Books: Capitalism Has Failed—What Next? by John Bellamy Foster

1 February 2019 — Monthly Review
"Capitalism Isn't Working"“Capitalism Isn’t Working.” Photo credit: Jonny White / Creative Commons.

Less than two decades into the twenty-first century, it is evident that capitalism has failed as a social system. The world is mired in economic stagnation, financialization, and the most extreme inequality in human history, accompanied by mass unemployment and underemployment, precariousness, poverty, hunger, wasted output and lives, and what at this point can only be called a planetary ecological “death spiral.”1 The digital revolution, the greatest technological advance of our time, has rapidly mutated from a promise of free communication and liberated production into new means of surveillance, control, and displacement of the working population. The institutions of liberal democracy are at the point of collapse, while fascism, the rear guard of the capitalist system, is again on the march, along with patriarchy, racism, imperialism, and war.

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Haiti: imperialist aggression against Bolivarian Revolution sparks mass movement By Rob Lyon

22 February 2019 — In Defence of Marxism

Image: Green Left

Mass protests and a general strike against growing poverty, corruption, and demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moïse have shut down Haiti for the past two weeks. This mass movement is a direct continuation of the general strike that erupted last summer against proposed increases to the cost of fuel as well as the mass protests that took place last November in relation to a corruption scandal involving PetroCaribe funds.
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Violence Erupts at Venezuelan-Brazilian Border Ahead of ‘Aid’ Deadline

23 February 2019 — Venezuela Analysis

Tensions surrounding the entry of “humanitarian aid” are set to rise this weekend.

Caracas, February 22, 2019 (venezuelanalysis.com) – At least one person died and several were wounded in the Venezuelan town of Kumarakapay, on the border with Brazil.

According to reports, clashes erupted between the indigenous Pemon people and the Venezuelan National Guard as the latter moved tanks to shut down the border with Brazil. Local Mayor Emilio Gonzalez told Associated Press that security forces had fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. There were reports of a second casualty, and 12 to 14 wounded, which have yet to be confirmed.

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Imperialist intervention in Venezuela: UPDATE 15

23 February 2019 —  

  • White House warns Maduro
  • S. threatens new sanctions on Venezuela
  • Self-proclaimed “president” Guaido sneaked into a concert in Colombia
  • US companies and NATO purchase arms in East European country
  • Caracas seals Colombia border
  • Border tensions, 2 die, provocations
  • Russia ready to address UNSC if US stages provocation against Venezuela
  • Lavrov to discuss situation in Venezuela with Chinese FM
  • Cuba calls for int’l mobilization to prevent war in Venezuela
  • Curacao blocks aid ship cargo
  • No empty shelves in Venezuelan supermarket
  • In the Venezuela case, there is a great media war
  • Trade Unions, political organizations oppose imperialism

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