This page, updated each week, contains news of particular relevance for the creation of a just global freedom.
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The case for justfreedom
News, Links and Resources by Themes
The view from Qingdao, BBC, 9 May 05, GE doubles spend on green agenda, BBC, 9 May 05, Antioxidants a key to 'long life', BBC, 6 May 05, Soil quality threat to EU farming, BBC, 3 May 05, Teach-yourself computing for kids, BBC, 2 May 05, Table-top fusion 'demonstrated', BBC, 28 Apr 05, Global warming 'proof' detected, BBC, 28 Apr 05, Mice put in 'suspended animation', BBC, 21 Apr 05, The changing nature of innovation, BBC, 20 Apr 05, Debt relief delayed by indecision, BBC, 18 Apr 05, EU pollution deaths cost billions, BBC, 15 Apr 05, Re-thinking urban car journeys, BBC, 15 Apr 05, Africa hits record growth - IMF, BBC, 15 Apr 05, Texting to help SA HIV patients, BBC, 13 Apr 05, America's rich rise against tax, BBC, 13 Apr 05, Online archive moves step closer, BBC, 13 Apr 05, Japan's hi-tech carers, BBC, 12 Apr 05, Essays marked by computer program, BBC, 9 Apr 05, Ethiopia plans internet expansion, BBC, 6 Apr 05, Bionic eye will let the blind see, BBC, 5 Apr 05, UK's latest rich list revealed, BBC, 3 Apr 05, Brain chip reads man's thoughts, BBC, 31 Mar 05, Carbon dioxide continues its rise, BBC, 31 Mar 05, Study highlights global decline, BBC, 30 Mar 05, Net can transform public services, BBC, 29 Mar 05, Migrant workers aid growth at home, BBC, 28 Mar 05, Forbes rich list at record levels, BBC, 11 Mar 05, US gases to 'dwarf world savings', BBC, 7 Mar 05, Climate crisis near 'in 10 years', BBC, 24 Jan 05, US plans 'robot troops' for Iraq, BBC, 23 Jan 05, 'We will be able to live to 1,000', BBC, 3 Dec 04, Emissions double heatwave risk, BBC, 1 Dec 04.
That the time for justfreedom is now is apparent in news coverage, supporting the arguments developed for a justfreedom with numerous practical lessons:
- the waste and futility of military spending (jf: 30) US rolls out most expensive jet, BBC, 27 Oct 04 and the more rational pursuit of peace through investment in basic services (jf 16, 27) 'Water factory' aims to filter tensions, BBC, 7 Sep 04, WTO to tackle high medicine costs, BBC, 20 Jun 01
- the route to growth through investment (jf 15-16, 30) Malaysia challenges India and China, BBC, 31 Aug 04 , technology (jf 18-20) Mobile phones take over in India, BBC, 9 Nov 04, UN backs drive for free software, BBC, 29 Aug 04, just trade (jf 27) Mozambique's sugar faces a new threat, BBC, 16 Nov 04, Growth in Asia 'cutting poverty', BBC, 26 Aug 04, Trade 'benefits the poor', BBC, 14 Oct 01 and debt reduction (jf 27) Hurdles in way of 'audacious' debt plan, BBC, 27 Sep 04 and education (jf 22-23) Universal primary education by 2015, BBC, 3 Apr 00
- the potential of science and innovation to solve problems and improve lives (jf 18-20) Silicon sensors could save lives, BBC, 23 Sep 04, Fusion power 'within reach', BBC, 1 Oct 01, Breaking cancer's resistance, BBC, 14 Oct 01, Can computers be creative, BBC, 11 Nov 01, Intel in new chip breakthrough, BBC, 30 Aug 04
- the role of intellectual property rights in growth (jf 20-22) A sharing approach to copyright, BBC, 5 Oct 04, Call to legalise file-sharing with taxes, BBC, 22 Sep 04, Call for freely available science, BBC, 20 Jul 04, Money from old (nucleic) rope, BBC, 13 Feb 01
- the unnecessary waste and environmental damage of mass consumption (jf 32033) Planet under pressure, BBC, 1 Oct 04, 4x4s 'should carry health warning', BBC, 26 Nov 04
- the reduction in agricultural and manufacturing employment due to mechanisation and automation (jf 25, 31-32) The changing face of UK jobs, BBC, 14 Mar 01, the replacement of labour by robots and computers Robot investment on the rise, BBC, 31 Oct 01, the opportunity to work less, consume less and invest for growth (jf-18-19) Why Europe votes for workers' playtime, BBC, 26 Jul 04, and the inequality of current economic structures (jf 23-25, 30-33) Boadroom pay rises gallop ahead, BBC, 7 Oct 04, 'Mediocre' directors get top bonuses, BBC, 10 May 01.
These realities support, at state level, a reduction in military expenditure and agricultural subsidy, trade justice, the abolition of debt, direct aid and direct investment in the developing world in education, health and production, at the corporate level, foreign direct investment in the developing world, and, at the individual level, the choice to consume less, work less, save more and invest in the developing world, combined with donations for development and campaigning for global justice.
News, Links and Resources by Themes
1. Global Development. Trade. Conflict
2. Work. Time. Automation. Inequality.
3. Science. Technology. Innovation.
4. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
5. Health.
Genetics. Lifestyle.
6.
Education. Access.
7.
Environment. Climate Change. Power.
8. Democracy. Governance. The State.
1. Global Development. Trade. Conflict
Global development is a central concern of justfreedom in terms of investment (jf 15, 27, 30), trade and trade justice (jf 27), technology transfer and intellectual property rights (jf 18-22), debt and aid (jf 28-29), health, food and famine, the environment and pollution (jf 32), and conflict, terror and the military (jf 30).
GM 'golden rice' boosts vitamin A, BBC, 28 Mar 05, Africa report demands aid boost, BBC, 11 Mar 05, Mobile growth 'fastest in Africa', BBC, 9 Mar 05, EU aiming to fuel development aid, BBC, 15 Feb 05, Donors bank on eradicating corruption, BBC, 7 Feb 05, Are you ready for Globalisation 2.0?, BBC, 28 Jan 05, Brown in 100% debt relief pledge, BBC, 28 Jan 05, Mobile phones take over in India, BBC, 9 Nov 04. Foreign investors eye poorer nations, BBC, 22 Sep 04.Sustainable relief' is needed, BBC, 14 Sep 04. 'Water factory' aims to filter tensions, BBC, 7 Sep 04. UN backs drive for free software, BBC, 29 Aug 04. Growth in Asia 'cutting poverty', BBC, 26 Aug 04. Nigeria signs Zimbabwean farmers, BBC, 27 Jul 04. Wages to surge in India, says IMF, BBC, 22 Jul 04, Poor nations plan to boost trade, BBC, 17 Jun 04. Terror 'costs Israel 15% of GDP', BBC, 8 Jun 04. World Bank pushes anti-poverty drive, BBC, 11 Sept 01. Trade 'benefits the poor', BBC, 14 Oct 01. WTO to tackle high medicine costs, BBC, 20 Jun 01. New technologies 'key' to reducing poverty, BBC, 10 Jul 01. US blocks small arms controls, BBC, 10 Jul 01. Indian firms embrace biotechnology, BBC, 6 Apr 01. Health brings wealth, BBC, 23 Mar 01. UN in push to end poverty, BBC, 9 Feb 01. The military get mightier, BBC, 12 Jan 01.
2. Work. Time. Automation. Inequality
The potential impact of growing productivity and automation on labour is a fundamental element of justfreedom as is continuing inequality (jf 23-25, 31) and the often unnecessary expansion of production and consumption (jf 32-33).
Workers breaking office shackles, BBC, 16 Nov 04. What is a 'low skilled job'?, BBC, 8 Nov 04. Boadroom pay rises gallop ahead, BBC, 7 Oct 04. One million join ranks of US poor, BBC, 26 Aug 04. Why Europe votes for workers' playtime, BBC, 26 Jul 04. 'Mediocre' directors get top bonuses, BBC, 10 May 01. The changing face of UK jobs, BBC, 14 Mar 01. Ford's 'landmark' pay deal, BBC, 15 Nov 99.
3. Science. Technology. Innovation.
The role of science in the transformation of production is given central place in justfreedom (jf 18-19) as is the capcity of science to produce solutions and deliver new products (jf 19, 20) and processes that create the potential of freedom from work through automation and robotics (jf 25, 31).
Global digital divide 'narrowing', BBC, 25 Feb 05, Consumers enjoy falling prices, BBC, 17 Jan 05, Beer gadget boost to water plants, BBC, 18 Oct 04. Mini lab offers on the spot tests, BBC, 4 Oct 04. Silicon sensors could save lives, BBC, 23 Sep 04. Intel in new chip breakthrough, BBC, 30 Aug 04. Teleportation goes long distance, BBC, 18 Aug 04. Visions of a smart future, 8 Dec 01. Can computers be creative, BBC, 11 Nov 01. Robot investment on the rise, BBC, 31 Oct 01. Fusion power 'within reach', BBC, 1 Oct 01.
4. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
It is made clear in justfreedom that intellectual property rights are important both as an incentive to endeavour and as a barrier to use (jf 20-22). With low-cost reporuction and increasing consumption the balance has swung in favour of rights owners and away from consumers, particularly in software, music and video. Health and progress are also obstructed by intellectual property in medicine, genetics and elsewhere. Too much private gain, too little public good.
India wins landmark patent battle, BBC, 9 Mar 05, The copyright 'copyfight' is on, BBC, 18 Feb 05, Plant biotech goes open-source, BBC, 10 Feb 05, Let fans decide on digital rights, BBC, 25 Mar 05, Firefox browser takes on Microsoft, BBC, 9 Nov 04. A sharing approach to copyright, BBC, 5 Oct 04. Call to legalise file-sharing with taxes, BBC, 22 Sep 04. Call for freely available science, BBC, 20 Jul 04. Napster boss calls for net licence, BBC, 3 Apr 01. Scientists call for online library, BBC, 1 Sept 01. Rice genome falls to science, BBC, 26 Jan 01. Money from old (nucleic) rope, BBC, 13 Feb 01. Company acquires island gene pool, 24 Nov 00. Has Microsoft stifled innovation, BBC, 8 Jun 00. US tree patent challenged, BBC, 5 May 00. Balancing interests in the genome race, BBC, 15 Mar 00. Free software taking on Microsoft, BBC, 20 Nov 99.
5. Health. Genetics. Lifestyle.
Health is not dealt with as a specific theme in justfreedon, instead it is covered under science, research and development, innovation, intellectual property rights and justice (jf 18-22, 30-33). Science continues to develop new tools in prevention, diagnosis and treatment and mass consumption and mass production create new threats in terms of new diseases. The impact of overconsumption, genetic modification and environmental degradation on health cannot be ignored (jf 32).
Diabetes drug 'may stop cancers', BBC, 21 Apr 05, Bird flu 'passed between humans', BBC, 28 Jan 05, Olive oil acid 'cuts cancer risk' , BBC, 10 Jan 05, Antibiotic halves HIV/Aids deaths, BBC, 19 Nov 04. Natural protein can starve cancer, BBC, 1 Nov 04. US maize 'threat' to Mexico farms, BBC, 13 Nov 04. Stem cells 'could restore vision', BBC, 25 Oct 04. UN begins delicate cloning debate, BBC, 21 Oct 04. Europe's five worst child killers, BBC, 18 Jun 04. Nano silicon boosts tumour fight, BBC, 18 Jun 04. Prostate cancer gene identified, BBC, 8 Jun 04. China confirms bird flu in pigs, BBC, 26 Aug 04. E-nose improves health, BBC, 22 May 04. Breaking cancer's resistance, BBC, 14 Oct 01. Tumour cells face 'suicide virus', BBC, 29 Aug 01. Gene link shared by killer cancers, BBC, 31 July 01. Genome data heralds medical advances, BBC, 12 Feb 01. Electronic eye for blind man, BBC, 17 Jan 00. Gene therapy for prostate cancer, BBC, 26 Jun 01. Genome data access row, BBC, 8 Dec 00. Medical microchips' massive potential, BBC, 27 Sept 00. Gene clue to long life diet, BBC, 3 Sept 00. 'Anti-age' drug found, BBC, 31 Aug 00. Elderly could get wireless care, BBC, 15 Jun 00. Yellow rice gives dietary boost, BBC, 13 Jan 00
The central role of education in science, growth and development and in improving the quality of life and reducing poverty and injustice is stressed in justfreedom (jf 22, 31) neither should the role of technology in improving access to education and knowledge be ignored (jf 18)
Call for overseas education links, BBC, 15 Nov 04. India launches learning satellite, BBC, 20 Sep 04. PlayStation potential to learning, BBC, 12 Aug 04. Doubts cast on graduate growth, BBC, 27 Jul 04. Praise for new family centres, BBC, 12 Jun 04. Learn for free online, BBC, 22 Jun 02. Universal primary education by 2015, BBC, 3 Apr 00. Online degree courses double, BBC, 17 Mar 00
7. Environment. Climate Change. Power.
The challenge of harnessing automation to free us and to stop the rush to consume and destroy the planet (jf 32-33) is set out in justfreedom. The solution must combine social change to reduce consumption and technology to reduce pollution and provide energy and growth for those in poverty.
Local food 'greener than organic', BBC, 2 Mar 05, Pressure builds for US climate action, BBC, 14 Feb 05, Ratings show how green cars are, BBC, 10 Feb 05, Carbon burial 'is climate option', BBC, 2 Feb 05, Polar ice caps 'melting faster', BBC, 2 Feb 05, Alarm at new climate warning, BBC, 26 Jan 05, Summit on eco-friendly buildings, BBC, 29 Oct 04. China's dirty energy takes its toll, BBC, 9 Nov 04. Energy: Meeting soaring demand, BBC, 9 Nov 04. Wilson powers ahead with windmill, BBC, 15 Nov 04. Sharp CO2 rise divides opinions, BBC, 11 Oct 04. Russia backs Kyoto climate treaty, BBC, 30 Sep 04. Micropower 'could fuel UK homes', BBC, 14 Sep 04. New batteries aid climate battle, BBC, 8 Sep 04. Need for carbon sink technologies, BBC, 1 Sep 04. French wrath over four-wheel drives, BBC, 26 Aug 04. Earth warned on 'tipping points, BBC, 26 Aug 04. Sunflower oil boost to car future, BBC, 26 Aug 04. Sun and hydrogen 'to fuel future', BBC, 12 Aug 04. Rice yields dip as planet warms, BBC, 29 Jun 04. Urgent action call on US climate, BBC, 15 Jun 04. World faces seeping flood crisis, BBC, 13 Jun 04. European environmental damage, BBC, 1 Jun 04. Motoring through the urban jungle, BBC, 25 May 04. Cuba's organic revolution, BBC, 27 Jun 01. Green energy A viable alternative, BBC, 6 Mar 01. Sea wind farm sets sail, BBC, 7 Dec 00. Warming world's winners and losers, BBC, 8 Nov 00
8. Democracy. Governance. The State.
The potential of information and communication tehnology to trnsform democracy is masive and it is a potential that is central to justfreedom (jf 30, 33). The first part of justfreedom concentrates on social change and the central role of communication in action (jf 4-14). e-democracy can enhance participation, communication, debate, understanding and direct decision-making.
Nike opens up in standards drive, BBC, 13 Apr 05, US 'erodes' global human rights, BBC, 13 Jan 05, Online commons to spark debate, BBC, 29 Nov 04. Hackers re-invent political protests, BBC, 6 Oct 04. Market economy 'unfair to poor', BBC, 14 Sep 04. Chavez approves state phone firm, BBC, 14 Sep 04. Games blur news and entertainment, BBC, 16 Sep 04. Video games find their political voice, BBC, 30 Aug 04. Record response to smoking debate, BBC, 9 Sep 04. Satellite tracking for criminals, BBC, 2 Sep 04. Online planning system goes live, BBC, 28 Jul 04. Red tape cut by 'mobile' councils, BBC, 17 Jun 04.
