In the media

After Protests, Forums Sprout in Turkey’s Parks

Published in Wednesday July 10th, 2013 In In the media

The recent antigovernment riots, which began with a sit-in at an Istanbul park scheduled for demolition and grew to encompass the grievances of millions of Turks disillusioned with their government, have largely faded after an intense crackdown about three weeks ago. Now, Turkey’s parks have become safe places to gather and speak freely, with people arriving each evening in dozens of parks nationwide to discuss what happens next.

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Group says foreclosure crisis still alive in West Seattle

Published in Thursday July 4th, 2013 In In the media

“Foreclosure isn’t a sexy topic anymore and the media doesn’t really want to talk about it anymore,” Johnson said. “They think the economy is fixing itself, and everything is getting sorted out and everybody is getting better and let’s all pretend this isn’t happening.”

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Migrants to Beijing struggle to afford rent, adequate housing: report

Published in Thursday July 4th, 2013 In In the media

Migrant workers in Beijing live in worse conditions and have more housing pressure than official residents of the capital, according to a report issued Tuesday.

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The Last Word: Mr Blatter, the party’s over

Published in Wednesday June 26th, 2013 In In the media

Empty rhetoric, regurgitated by grandees such as Sepp Blatter, has been rejected by those who want schools and hospitals rather than bread and circuses.

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UN Special Rapporteur Raquel Rolnik: Impressed with kampung life

Published in Tuesday June 25th, 2013 In In the media

As the world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia faces rapid urbanization. According to the World Bank, Indonesia’s urban population is projected to reach 220 million by 2025. UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Raquel Rolnik, a Sao Paulo-based architect and urban planner with 30 years experience in the field, made her first official visit to Indonesia recently to assess the government’s policies and programs on housing.

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Singda locals hold demonstrations against dam expansion plan

Published in Monday June 24th, 2013 In In the media

As a part of the beautification programme of Singda Dam and to ensure development in the field of power, water and agriculture in Manipur, the Singda Dam area is going to be expanded. A sit-in-protest was held against this decision of the state government by the local people at Singda Kadangband Bazar on Saturday.

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Brazil is saying what we could not: we don’t want these costly extravaganzas

Published in Friday June 21st, 2013 In In the media

Brazil has been bamboozled into blowing $13bn on next year’s football World Cup, and then on a similar sum to be later extorted by the International Olympic Committee to host the 2016 Games. Brazil’s leftwing leader, Dilma Rousseff, was bequeathed the games by her predecessor, Lula da Silva. She has desperately tried to side with the protesters, but she is trapped by the oligarchs of Fifa and the IOC.

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Brazil’s Poor Pay World Cup Penalty

Published in Wednesday June 19th, 2013 In In the media

On June 15, the opening day of the Confederations Cup in Brazil — a warmup to the World Cup — thousands protested across the country against the amount of money being spent to host these mega-events. With signs that said “We don’t need the World Cup” and “We need money for hospitals and education”, protesters were sprayed with tear gas and dispersed with rubber bullets before the opening match in Brasilia. At least 39 were injured and 30 were arrested. Inside the stadium, president Dilma Roussef was booed as she inaugurated the Brazil-Japan match. Today, June 17, there are protests going on all over the country.

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Brazil protests take to the pitch as People’s Cup highlights evictions

Published in Wednesday June 19th, 2013 In In the media

Physically, it’s only a few kilometres away from the Maracanã stadium, but in symbolism, the People’s Cup could not be much further removed from the mega sporting events now being staged in Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian cities.

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Will Brazil be left counting the cost of hosting the World Cup and Olympics?

Published in Thursday June 13th, 2013 In In the media

BRIC countries have tried to use these mega-events to boost development by accelerating investments in infrastructure and lifting services, governance and local business to international standards. However, the cost to the public purse and the communities affected can be enormous, prompting criticism that the money would be better spent at grassroots level, on improving health and education, rather than on awarding prestige projects to construction companies.

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