4 people in the south and in the north have died from the cold. The price of fuel and the severe electricity rationing, which is usually 18 hours a day (just 6 hours of electricity) but can be 24 hours for many days are behind these deaths. The farm and agricultural unions, including the fishermen's unions appear to be moving on with their general strike, planned for the 24th of January. Their demands: a national unity government that will put agriculture and farming on the agenda, stable subsidies for agricultural products that are part of the strategic food security, the protection of local production in the national and international markets, creation of the national fund for the protection of the agricultural sector from natural disasters, payment for the damages incurred during the July 2006 (Israeli) aggression and for damages due to natural disasters, and inclusion of farmers and fishermen in the social security fund.

Will they go on strike? Will it matter to the regime? Will it change anything?

More please

Abdel Halim Fadlallah gives too much credit to Hasan Nasrallah by attributing to Hizbullah a social equity and economic justice agenda: there is nothing in the actions or in the literature of Hizbullah to indicate that. In an interview a few days ago, Nasrallah said: "If we (the opposition) want one third of the governmental seats (enough to cause it to resign), it is to ensure that there is a Lebanese will to address the principal dossiers: the relationship with Syria and the national defence strategy. It also means that there will be a national economic policy that is independent of the IMF and the World Bank. If they (the current 14 March government) take over power alone, this will be dangerous for the country at more than one level: dangerous for the farmers and the peasants, for the workers and for the productive sectors."

This hardly qualifies for high praise. Or is it that the social justice situation in Lebanon is so bad that this is the best we can get out of the leader of the opposition? A strategy, give us a strategy.

Herbal business

The Minister of Health, the President of the Union of Doctors, the President of the Union of Pharmacists, the Head of the Lebanese Consumers Association held a press conference to denounce the vendors of herbal medicine in Lebanon. Apparently at least 3 death have been attributed to the use of herbal remedies, which are intensively advertised in the local media. The most famous herbal businessman is a guy called Zayn al Atat who has made a fortune and branded his products and opened franchises throughout Lebanon and I think in some Arab countries. After much discussion, the esteemed minister and doctors agreed: there isn't much we can do about it in present day's Lebanon. The Consumers Association guy says there are big commercial interests behind the herbal remedies vendors, and they are possibly protected by politicians. Maha Zaraket who wrote the article asks: "Could Zayn al Atat become Minister of Health?"

Carbon colonialism

"We have been monitoring the EU carbon trading scheme and how it is failing to reduce emissions and we’ve done a lot of field research on the impact of offset projects on Southern communities, helping to shine a more critical light on what is going on with those projects instead of the glossy coverage you get from the companies themselves. People may have been hearing a lot from lobby groups like the US Climate Action Partnership how wonderful carbon trading is, but we have a very different story to tell.

Carbon colonialism is about treating the supposed low cost emissions reductions in Southern countries as a new commodity that can be profitably exploited for the benefit of Northern consumers and companies. What we are also seeing, and Jutta can say more about what is happening in these Southern countries, is that often these projects have a harmful impact on local communities. This fact has been brushed under the carpet so people can keep doing it. We hear very little about these communities and what is happening on the ground, we only hear the positive side. Our experience is that people on the ground are having a very rough time with these projects.

If we are trying to offset emissions with tree planting we would need to look for other planets to plant the trees on.

Through personal offsets, companies are commoditizing peoples desire to do something about climate change. They are taking people’s impetus to do something real and reducing it to a mouse click — another act of consumerism.

One of the reasons why so much emphasis has been put on offsets and carbon trading is not because of the track record in reducing emissions this way, because they have no proven track record in this, but because of the compatibility with the current economic system which is very market oriented and fixated on year upon year growth. We need to address this growth-fixation and its corresponding growth in fossil fuel consumption in order to deal with climate change. There needs to be some movement toward extracting ourselves from the current economic system as it stands."


From the excellent Trans National Institute, on carbon trade. Trade and colonialism and classical, growth-oriented economic system. Again. But this time, it gets even worse: no cheaper products for people from developing countries (the usual excuse for encouraging unbridled trade), just cheaper pollution.

The climate today

D. sent me this useful link for those who need to make up their minds about global warming: a daily climate debate.

Bada'el-Alternatives

Friday Jan 11, Alternatives-Badael page in Al-Akhbar: The (excellent) main article "On pollution, cancer and corporate profits" by my dear friend and comrade Marcy Newman. My editorial: "Trade in poison" on how the Lebanese state has subcontracted agricultural extension to agribusinesses, whose interests lie in selling the largest possible quantity of pesticides to farmers. On the new pesticide law (stalled as many other laws) by Joanna Azar Organic farming in Lebanon: the alternative to pesticides by Rana Hayek. Food traditions: Kishik.

Enjoy!

The sick man of America

Nice article by Niall Ferguson in FT. I'm not sure how valid the analogy between the US and the Ottoman Empire is, but I love historical backdrops.

Excerpts, but read it all.

"Yet, on closer inspection, we are indeed living through a global shift in the balance of power very similar to that which occurred in the 1870s. This is the story of how an over-extended empire sought to cope with an external debt crisis by selling off revenue streams to foreign investors. The empire that suffered these setbacks in the 1870s was the Ottoman empire. Today it is the US.

In the aftermath of the Crimean war, both the sultan in Constantinople and his Egyptian vassal, the khedive, had begun to accumulate huge domestic and foreign debts. Between 1855 and 1875, the Ottoman debt increased by a factor of 28. As a percentage of expenditure, interest payments and amortisation rose from 15 per cent in 1860 to 50 per cent in 1875. The Egyptian case was similar: between 1862 and 1876, the total public debt rose from E£3.3m to E£76m. The 1876 budget showed debt charges accounting for more than half of all expenditure.

The loans had been made for both military and economic reasons: to support the Ottoman military position during and after the Crimean war and to finance railway and canal construction, including the building of the Suez canal, which had opened in 1869. But a dangerously high proportion of the proceeds had been squandered on conspicuous consumption, symbolised by Sultan Abdul Mejid’s luxurious Dolmabahçe palace and the spectacular world premiere of Aïda at the Cairo Opera House in 1871. In the wake of the financial crisis that struck the European and American stock markets in 1873, a Middle Eastern debt crisis was inevit­able. In October 1875 the Ottoman government declared bankruptcy.

The crisis had two distinct financial consequences: the sale of the khedive’s shares in the Suez canal to the British government (for £4m, famously ad­vanced to Disraeli by the Rothschilds) and the hypothecation of certain Ottoman tax revenues for debt service under the auspices of an international Administration of the Ottoman Public Debt, on which European bondholders were represented. The critical point is that the debt crisis necessitated the sale or transfer of Middle Eastern revenue streams to Eur­opeans."

Trouble ahead

Food subsidies soar as wheat hits high

Published: 21 December 2007
Author: Will Hadfield. Staff Writer
London

MEED
Middle East Business Intelligence

"Egypt and Morocco, the region's biggest wheat importers, face rising debts unless cuts are made elsewhere

Egypt and Morocco face soaring bills for food subsidies after the price of wheat reached a record high on international markets in mid-December. Egypt is the largest importer of wheat in the world, while Morocco is the second largest in the region.

Both countries will become more indebted unless they reduce government spending in other areas as neither can afford to let consumers bear the cost of rising wheat prices, according to a senior official at the UN's Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

"They will not let [domestic] wheat prices rise, so I expect them to import what they need, and they will try to finance it through their own export earnings," says Abdolreza Abbassian, secretary for the intergovernmental group on grains at the FAO. "Egypt just makes sure it pays for its food subsidies. It will use aid to jack up those subsidies."

Egypt will import 7.5 million tonnes of wheat between July 2007 and June 2008, making it the world's largest importer of the grain, according to the UN organisation's estimates.

The Egyptian government increased subsidies for the retail price of bread to almost 52 per cent in September, following the steady rise of the price of wheat on international markets since May. As a result, bread subsidies are now thought to cost the government $2.47bn a year.

The price of hard red winter wheat, a benchmark price for the crop, increased from $203 a tonne in May to $332 a tonne in November. Wheat prices have already increased by 19 per cent since the middle of November, after cold weather damaged the harvest in Argentina, which is a key producer.

On 14 December, wheat for delivery in March 2008 reached a record high of $9.80 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade, the world's largest market for agricultural commodities.

Any other disruptions to supply caused by poor weather conditions could result in further price surges, according to the commodities outlook for 2008, issued by investment bank Goldman Sachs.

However, Egypt should be able to get the best prices because of its purchasing power in the market.The General Authority for Supply Commodities, a government agency, buys about 50 per cent of the country's imported wheat, but many in the international commodity markets say the government effectively controls almost all imports.

Morocco's government also risks becoming more indebted after a drought in January and February 2007 caused its production of wheat to collapse from 6.3 million tonnes a year to just 1.5 million tonnes for the 12 months to the end of June 2008.

The FAO forecasts that Morocco's wheat imports will climb from 1.8 million tonnes to 3.5 million tonnes because of the drought. After the drought, the government slashed its import tariff on wheat from 130 per cent to 2.5 per cent.

Only Iran and Syria are net exporters of wheat in the region."

Tribal DNA

Article on Arab Nomads and Bedouins from Middle East Quarterly linking state and society and conflict to tribalism. I have to say however that I don't know enough political science to be able to offer a decent critique of the article. I'm posting it for the food/livestock production aspects. Read in context with previous post "Baduw".

"Maximizing livestock possession is also important. Livestock generate income of offspring, products, and services. They produce milk and meat. Camels offer hair; sheep supply wool, and goats provide underwool, all of which can be spun into yarn or woven into bags and food covers, and goat hair can also be woven into sheets and used as tent roofs. Camels enable distance travel. Sold at market, they supply money to purchase goods not produced locally, such as firearms, brass household goods, tea, and sugar. Their sale also provides funds to buy agricultural land, peasant villages, and urban villas.[1]

There are also important social reasons to maximize livestock possessions. Upon marriage, the husband's family compensates the wife's kin with livestock. Any man with political aspirations should own animals. Slaughter of sheep or goats enables hospitality for guests.[2] Loan or grant of livestock can establish or reinforce alliances with other families and create useful obligations to be repaid in provision of labor or political support.

Tribal success, though, counted in increasing progeny and livestock, strains pasturage, water, and arable land. To accommodate enlarged populations, it becomes necessary to expand tribal resources through geographical expansion, often at the expense of neighboring populations. Alternatively, some tribes may capture herds and seize pastures and water resources through predatory raiding. Such a strategy often appeals to young tribesmen who see it as a quick way to independence and prominence.[3] Either way, tribesmen are ready to fight. Their tribal structure enhances feelings of unity and normalizes antipathy against outsiders. Challenging neighbors over territory and livestock not only feels natural and justified but is also desirable."

Invest in water

"There are still plenty of opportunities for investors to profit from the coming water boom. Right now, many of these firms are small companies that most analysts, let alone the public at large, have never heard of. But some of them will soon be giants. After all, with the global water industry valued at $300bn a year by the UK Trade & Investment ministry, it can't be long until investors finally catch on.

One great water firm that "is yet to hit British investors' radar" is Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction (Korea: 034020), says Edward Lam of Lloyd George Management. [Editor's note: Unfortunately, this stock does not trade in the U.S .] They invested in the company "partly as a water play, but also because it's a great company." The South Korean firm makes desalination plants - indeed, it is "the world's largest maker of plants that purify seawater," says Keejin Koo on Bloomberg. It already has massive plants all over the Middle East and is constantly winning new projects. Alongside its desalination plants it also builds power plants - so as our energy needs grow, it gets a second kick. The company is currently on a forward p/e of 15.9, which is cheap for such a good growth story."

Wall Street is getting on to the water shortages issues: Invest in desalination technology, that's their brief. With droughts expected to worsen, and water usage expected to increase, more fresh water is going to be needed. Disaster capitalism, or how to make a quick buck from tragic events. Do you know that Dubai lives off desalinated water, but that it has to purchase desalination technology? Do you know what this means? It means that if they do not behave, they may be embargoed (not that they have any intention of "not behaving"). And if they are embargoed, they will die from thirst.

Human after all

The armyworms, which are used to test the resistance of corn plants to pests, drink beer — Milwaukee’s Best — as their aphrodisiac of choice. It is chilled and poured into dishes on the bottom of their cages.

“When they drink beer, boy, do they mate and lay eggs,” Dr. Davis said. “And they don’t like light beer.”

Ethically rich

""Green gold" jewellery is a niche in a fast-growing wider market for ethical goods, ranging from day-to-day foodstuffs like tea, coffee and chocolate to designer fashions and travel.

Analysts say global sales of ethical gold jewellery are probably less than one percent of the total $56 billion gold jewellery market based on figures from London-based consultancy GFMS -- and the Fairtrade label is a year or so away.

Although the ethical product is priced at a premium and gold is at record highs, the market has been ballooning. Among a plethora of online offers are companies including one called greenKarat that argues industrial mining methods damage the land and endanger ecosystems, so recycled gold would be better for society." (Thanks D.)

Isn't "ethical gold" an oxymoron?

Climate samba

"Brazil, for instance, should join the European Union (EU) in a "virtuous and responsible alliance," and distance itself from China, the country that now emits the greatest volume of greenhouse gases and has an "irresponsible" attitude to climate, Eduardo Viola, a professor of international relations at the University of Brasilia, told IPS. "

Chicken samba

"São Paulo – The Arab countries buy 30% of Brazilian poultry exports. "It is the most important and traditional market for exports from Brazil. We have been present in the market for more than 35 years now," said to ANBA the president at the Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef), Christian Lohbauer. In 2007, sales to the Middle East totalled over US$ 1 billion.

The leading importers of Brazilian poultry meat are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar. According to Lohbauer, the variety of chicken most exported to the Arab market is the 900-grams variety, which is smaller. "Brazil has a special production line for this market. They are also consumers of breaded chicken and other poultry products," he asserted."

I remember when I used to live in Yemen in the late 80's, Brazilian frozen chicken was the best we could get.

Meat

So you only eat free-range eggs, and spend the extra on organic sausages. But what's life really like for the animals that end up on your plate? And how can you be sure that the meat in your shopping bag is cruelty-free? Rob Sharp investigates.

Very interesting article on animal welfare. From the Independent's excellent Food and Drinks section.

I like this short "History of Syria".

Biofueling the US elections

"Biofuels are commercially questionable, do not materially advance energy independence, and may not even help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Naturally, Congress wants to mandate them. Why? Well, Iowa caucus voters win; Archer Daniels Midland wins; and special interest contributors to political campaigns win. Bioethanol is just a subsidy boondoggle masquerading as a solution to America's energy problems. But it does help get some politicians elected." (Thanks D.)

Sunday's poem is here, thanks to Karin.

Fast food syria

From Syria, a good article on the changes in food habits and the invasion of fast food, and its relationship with the self image of the youth. Includes a summary of a recent New Scientist article on obesity in Britain. From Al-Hayat.

Hanging the gardens

"Iraq Gets American Seeds of Democracy

Democracy for Iraq meant erasing the "cradle of civilization" for unfettered free market capitalism. Iraq was conquered for its oil but also to make the country a giant free trade paradise. The scheme was diabolical, elaborate and ugly - blitzkrieg "shock and awe," elaborate PsyOps, fear as a weapon, repressive occupation, mass detention and torture, and the fastest, most sweeping country remake in history. It happened in weeks, Iraq no longer exists, the country is a wasteland, its people are devastated, and a blank slate was created for unrestrained corporate pillage on a near- unimaginable scale.

Part of the scheme was for GMO agribusiness giants to have free reign over that part of the economy - to radically transform Iraq's food production system into a model for GMO seeds and plants. One hundred swiftly implemented Bremer laws mandated it, but Iraqis had no say about them as the country is now governed out of Washington and its branch office inside the heavily-fortified Green Zone in the largest US embassy in the world by far.

Bremer laws imposed the harshest ever Chicago School-style "shock therapy" of the kind that devastated countries around the world since first introduced in Chile under Pinochet in 1973. The formula was familiar - mass firings of state employees in the hundreds of thousands; unrestricted imports with no tariffs, duties, inspections or taxes; deregulation; and the largest state liquidation sale and privatization plan since the Soviet Union collapsed.

Corporate taxes were lowered as well from 40% to a flat 15%, and foreign investors could own 100% of Iraqi assets other than oil. They could also repatriate all their profits, had no obligation to reinvest in the country and wouldn't be taxed. They were further given 40 year leases, and the only Saddam era laws remaining were those restricting trade unions and collective bargaining. Foreign transnationals, mainly US ones, swooped in and devoured everything. Iraqis couldn't compete, and the occupation laws assured it.

Consider Bremer Order 81. It covered patents, their duration and stated: "Farmers shall be prohibited from re-using seeds of protected varieties or any variety" the edict covered. It gave plant varieties patent holders absolute rights over farmers' using their seeds for 20 years. They'd be genetically engineered, owned by transnationals, and Iraqi farmers using them had to sign an agreement stipulating they'll pay a "technology fee" as well as an annual license fee.

Plant Variety Protection (PVP) was the core of this order. It made seed saving and reuse illegal. Even using "similar" seeds could result in severe fines and imprisonment. GMO seeds got protection to displace 10,000 years of developed plant varieties being sacrificed.

Iraq's fertile valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is ideal for crop planting. Since 8000 BC, farmers used it to develop "rich seeds of almost every variety of wheat used in the world today." They were erased through a GMO modernization and industrialization scheme so agribusiness can get a foothold in the region and supply the world market. While Iraqis suffer and starve, GMO giants run the country's agriculture for export. Iraqi farmers are now agribusiness serfs and are forced to grow products foreign to the native diet like wheat designed for pasta.

Bremer laws mandated it and are inviolable under Article 26 of the US-drafted constitution. It states that the Iraqi government is powerless to change laws a foreign occupier made. To assure it, US-sympathizers are in every ministry with those most trusted in key ones. Engdahl sums up the damage to agriculture: "The forced transformation of Iraq's food production into patented GMO crops is one of the clearest examples of (how) Monsanto and other GMO giants are forcing (these) crops onto an unwilling or unknowing world population." They're infesting the planet with them one country at a time so it's futile trying to undo the damage they cause." (Thanks A.)

The third installment of: Reviewing F. William Engdahl's Seeds of Destruction - Part III. Stephen Lendman. The people's voice.