#Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

[carolkeiter]

The Global Plastic Environmental Challenge and the Circular Economy Transformative Approach to Creating Sustainable Solutions

I arrived in Thailand 12 days ago, my first trip to set foot in Asia. I attempted to travel to India several years ago from Europe, and everything sort of compiled to go against that intention; not meant to be. Very quickly I realized that for drinking water, other than the few places that have set up a localized filtering system, most people are walking around with plastic bottles. I asked some…

[reality-detective]

Trump has only been President for five days, and already humiliated the World Economic Forum; released the JFK, RFK and Martin Luther King Assassination Files; fired woke DEI employees; designated the Drug, Gun Running and Human Trafficking Cartels as terrorist organizations; unlocked ICE to remove illegal immigrants; restored Freedom of Speech; revoked security clearances for swamp creatures; removed the United States from the WHO and pardoned the January 6th Political Prisoners.

Among the over 200 Executive Orders Trump signed on his first day in office, was an order to have the US adopt the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The organization was developing a Global Tax Deal, which is suspected to be a Flat Sales Tax on new items only that would replace the heavy taxes on The People on their income and in all other forms.

He has also moved toward taking control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, secured one trillion dollars of Saudi Arabian support for the United States, and is on the verge of ending the wars allowed by Biden.

President Trump has also taken down the CDC, FDA, HHS and NIH, which meant that there would be no Digital ID that would monitor your every move and transaction.

Trump’s release of the JFK, RFK and Martin Luther King Assassination Files was likely to add to evidence that would lead to the fall of the CIA, Three Letter Agencies, United Nations, Globalists, Elites and entire Cabal who together, were believed to have stolen the 2020 Election and conspired to kill Trump. 🤔

[blackstarlineage]

The Role of Black Women in Garveyism and Pan-Africanism: A Garveyite Perspective on Leadership, Resistance, and Nation-Building

Black women have been the backbone of Garveyism and Pan-Africanism, yet their contributions are often overlooked in mainstream historical narratives. From a Garveyite perspective, Black women were not just supporters but leaders, strategists, and nation-builders who played essential roles in the fight for Black self-determination, economic independence, and global unity.

Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) recognized the indispensable role of Black women in advancing the movement, challenging the notion that only men were the architects of Pan-Africanism. Women were at the forefront as organizers, educators, business leaders, and freedom fighters, proving that the struggle for Black liberation required the full participation of both men and women.

This analysis will explore:

The leadership of Black women in Garveyism and Pan-Africanism.

The role of Black women in the UNIA and their contributions to economic empowerment.

How Black women shaped political and intellectual aspects of Pan-Africanism.

The challenges and erasure of Black women’s contributions in the movement.

How Garveyism provides a framework for true gender equality in Black liberation.

1. Black Women as Leaders in Garveyism: The Backbone of the Movement

A. Amy Ashwood Garvey: Co-Founder of the UNIA and Women's Rights Advocate

Amy Ashwood Garvey was a Pan-Africanist, feminist, and co-founder of the UNIA alongside Marcus Garvey in 1914.

She played a key role in early UNIA, organizing, fundraising, and developing the movement’s first institutions.

After parting ways with Garvey, she continued her Pan-African work, advocating for women’s empowerment and linking African liberation struggles with Caribbean and global Black movements.

Example: She founded the International African Service Bureau (IASB) in London, which influenced African independence leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and Jomo Kenyatta.

B. Amy Jacques Garvey: Intellectual Powerhouse and UNIA Editor

Amy Jacques Garvey, Garvey’s second wife, was one of the most influential intellectuals in the Pan-African movement.

She served as editor of the Negro World newspaper, where she published articles advocating for Black women’s leadership in nation-building and economic independence.

She was a strong proponent of Black self-reliance, urging women to take active roles in business, politics, and global liberation movements.

Example: Her book, "Garvey and Garveyism," preserved and expanded on Garvey’s philosophy, ensuring that his ideas influenced future Pan-African struggles.

Key Takeaway: Amy Jacques Garvey proved that Black women were not just supporters but also theorists and leaders in shaping Garveyism and Pan-African thought.

2. Black Women in the UNIA: Organizers, Business Leaders, and Educators

The UNIA was unique among Black liberation organizations in the early 20th century because it actively encouraged women to take leadership roles.

A. The Black Cross Nurses: Health and Nation-Building

The Black Cross Nurses (BCN) was established within the UNIA to provide healthcare, community services, and education to Black communities worldwide.

It modelled itself after the Red Cross, but unlike the Red Cross, which primarily served white communities, the BCN focused on Black health and survival.

Black women in the BCN were trained in medicine, midwifery, and public health, making them key figures in strengthening Black communities.

Example: In Jamaica, the U.S., and Africa, the Black Cross Nurses operated clinics and trained women in health education, making them crucial to Black self-sufficiency.

B. Black Women as Business Owners and Economic Leaders

Garveyism emphasized economic independence as the foundation of Black liberation. Black women were active participants in:

UNIA cooperatives and trade networks, where they built Black-owned businesses.

The Negro Factories Corporation, which established businesses to employ Black people.

The Black Star Line, where women were key financial supporters and investors.

Example: Henrietta Vinton Davis, a leading Garveyite, raised funds for the Black Star Line and helped establish economic initiatives.

Key Takeaway: Garveyism empowered Black women to become business leaders, proving that economic liberation required both men and women’s involvement.

3. Black Women in Political and Intellectual Pan-Africanism

A. Queen Mother Moore: Revolutionary Garveyite and Reparations Advocate

Queen Mother Moore was a lifelong Garveyite who became a leading advocate for African reparations, repatriation, and global Black unity.

She founded organizations that called for African nations to offer citizenship to diaspora Africans.

Her activism directly influenced modern reparations movements in the U.S. and the Caribbean.

Example: She inspired the Republic of Ghana’s "Right of Return" policy, allowing African descendants to reclaim their African heritage.

B. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti: Nigerian Feminist and Pan-African Activist

A Nigerian nationalist and anti-colonial activist, she fought for women’s rights, economic empowerment, and self-governance in Africa.

She was heavily influenced by Garveyism and used its principles to fight British colonial rule in Nigeria.

Example: She led protests against colonial taxation and exploitation, proving that Garveyite Pan-Africanism was a global force for women’s liberation.

Key Takeaway: Pan-Africanism was never just about men—Black women shaped its intellectual and political foundations.

4. The Challenges and Erasure of Black Women in Pan-Africanism

Despite their leadership, Black women have often been erased from historical narratives of Garveyism and Pan-Africanism.

A. Western and Patriarchal Historical Narratives

Many historians focused on Garvey and other male leaders while downplaying the contributions of women.

Some Pan-African male leaders failed to promote women’s political leadership, limiting their visibility in official accounts.

Example: Even today, books and documentaries on Pan-Africanism rarely highlight Amy Jacques Garvey, Queen Mother Moore, or Black Cross Nurses.

Key Takeaway: Garveyite Pan-Africanism must reclaim women’s history and recognize their leadership in liberation movements.

5. How Garveyism Provides a Framework for True Gender Equality in Black Liberation

Garveyism promoted a holistic approach to liberation, in which Black men and women were equal partners in nation-building.

To fulfill Garvey’s vision today, we must:

Promote women’s leadership in Pan-African political and economic institutions.

Prioritize women’s education and economic empowerment as key to Black sovereignty.

Defend Black women from exploitation, erasure, and patriarchal oppression in all liberation movements.

Ensure women’s representation in Pan-African governance, finance, and military structures.

Final Takeaway: Garveyism provides the blueprint for true Black liberation, where both men and women work together as equals to reclaim Africa, control Black economies, and resist white supremacy.

Conclusion: Black Women as the Heart of Pan-Africanism

Black women were not just participants in Garveyism and Pan-Africanism—they were its architects, strategists, and revolutionaries. Their contributions shaped:

The UNIA’s global impact.

Economic self-sufficiency through Black-owned businesses.

The political theory of Pan-African self-determination.

The cultural and intellectual foundation of modern Black liberation movements.

As Marcus Garvey declared, Black women were essential to the rise of a free and independent Black world.

The future of Pan-Africanism must honour their contributions—not just in history books, but in the continued fight for global Black unity and sovereignty.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from RMI:

1. Batteries Become Everybody’s Best Friend

Battery prices continue to drop and their capacity continues to rise. The cost of electric vehicle (EV) batteries are now about 60 percent what they were just five years ago. And around the world, batteries have become key components in solar-plus-storage microgrids, giving people access to reliable power and saving the day for communities this past hurricane season.

2. Americans Get Cheaper (and Cleaner) Energy

State public utility commissions and rural electric co-operatives around the country are taking steps to deliver better service for their customers that also lowers their rates. At the same time, real momentum is building to prevent vertically integrated utilities from preferencing their coal assets when there are cleaner and cheaper alternatives available.

3. A Sustainable Shipping Future Gets Closer

More than 50 leaders across the marine shipping value chain — from e-fuel producers to vessel and cargo owners, to ports and equipment manufacturers — signed a Call to Action at the UN climate change conference (COP29) to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission fuels. The joint statement calls for faster and bolder action to increase the use of zero and near-zero emissions fuel, investment in zero-emissions vessels, and global development of green hydrogen infrastructure, leaving no country behind.

4. Corporations Fly Cleaner

In April, 20 corporations, including Netflix, JPMorgan Chase, Autodesk, and more, committed to purchase about 50 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), avoiding 500,000 tons of CO2 emissions — equivalent to the emissions of 3,000 fully loaded passenger flights from New York City to London. SAF is made with renewable or waste feedstocks and can be used in today’s aircraft without investments to upgrade existing fleets and infrastructure.

5. More and More Places Go From Coal to Clean

Around the world, coal-fired power plants are closing down as communities switch to clean energy. From Chile to the Philippines to Minnesota coal-to-clean projects are creating new jobs, improving local economic development, and generating clean electricity. In September, Britain became the first G7 nation to stop generating electricity from coal — it’s turning its last coal-fired power plant into a low-carbon energy hub. And in Indonesia, the president vowed to retire all coal plants within 15 years and install 75 gigawatts of renewable energy.

6. Methane Becomes More Visible, and Easier to Mitigate

Methane — a super-potent greenhouse gas — got much easier to track thanks to the launch of new methane tracking satellites over the past year. In March, the Environmental Defense Fund launched MethaneSAT, the first for a non-governmental organization, and the Carbon Mapper Coalition soon followed with the launch of Tanager-1. By scanning the planet many times each day and identifying major methane leaks from orbit, these new satellites will put pressure on big emitters to clean up.

7. EVs Speed By Historic Milestones

This past year was the first time any country had more fully electric cars than gas-powered cars on the roads. It’s no surprise that this happened in Norway where electric cars now make up more than 90 percent of new vehicle sales. And in October, the United States hit a milestone, with over 200,000 electric vehicle charging ports installed nationwide.

8. Consumers Continue to Shift to Energy-Efficient Heat Pumps for Heating and Cooling

Heat pumps have outsold gas furnaces consistently since 2021. And while shipments of heating and cooling equipment fell worldwide in 2023, likely due to broad economic headwinds, heat pumps held on to their market share through. And over the past 12 months, heat pumps outsold conventional furnaces by 27 percent. Shipments are expected to continue increasing as states roll out home efficiency and appliance rebate programs already funded by the Inflation Reduction Act – worth up to $10,000 per household in new incentives for heat pump installations. Link: Tracking the Heat Pump & Water Heater Market in the United States – RMI

9. China Reaches Its Renewable Energy Goal, Six Years Early

China added so much renewable energy capacity this year, that by July it had surpassed its goal of having 1,200 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy installed by 2030. Through September 2024, China installed some 161 GW of new solar capacity and 39 GW of new wind power, according to China’s National Energy Administration (NEA). China is deploying more solar, wind, and EVs than any other country, including the United States, which is — by comparison — projected to deploy a record 50 GW of solar modules by the end of 2024.

10. De-carbonizing Heavy Industry

For steel, cement, chemicals and other heavy industries, low-carbon technologies and climate-friendly solutions are not only increasingly available but growing more affordable. To speed this process, Third Derivative, RMI’s climate tech accelerator, launched the Industrial Innovation Cohorts to accelerate the decarbonization of steel, cement, and chemicals. Also on the rise: clean hydrogen hubs — powered by renewable energy — designed to supply green hydrogen to chemical, steel, and other heavy industries to help them shift to low-carbon production processes.

[coimbrabertone]

The Backdoor Deals that Make Motorsport Go Round

This is going to be a bit of a different blogpost.

First things first, last weekend during the Las Vegas Grand Prix, we started hearing about the Andretti Cadillac to F1 story being resolved, at least on the Cadillac side. Today, we got confirmation, with the Cadillac F1 team confirmed to join for 2026. So far, we know this: Dan Towriss will be CEO, Mario Andretti (not Michael) will serve on the board, and Cadillac will initially use a Ferrari power unit while Cadillac develops their own unit in Michigan.

We also know that the team will retain all of Andretti's hires so far - Pat Symonds chief among them - and that the team will be based in Fishers, Indiana (where Andretti's new base will be) with a sort of forward operating base in Silverstone.

So...it's Andretti with the serial numbers filed off.

And I think this has been in the works for a long time.

Let me talk about a few things, and then we'll weave all these little threads together to show a bigger picture.

First things first, Michael Andretti launches Andretti Aquisition Corporation I - a Special-Purpose Acquisition Corporation, which is a public company that exists for the whole purpose of buying out a private company, merging with that private company, and using that to make the private company public in a streamlined manner - to merge into an AI company called Zapata.

Zapata starts trading at $10 a share, it almost immediately drops to $2.95 a share, and it keeps dropping. As of November 25th, 2024, Zapata AI stock is trading at $0.02 a share. That is quite literally two cents a share.

I don't need an economics degree to tell you that was a shitshow of a stock.

Second of all, at the Miami Grand Prix, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei reportedly promised to do everything in his power to keep the Andretti name out of Formula One.

Third of all, in response, Mario Andretti goes to his friends on Capitol Hill - Mario is the big political donor of the family - and petitions Congress to begin an antitrust probe into Formula One and Liberty Media.

Fourth of all, at the end of the 2024 NTT Indycar Series, Michael Andretti announces his decision to step down from the day-to-day running of Andretti Global. Dan Towriss, co-owner and the man who brought in Group 1001 (and its Gainbridge and Delaware Life subsidiaries) to the team, has been taken control. Michael is still a strategic advisor and maintains that he will still be connected to this team, but...it's a change.

And for whatever it's worth, there are whispers that Michael Andretti stepping down wasn't entirely his own decision.

Fifth of all, two weeks ago, Greg Maffei announced he is stepping down from his role at Formula One and Liberty Media at the end of the year.

Finally, like I said, it has now been confirmed that Cadillac will enter Formula One as its eleventh team. Mario is on the board, Dan Towriss is in charge, and the team will be run on Cadillac's behalf by Towriss' TWG Global.

TWG Global is said to be the owner of Andretti Global in Indycar, Wayne Taylor Racing in IMSA, and Spire Motorsports in NASCAR. That last one is particularly notable because, while there have been rumors about Andretti buying into Spire and Towriss' companies consistently sponsor the Spire cars, this is the first time we've actually heard about him owning a piece of Spire.

I guess Dan Towriss' thing is quietly acquiring racing teams without putting his name on them.

In any case, after all that, Cadillac is going to be in F1, the Andretti organization is going to run the team, but the Andretti name - particularly Michael Andretti - is not going to be attached to this project.

To illustrate that point, today, Michael Andretti tweeted about how proud he is about an American team entering Formula One and that he'll be cheering them on from the outside.

So...what has happened?

I think Michael Andretti got burnt bad on the Zapata stock, and I think it's possible that he might have been playing with some of Dan Towriss' money while doing so. So, Andretti now owes Towriss money, Towriss sees Formula One as a more lucrative return on investment than Indycar, and Michael Andretti has rubbed people the wrong way in Formula One.

Liberty Media and Formula One don't want Michael Andretti in Formula One.

Cadillac and Towriss want to be in F1.

Mario Andretti is a World Champion, so his name carries weight in Europe, but Michael Andretti's name does not. People in Europe either don't know who Michael is or remember him for that disastrous McLaren stint.

They don't care that Michael's bad 1993 was sandwiched either side by challenging for the championship in CART.

So...I think Michael Andretti had to get out of the way.

I think Greg Maffei had to get out of the way as well.

Cadillac is a big money name, Dan Towriss is a big money guy, and Formula One wants the American market, so an American manufacturer is an immense resource in that regard. So, in the name of the money, they got rid of the two big egos holding the deal up, and they got the team on the grid.

Now, I'm not a news source or anything, I'm just speculating on the bits and pieces of this that we know are public, but I find it hard to believe it's a complete coincidence that Michael steps down, Maffei announces his retirement, and then suddenly a Cadillac team is accepted with Andretti in more of a background role.

To me, it screams of a background deal for the greater good of the money people.

Liberty Media and Formula One don't want the Department of Justice sniffing around their business. Towriss and Cadillac want a piece of that Formula One pie. Mario Andretti wants to see his family's team in Formula One before he dies.

As for Michael, well...Andretti Global was his team, but he brought in investors, he started hiring people, he started building facilities in Indiana and in Motorsport Valley. The ball was already rolling, and Michael Andretti was the only thing holding it up.

Was he forced out? Maybe, but I think it's more likely that he was given a light push and a retirement package so that he can sit on his couch with his granddaughter and watch his team put a car on the Formula One grid.

Just without his name on it.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Overworked and overwhelmed: Brazilian teachers face oversized classes

Nearly one in five teachers manages more than 400 students a year—double the OECD average—hindering both instruction and learning

A significant share of Brazilian teachers is responsible for far more students and classes per academic year than their peers in developed countries. The result: exhausting workloads for teachers and diminished learning opportunities for students.

According to a recent study, nearly 20% of teachers in the final years of middle school (grades 6 to 9) in Brazil’s public school system teach approximately 400 students, spread across 14 to 22 classes. In contrast, the average teacher in member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) handles up to 210 students across no more than seven classes.

The data come from research conducted by Dados para um Debate Democrático na Educação (D3e), the Carlos Chagas Foundation (FCC), and Itaú Social. The findings are based on Brazil’s 2020 School Census, carried out by the Ministry of Education.

Brazil has no specific legislation capping the number of students per teacher. There is only a recommendation from the National Education Council (CNE), suggesting a maximum of 300 students per teacher per year. Still, this guideline is rarely followed.

Continue reading.

[dailyanarchistposts]

J.5 What alternative social organisations do anarchists create?

Anarchism is all about “do it yourself”: people helping each other out in order to secure a good society to live within and to protect, extend and enrich their personal freedom. As such anarchists are keenly aware of the importance of building alternatives to both capitalism and the state in the here and now. Only by creating practical alternatives can we show that anarchism is a viable possibility and train ourselves in the techniques and responsibilities of freedom:

“If we put into practice the principles of libertarian communism within our organisations, the more advanced and prepared we will be on that day when we come to adopt it completely.” [C.N.T. member, quoted by Graham Kelsey, Anarchosyndicalism, Libertarian Communism and the State,p. 79]

This idea (to quote the IWW) of “building a new world in the shell of the old” is a long standing one in anarchism. Proudhon during the 1848 revolution “propose[d] that a provisional committee be set up” in Paris and “liaise with similar committees” elsewhere in France. This would be “a body representative of the proletariat …, a state within the state, in opposition to the bourgeois representatives.” He proclaimed to working class people that “a new society be founded in the heart of the old society” for “the government can do nothing for you. But you can do everything for yourselves.” [“Aux Pariotes”, La Représantant du Peuple, No. 33] This was echoed by Bakunin (see section H.2.8) while for revolutionary syndicalists the aim was “to constitute within the bourgeois State a veritable socialist (economic and anarchic) State.” [Fernand Pelloutier, quoted by Jeremy Jennings, Syndicalism in France, p. 22] By so doing we help create the environment within which individuals can manage their own affairs and develop their abilities to do so. In other words, we create “schools of anarchism” which lay the foundations for a better society as well as promoting and supporting social struggle against the current system. Make no mistake, the alternatives we discuss in this section are not an alternative to direct action and the need for social struggle — they are an expression of social struggle and a form of direct action. They are the framework by which social struggle can build and strengthen the anarchist tendencies within capitalist society which will ultimately replace it.

Therefore it is wrong to think that libertarians are indifferent to making life more bearable, even more enjoyable, under capitalism. A free society will not just appear from nowhere, it will be created be individuals and communities with a long history of social struggle and organisation. For as Wilheim Reich so correctly pointed out:

“Quite obviously, a society that is to consist of ‘free individuals,’ to constitute a ‘free community’ and to administer itself, i.e. to ‘govern itself,’ cannot be suddenly created by decrees. It has to evolve organically.” [The Mass Psychology of Fascism, p. 241]

It is this organic evolution that anarchists promote when they create libertarian alternatives within capitalist society. These alternatives (be they workplace or community unions, co-operatives, mutual banks, and so on) are marked by certain common features such as being self-managed, being based upon equality, decentralised and working with other groups and associations within a confederal network based upon mutual aid and solidarity. In other words, they are anarchist in both spirit and structure and so create a practical bridge between now and the future free society.

Anarchists consider the building of alternatives as a key aspect of their activity under capitalism. This is because they, like all forms of direct action, are “schools of anarchy” and also because they make the transition to a free society easier. “Through the organisations set up for the defence of their interests,” in Malatesta’s words, “the workers develop an awareness of the oppression they suffer and the antagonism that divides them from the bosses and as a result begin to aspire to a better life, become accustomed to collective struggle and solidarity and win those improvements that are possible within the capitalist and state regime.” [The Anarchist Revolution, p. 95] By creating viable examples of

“anarchy in action” we can show that our ideas are practical and convince people that they are not utopian. Therefore this section of the FAQ will indicate the alternatives anarchists support and why we support them.

The approach anarchists take to this activity could be termed “social unionism” — the collective action of groups to change certain aspects (and, ultimately, all aspects) of their lives. This takes many different forms in many different areas (some of which, not all, are discussed here) — but they share the same basic aspects of collective direct action, self-organisation, self-management, solidarity and mutual aid. These are a means “of raising the morale of the workers, accustom them to free initiative and solidarity in a struggle for the good of everyone and render them capable of imagining, desiring and putting into practice an anarchist life.” [Malatesta, Op. Cit., p. 28] Kropotkin summed up the anarchist perspective well when he argued that working class people had “to form their own organisations for a direct struggle against capitalism” and to “take possession of the necessaries for production, and to control production.” [Memiors of a Revolutionist, p. 359] As historian J. Romero Maura correctly summarised, the “anarchist revolution, when it came, would be essentially brought about by the working class. Revolutionaries needed to gather great strength and must beware of underestimating the strength of reaction” and so anarchists “logically decided that revolutionaries had better organise along the lines of labour organisations.” [“The Spanish case”, pp. 60–83, Anarchism Today, D. Apter and J. Joll (eds.), p. 66]

As will quickly become obvious in this discussion (as if it had not been so before!) anarchists are firm supporters of “self-help,” an expression that has been sadly corrupted (like freedom) by the right in recent times. Like freedom, self-help should be saved from the clutches of the right who have no real claim to that expression. Indeed, anarchism was created from and based itself upon working class self-help — for what other interpretation can be gathered from Proudhon’s 1848 statement that “the proletariat must emancipate itself”? [quoted by George Woodcock, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, p. 125] So Anarchists have great faith in the abilities of working class people to work out for themselves what their problems are and act to solve them.

Anarchist support and promotion of alternatives is a key aspect of this process of self-liberation, and so a key aspect of anarchism. While strikes, boycotts, and other forms of high profile direct action may be more “sexy” than the long and hard task of creating and building social alternatives, these are the nuts and bolts of creating a new world as well as the infrastructure which supports the other activities. These alternatives involve both combative organisations (such as community and workplace unions) as well as more defensive and supportive ones (such as co-operatives and mutual banks). Both have their part to play in the class struggle, although the combative ones are the most important in creating the spirit of revolt and the possibility of creating an anarchist society.

We must also stress that anarchists look to organic tendencies within social struggle as the basis of any alternatives we try to create. As Kropotkin put it, anarchism is based “on an analysis of tendencies of an evolution that is already going on in society, and on induction therefrom as to the future.” It is “representative … of the creative, instructive power of the people themselves who aimed at developing institutions of common law in order to protect them from the power-seeking minority.” Anarchism bases itself on those tendencies that are created by the self-activity of working class people and while developing within capitalism are in opposition to it — such tendencies are expressed in organisational form as unions and other forms of workplace struggle, co-operatives (both productive and credit), libertarian schools, and so on. For anarchism was “born among the people — in the struggles of real life and not in the philosopher’s studio” and owes its “origin to the constructive, creative activity of the people … and to a protest — a revolt against the external force which had thrust itself upon” social institutions. [Anarchism, p. 158, p. 147, p. 150 and p. 149] This “creative activity” is expressed in the organisations created in the class struggle by working people, some of which we discuss in this section of the FAQ. Therefore, the alternatives anarchists support should not be viewed in isolation of social struggle and working class resistance to hierarchy — the reverse in fact, as these alternatives are almost always expressions of that struggle.

Lastly, we should note we do not list all the forms of organisation anarchists create. For example, we have ignored solidarity groups (for workers on strike or in defence of struggles in other countries) and organisations which are created to campaign against or for certain issues or reforms. Anarchists are in favour of such organisations and work within them to spread anarchist ideas, tactics and organisational forms. However, these interest groups (while very useful) do not provide a framework for lasting change as do the ones we highlight below (see section J.1.4 for more details on anarchist opinions on such “single issue” campaigns). We have also ignored what have been called “intentional communities.” This is when a group of individuals squat or buy land and other resources within capitalism and create their own anarchist commune in it. Most anarchists reject this idea as capitalism and the state must be fought, not ignored. In addition, due to their small size, they are rarely viable experiments in communal living and nearly always fail after a short time (for a good summary of Kropotkin’s attitude to such communities, which can be taken as typical, see Graham Purchase’s Evolution & Revolution [pp. 122–125]). Dropping out will not stop capitalism and the state and while such communities may try to ignore the system, they will find that the system will not ignore them — they will come under competitive and ecological pressures from capitalism whether they like it or not assuming they avoid direct political interference.

So the alternatives we discuss here are attempts to create anarchist alternatives within capitalism and which aim to change it (either by revolutionary or evolutionary means). They are based upon challenging capitalism and the state, not ignoring them by dropping out. Only by a process of direct action and building alternatives which are relevant to our daily lives can we revolutionise and change both ourselves and society.

[darkmaga-returns]

Full Lavrov-Tucker Interview. US defense secretary scraps South Korea trip. Make France Governable Again. Syrian rebels capture key city of Hama. The Ongoing Dehumanization&Abuse Of Reiner Fuellmich

Lioness of Judah Ministry

Dec 06, 2024:

Full Lavrov-Tucker Interview: US & Russia Need To Cooperate 'For The Sake Of The Universe'

Tucker: Do you believe the United States and Russia are at war with each other right now?

Tucker Carlson first unveiled Wednesday that he had traveled to Moscow to interview Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and the full interview has subsequently been published Thursday night. Among the most important messages conveyed was directed by Lavrov toward Washington and its allies, which "must understand that we would be ready to use any means not to allow them to succeed in what they call strategic defeat of Russia."And referencing Russia's recent use of its Oreshnik hypersonic missile, Lavrov expressed hope that Kiev's backers took "seriously" the new weapon, for which Russia says there is no defense, as Moscow remains ready to use "any means" to defend itself. "We are sending signals and we hope that the last one, a couple of weeks ago, the signal with the new weapons system called Oreshnik... was taken seriously," Lavrov emphasized.

Lavrov slams ‘fantasies’ about Western troops in Ukraine

Such speculation will “only make the situation worse,” Russia’s foreign minister has warned

The ongoing speculation about the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine by Western nations are “fantasies” that “only make the situation worse,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said. The top diplomat delivered the remarks on Thursday during a press conference of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) ministerial meeting in Malta. “I believe that all these fantasies only make the situation worse and show that the people who are running around with such ideas stubbornly prefer not to hear the very clear warnings that [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin has repeatedly made publicly,” Lavrov stated.

Dmitry Trenin: How Russia plans to win in Ukraine

NATO knows it has lost its proxy war, but many of its members will still try to prevent a genuine peace

Russia’s military operation in Ukraine has shattered many preconceptions about modern warfare. The ‘drone revolution’ has garnered significant attention, but there is something far more critical at play. The conflict represents a direct, though proxy, clash between two nuclear superpowers in a region of vital importance to one of them. During the Cold War, these sort of wars were fought on the periphery of great power confrontations, with significantly lower stakes. Today, in Ukraine, much like six decades ago during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the world teeters once more on the brink of a nuclear catastrophe.

Work on BRICS Settlement Tool to Proceed Despite Trump's Threats - Russian Deputy FM

On November 30, Trump threatened the BRICS countries that he would impose 100% duties on them if they did not abandon plans to create an alternative currency to the dollar. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier that it was too early to talk about the creation of a single BRICS currency.

RAS AL-KHAIMAH, UAE (Sputnik) - The work on the development of settlement tools for BRICS member states will continue despite US President-elect Donald Trump's threats to impose 100% tariffs against the organization, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin told Sputnik on Friday. "This is a calculated platform opportunity. Of course the work on it will continue," Pankin said on the sidelines of the XVII Verona Eurasian Economic Forum in the UAE's emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

[lboogie1906]

The National Negro Business League (August 23 & 24, 1900) was founded by Booker T. Washington in Boston. The league, which predated the US Chamber of Commerce by 12 years, strives to enhance the commercial and economic prosperity of the African American community. The NNBL was incorporated in 1901 in New York and established hundreds of chapters across the US. In 1966, the National Negro Business League was reincorporated in DC and renamed the National Business League.

Booker T. Washington believed that solutions to the problem of racial discrimination were primarily economic and that African American entrepreneurship was vital. He founded the league to further the economic development of African American businesses to achieve social equality in American society. Members in the league included small business owners, farmers, doctors, lawyers, craftsmen, and other professionals. The league maintained directories for all major US cities and incorporated African American contacts in numerous businesses.

Oftentimes, white business leaders addressed the National Business League at their annual conventions. Booker T. Washington himself kept contact with members of the white corporate elite, such as Andrew Carnegie and Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears, Roebuck, and Co.

The league established the Booker T. Washington Foundation in 1967 as a public, non-private operating foundation to serve as the research and development arm of the organization. It established the National Student Business League in 1974 as its collegiate division. Although the influence of the league declined since its peak in the early half of the 20th century, the organization still exists today and is headquartered in Atlanta with a second “federal” office in DC. The National Business League continues to promote economic enterprise and financial literacy for African Americans throughout the US and international trade with Africa and the African Diaspora. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[zawehzawah]

consider reading this substack article which debunks a lot of claims about the environmental impact of chatgpt https://andymasley.substack.com/p/individual-ai-use-is-not-bad-for

Uh

Whoever this is, they are using really unscientific methods of measurement and even admit that they're just doing napkin math??

so i'm just gonna go with MIT on this one

https://news.mit.edu/2025/explained-generative-ai-environmental-impact-0117

"Scientists have estimated that the power requirements of data centers in North America increased from 2,688 megawatts at the end of 2022 to 5,341 megawatts at the end of 2023, partly driven by the demands of generative AI. Globally, the electricity consumption of data centers rose to 460 terawatts in 2022. This would have made data centers the 11th largest electricity consumer in the world, between the nations of Saudi Arabia (371 terawatts) and France (463 terawatts), according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

By 2026, the electricity consumption of data centers is expected to approach 1,050 terawatts (which would bump data centers up to fifth place on the global list, between Japan and Russia).

While not all data center computation involves generative AI, the technology has been a major driver of increasing energy demands."

[screwz]

she armor...

she armored on...

on my core...

til I...

Armored Core: For Answer is a 2008 vehicular combat game developed by FromSoftware and published by Ubisoft for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the 13th installment in the mecha-based Armored Core series, the game is the direct sequel to Armored Core 4.

Armored Core: For Answer

North American Xbox 360 cover art

Developer(s)FromSoftwarePublisher(s)Ubisoft

JP: FromSoftware

Director(s)Hidetaka MiyazakiProducer(s)Toshifumi NabeshimaComposer(s)Kota HoshinoSeriesArmored CorePlatform(s)PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Release

JP: March 19, 2008

NA: September 16, 2008

AU: November 27, 2008

EU: November 28, 2008

Genre(s)Vehicular combatMode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Contents

GameplayEdit

AC customization has been changed from the previous Armored Core title, with a new interface and many new parts not found in Armored Core 4. Online mode returns with a new co-operative mode alongside the player versus mode. Gameplay enhancements included a power increase for both Quick Boost and Over Boost, as well as an auxiliary high-speed booster, which is known as the Vanguard Over Booster (VOB). Another new feature in the game is the Assault Armor attack that becomes available by equipping certain Over boost parts. This attack uses up all available Primal Armor (PA) that the AC has and generates a huge blast consisting of Kojima particles (highly reactive particles) that destroys or damages all objects surrounding the AC. However, this also leaves the AC vulnerable because not only will the AC lose its PA, it will also not regenerate for a few seconds. Laser blades are deadlier because of the revamped laser blade attack. Once the blade has acquired a lock-on, the AC will instantly rush to the target, traveling a great distance to use the laser blade. All parts carried over from the previous game have had their parameters altered, much like the transition between previous series installments Silent Line and Nexus. The on-screen HUD can now be changed to any of 20 colors. There are now 442 FRS tuning points available to unlock, which is an increase from the 300 (PS3) and 337 (Xbox 360) FRS points available in AC4. Maps are much larger and more detailed including environmental damage such as collapsing buildings. The game is also the second in the series (after Last Raven) to feature multiple endings, with three different possible plot branches available depending on your actions and decisions in the game.

PlotEdit

Five years have passed since the LYNX War. Earth is now governed by the League of Ruling Companies, an international council composed of the corporations that survived the war, which ostensibly seeks to preserve global peace and corporate prosperity. Since much of the world's surface was polluted to inhospitable levels by hazardous Kojima Particles dispersed during the LYNX War, the League built perpetually-airborne habitats known as Cradles, which are dependent on ground-based power plants called Arteria that generate even more Kojima Particles as waste. Over half of the human population now lives in the Cradles, while the surface is a battlefield where corporate armies and mercenaries wage the interminable Economic War.

During the League's rise to power, it relied on the capabilities of LYNX, the pilots of the combat mechs known as NEXTs, and then abandoned the LYNX on the surface in favor of utilizing Arms Forts, mobile super weapons that could bring tremendous amounts of firepower to bear. While most LYNX are forced to eke out a living as mercenaries for Collared, a League-controlled intermediary organization, a handful of LYNX discovered the corporations' dark secrets and formed a resistance group called ORCA to overthrow the League.

The player takes on the role of a LYNX working for Collared who eventually becomes a pivotal figure in the escalating conflict between the League and ORCA. Three ending routes can be unlocked sequentially over three playthroughs. In the first ending, the player is tasked by the League with stopping ORCA from seizing the Arteria; the player succeeds, ensuring the Cradles stay aloft, but Kojima Particle radiation remains an unsolvable problem and will one day rise to the Cradles' altitude. In the second ending, the player helps ORCA take control of the Arteria; as a result, the Cradles lose power and make an emergency descent to the surface, causing many civilians to die from Kojima Particle exposure. However, the energy from the Arteria is redirected to destroy an array of autonomous weaponized satellites that had been preventing all attempts to leave Earth, and with the satellites gone, it becomes possible for humanity to travel to space and build its civilization anew on other planets.

Once the player has experienced the first two endings, the third ending route becomes available. A psychotic ORCA-affiliated LYNX with the callsign "Old King" reaches out to the player and asks for their help in destroying Cradle 03, a fleet of five Cradle airships with 100 million inhabitants between them. After the player and Old King carry out this unprecedented atrocity, Collared deploys a team of its best LYNX to hunt them down. Old King dies in the battle, but the player emerges victorious and goes on to destroy all of the other Cradles, becoming the single most prolific killer in history.

ReceptionEdit

Learn more

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2008)

Reception

Aggregate scoreAggregatorScorePS3Xbox 360Metacritic62/100[15]64/100[16]Review scoresPublicationScorePS3Xbox 3601Up.comC−[1]C−[1]Destructoid3/10[2]N/AEdgeN/A7/10[3]Famitsu29/40[4]30/40[5][6]Game Informer6.25/10[7]6.25/10[7]GameSpot7/10[8]7/10[8]GameZone7.9/10[9]7/10[10]IGN7.8/10[11]8/10[12]PlayStation Official Magazine – UK5/10[13]N/AOfficial Xbox Magazine (US)N/A5.5/10[14]

Armored Core: For Answer received "mixed or average" reviews on both platforms according to the review aggregator website Metacritic.[15][16] One of the most consistent complaints among reviewers seemed to be the lack of any sort of online community. Kevin Van Ord of GameSpot stated in his review that there were "fewer than a dozen [players on] Xbox Live" when he tried to playtest the game, and that similar attempts to find a game on PlayStation Network yielded "just a single opponent".[8] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 29 out of 40 for the PlayStation 3 version,[4] and one nine and three sevens for the Xbox 360 version,[6] while Famitsu Xbox 360 gave the latter console version 31 out of 40.[5]

ReferencesEdit

^ Jump up to:a b Quintero, Cesar (September 26, 2008). "Armored Core: For Answer Review". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 15, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

^ Nicholson, Brad (October 21, 2008). "Destructoid review: Armored Core: For Answer (PS3)". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

^ Edge staff (January 2009). "Armored Core: For Answer (X360)". Edge. No. 197. Future plc. p. 94.

^ Jump up to:a b "アーマード・コア フォーアンサー [PS3]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

^ Jump up to:a b "アーマード・コア フォーアンサー [Xbox 360]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on November 14, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

^ Jump up to:a b Ihtsham, Usman (March 26, 2008). "Famitsu For The Week". WhatIfGaming. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

^ Jump up to:a b Reiner, Andrew (December 2008). "Armored Core: For Answer: This mech's broken. Eject! Eject!". Game Informer. No. 188. GameStop. p. 110. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

^ Jump up to:a b c VanOrd, Kevin (October 1, 2008). "Armored Core: For Answer Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

^ Bedigian, Louis (September 29, 2008). "Armored Core for Answer - PS3 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

^ Folkers, Brandon (September 29, 2008). "Armored Core for Answer - 360 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 3, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

^ Clements, Ryan (September 22, 2008). "Armored Core for Answer Review (PS3)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

^ Clements, Ryan (September 22, 2008). "Armored Core for Answer Review (X360)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

^ "Armored Core: For Answer". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK. Future plc. January 2009. p. 103.

^ "Armored Core: For Answer". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. December 2008. p. 87.

^ Jump up to:a b "Armored Core: For Answer for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

^ Jump up to:a b "Armored Core: For Answer for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

External linksEdit

Official website (Japanese)

Armored Core: For Answer at MobyGames

[stromuprisahat]

The secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a research and policy organization that works on behalf of the world’s richest countries, recently compared the prevailing elite posture to that of the fictional Italian aristocrat Tancredi Falconeri, who declared, “If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” If this view is correct, then much of the charity and social innovation and give-one-get-one marketing around us may not be reform measures so much as forms of conservative self-defense—measures that protect elites from more menacing change.

Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World (Anand Giridharadas)

[onlyqueeronlytruth]

Have you heard about this project?

🌈"PRIDE BANK"🌈: An inclusive bank for a united community

Built on the principles of inclusivity, respect and equality, Pride Bank is a revolutionary banking project designed to meet the specific needs of LGBTQ+ people. Conceived in 2018, this ambitious project aims to offer an inclusive financial alternative, allowing everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, to access essential banking services.

A bank without discrimination Pride Bank promises to put an end to the financial discrimination often experienced by members of the LGBTQ+ community. It commits to:

Offering banking without discrimination, allowing the opening of bank accounts simply and securely. Offering equitable access to credit, in particular to finance personal and professional projects, or steps such as transition operations. Supporting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship by providing suitable financial tools and actively supporting initiatives led by members of the community.

A Dual Global Location Pride Bank plans a dual headquarters to embody its global mission:

🇺🇸Silicon Valley, California: A symbol of technological innovation and inclusion. 🇧🇷São Paulo, Brazil: A strategic stepping stone to serve Latin America, where the 🌈LGBTQ+ community🌈 faces unique challenges but also immense potential for economic development.

A vision for 2026-2027 The project, currently in the reflection phase, is facing many challenges, particularly due to global political upheavals. The inauguration of Donald Trump has slowed down certain aspects of development in the United States, but Pride Bank remains determined to see the light of day in 2027, by integrating innovative solutions to bypass regulatory and societal obstacles.

Technological and sustainable ambitions Relying on modern technologies such as blockchain to secure transactions and artificial intelligence to personalize services, Pride Bank also aims to integrate sustainable practices, by committing to minimizing its carbon footprint and supporting ecological projects led by the LGBTQ+ community.

A project in co-creation with the community Pride Bank wishes to actively involve the LGBTQ+ community in its creation process. Consultations will be organized to identify priority needs and co-construct truly adapted financial services.

Towards a new era of inclusive financial services By placing people and equality at the heart of its model, Pride Bank aspires to become much more than a bank: a true life partner, committed to the economic and social emancipation of the LGBTQ+ community. Stay connected for this bold adventure. Together, let's make Pride Bank a real reality and not a fantasy!🌈

[lukajagor]

Colossal Intensity of Changes in Croatia

In the past 16,000 days (approximately 44 years), Croatia has experienced four currencies. Here's a chronological overview:

Yugoslav dinar (before 1991) – Used while Croatia was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Croatian dinar (1991–1994) – A temporary currency introduced after Croatia declared independence.

Croatian kuna (1994–2023) – Replaced the Croatian dinar as a more stable national currency.

Euro (since January 1, 2023) – Adopted as the official currency after Croatia joined the Eurozone.

Each currency change marked significant historical and political milestones in Croatia's journey.

Historically, especially since the Industrial Revolution until today, Croatia has not had such an intense period of currency changes within 16,000 days (about 44 years) as it has recently. The intensity of changes in Croatia, especially from 1991 until today, is exceptional compared to most of the region's history.

Only a few countries in the world have experienced such a turbulent period.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organization that works to promote policies that improve economic and social well-being worldwide. Its role in currency policies primarily involves providing guidance, analysis, and recommendations rather than direct enforcement, as currency policy is typically the domain of individual nations or monetary unions (like the Eurozone). Here's an overview of how the OECD engages with currency-related matters:

1. Currency and Economic Policy Guidance

The OECD examines how currency policies impact:

Global trade and investment flows

Economic growth and financial stability

Competitiveness of member and non-member economies

The OECD publishes detailed reports on exchange rate regimes, macroeconomic policies, and structural reforms that influence currency stability.

2. Exchange Rate Policies

The OECD advocates for:

Market-Determined Exchange Rates: Encourages floating exchange rate systems where market forces determine currency value.

Transparency: Recommends that central banks and governments provide clear communication about monetary and currency policies.

Avoiding Competitive Devaluation: Opposes practices like "currency wars," where countries intentionally devalue their currencies to boost exports at the expense of global economic stability.

3. Surveillance and Peer Reviews

Economic Outlook Reports: The OECD regularly monitors and evaluates member economies, identifying risks related to currency fluctuations.

Policy Reviews: Member countries undergo peer reviews where the OECD assesses monetary, fiscal, and structural policies, including their impact on currency stability.

4. Collaboration with Other Institutions

While the OECD provides policy recommendations, it often collaborates with organizations like:

IMF: Focused on global financial stability and exchange rate systems.

World Bank: Addresses development finance and its interaction with currency policies.

G20: Involves discussions on global economic governance, including currency stability.

Current and Future Plans

Digital Currencies: The OECD is studying the impact of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) on monetary policy, international trade, and financial inclusion.

Green Economy Transition: Exploring how currency policies can support sustainable economic growth and investment in green technologies.

Emerging Market Support: Developing recommendations to help emerging economies manage currency volatility, especially in light of global shocks like pandemics or geopolitical tensions.

The OECD plays an advisory and analytical role in currency policies, emphasizing stability, transparency, and sustainable economic growth. Its current focus includes adapting to challenges posed by digital currencies, global financial integration, and climate change policies.

Croatia's economy, while experiencing growth and stability in recent years, still faces several challenges that are connected to both long-term structural issues and the aftermath of rapid transitions, such as currency changes and political shifts. Here’s a breakdown of the current economic situation, taking into account factors like the 600,000 empty apartments and the trend of local residents working abroad:

1. Economic Growth & Stability

Croatia has seen positive economic growth since joining the European Union in 2013, with steady GDP growth rates, declining unemployment, and stronger integration into the EU’s economic framework. The adoption of the euro in 2023 further helped stabilize the economy in terms of international trade and investment, and it reduced exchange rate risk for businesses.

However, the economic growth rate in recent years has been moderate, and Croatia is still grappling with some significant challenges that hinder its full economic potential.

2. Real Estate Issues: 600,000 Empty Apartments

The existence of a large number of empty apartments (600,000, according to some estimates) reflects deeper issues within the Croatian housing market. Some of the key challenges include:

Urban-Rural Divide: Many of the vacant apartments are located in areas that have seen depopulation due to migration, while larger cities (especially Zagreb, Split, and coastal areas) face rising demand for housing.

Lack of Affordable Housing: Even though there are many empty properties, high prices in urban areas make it difficult for many Croatians to afford housing, especially younger people or those from rural areas.

Over-reliance on Tourism: In certain coastal and tourist-heavy regions, the real estate market is increasingly oriented towards short-term rentals (Airbnb), leaving many properties unoccupied for most of the year by locals.

These factors contribute to economic inefficiency, as significant capital is tied up in real estate that is not contributing to the active economy or the well-being of residents.

3. Migration of Workers Abroad

The trend of local residents working abroad, particularly to wealthier EU countries like Germany, Austria, and Ireland, has been a significant issue for Croatia’s labor market:

Labor Shortages: Many young and skilled workers leave in search of better pay and working conditions, contributing to labor shortages in certain industries. This has put pressure on sectors like construction, healthcare, and education.

Brain Drain: Croatia is experiencing a "brain drain," where highly educated workers, particularly those in technical fields, are leaving for higher-paying opportunities abroad. This limits the country’s capacity to innovate and grow its knowledge economy.

Dependency on Remittances: While some workers send remittances home, which helps support the local economy, this is not a sustainable long-term solution to ensure national prosperity.

4. Structural Challenges and Long-term Economic Health

Public Debt: Croatia’s public debt, while improving, remains a concern. The country faces challenges in balancing fiscal policy and addressing long-term budgetary pressures, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global economic shocks.

Demographics: Croatia, like many European countries, is facing an aging population, which puts additional pressure on the social welfare system and the healthcare sector.

While Croatia's economy is relatively stable, and the euro adoption provides some benefits, the country still faces significant structural challenges. The large number of empty apartments, ongoing labor migration, and public debt issues all point to underlying inefficiencies that limit economic growth. The economy's strength today is moderate, but its future will depend heavily on addressing these challenges, improving domestic productivity, and creating conditions that encourage both the return of migrants and the investment of capital into the real economy (rather than speculation in real estate).

Acknowledgment

I would like to thank ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, for assisting with research, providing statistics, and offering insights into the importance of low-impact exercise programs. The information gathered through this collaboration has helped enrich the content of this article and provide a deeper understanding of the topic.

[vzyt]

Blog Post Week #2 due 9/6

What is the impact of media consolidation on news diversity and quality?

Social media development trends have become more important as most people get in touch with social media or cyberspace. Not only providing an endless source of information, cyberspace is also a place to connect human society, promote production, and business, and increase the value of life. However, cyberspace also become a favorable environment for the dissemination of fake news, and bad and toxic information. Fake news and bad and toxic information often tend to spread faster than official news from the media.

Furthermore, media consolidation has a big impact on news diversity and quality. While ownership of media has concentrated in large corporations, the contents become more homogeneous and are focused on profitability rather than journalistic integrity. Such consolidation restricts the range of viewpoints and in-depth reporting, limiting the media's role in fostering an informed, engaged public.

What is the role of the media in shaping public perception and political engagement?

The media has a particularly influential role in shaping public perception and political engagement through the selective diffusion of information and framing issues in specific ways. The media outlets are reflective of the interests of powerful elites and hence shape public opinion and political behavior.

What are the impacts of social media on political movements and activism?

Political propaganda plays an important role in modern society, and is an effective way to create consensus, contributing to the development of society in general. Along with the internet, social networks are now developing strongly and have great appeal to many different subjects in society. While social media may build upon or facilitate political movements or activism through organizing and mobilizing tools and raising awareness, the utilization of the platforms also has its downside. Social media can be used for co-optation and surveillance that undermine the efforts of activists. Algorithms and platform policies create echo chambers, limit reach, and suppress voices of dissent.

What does Critical Theory have to do with Social Media?

Critical theory is a specific form of critical thinking. It is a way to analyze social media platforms, considering them in larger social and economic environments by critiquing them. Through the use of critical theory, Fuchs understands social media, discussing how it contributes to power and ideological shaping of society, and how social media is a priority method through which these dynamics operate. It deconstructs how social media platforms reinforce power structures, influence cultural norms, and commodify user interactions. In this way, inequalities can be reproduced through social media, ideologies can be disseminated, and resistance opportunities can be created.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Business bankruptcies forecast to grow 18% in Brazil by 2026

Looming trade war raises risks, with Allianz Trade expecting country to rank fourth globally with 4,200 companies facing liquidation

Allianz Trade, the global leader in trade credit insurance, has released its new Global Insolvency Report today, which forecasts that Brazil will rank fourth in the expansion of company liquidations by 2025.

In early 2024, Allianz had anticipated 2,800 corporate insolvencies in Brazil. The actual result was significantly higher, reaching 3,541 firms or 26.5% more than estimated, according to their calculations. All sectors were impacted, with a 30% increase in services and 41% in industry. High inflation and rising interest rates drove these results, despite 3.4% growth in GDP last year.

Projections now suggest that insolvencies in Brazil could rise by 13% this year, reaching 4,000 firms, and by 5% in 2026, totaling 4,200 companies.

For 2025, Brazil's GDP growth is expected to slow to around 2.1%, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Allianz expects the slower economic activity and tigther monetary policy to continue pressuring corporate finances, pushing the number of insolvencies to the highest level in 20 years over the coming quarters.

Continue reading.