Contesting Corporate Globalism by James Goodman | 20 Dec 2005 Debates about the politics of globalisation centre on conflicting interpretations of the dominant sources of power in globalising late-modern society - over whether the key power-sources are institutional, cultural or material. These contrasting conceptions of globalised power generate diverging predictions about the likely sources of contestation and democratisation. The three predictions are characterised here as «globalist adaptation», «localist confrontation» and «transnational resistance». Each leads to a particular set of protest strategies, and are being actively exploited by social movements, but each has its inadequacies. Each are discussed and a concluding section debates the possibilities for conflict or concertation between them. Debates about the politics of globalisation centre on conflicting interpretations of the dominant sources of power in globalising late-modern society - over whether the key power-sources are institutional, cultural or material. These contrasting conceptions of globalised power generate diverging predictions about the likely sources of contestation and democratisation. The three predictions are characterised here as «globalist adaptation», «localist confrontation» and «transnational resistance». Each leads to a particular set of protest strategies, and are being actively exploited by social movements, but each has its inadequacies. Each are discussed and a concluding section debates the possibilities for conflict or concertation between them.
Nationalism and Globalism: Social Movement Responses by James Goodman | 20 Dec 2005 This essay talks about relational complexities that cut accross social movements, and the corresponding shift or melting of the 'national' and 'international' dichotomy, in the fight against globalisation. The new forms of political community paradoxically reach out beyond national-state borders into transnational communities of conscience. They express combinations of nationalism and cosmopolitanism, deeply contradictory and oxy-moronic, but no less potent. It seems Nairn's Modern Janus remains with us - exploring new realms of cosmopolitan solidarity while retaining roots in past reservoirs of national solidarity. This essay talks about relational complexities that cut accross social movements, and the corresponding shift or melting of the 'national' and 'international' dichotomy, in the fight against globalisation. The new forms of political community paradoxically reach out beyond national-state borders into transnational communities of conscience. They express combinations of nationalism and cosmopolitanism, deeply contradictory and oxy-moronic, but no less potent. It seems Nairn's Modern Janus remains with us - exploring new realms of cosmopolitan solidarity while retaining roots in past reservoirs of national solidarity.
Freedom Farmers Rediscover Food Security by Bangkok Post | 20 Dec 2005 In an effort to address the growing injustices of global rice trade, Thai farmers in Surin are going back to the roots of farming. "I don't farm for the money. I farm for food security," Phakphum said. "It's not only about food; it's our livelihood, our culture and our beliefs." In an effort to address the growing injustices of global rice trade, Thai farmers in Surin are going back to the roots of farming. "I don't farm for the money. I farm for food security," Phakphum said. "It's not only about food; it's our livelihood, our culture and our beliefs."
Free Seeds by Rafael Evangelista ([email protected]) | 20 Dec 2005 The Free Software Forum has demonstrated, through an innovative action, that fighting against code monopoly is also fighting against the appropriation of life by private enterprises. The Free Software Forum has demonstrated, through an innovative action, that fighting against code monopoly is also fighting against the appropriation of life by private enterprises.
BIO letter opposing amendments to the TRIPS Agreement by Biotechnology Industry Organization | 6 Dec 2005
The relationship between the TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the protection of traditional Knowledge: technical observations on the United States submission IP/C/W449 by Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, India and Pakistan | 18 Nov 2005
October 2005 by GRAIN | 30 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 The latest issue of Seedling further explores what we have come to call 'convergence': the ways in which people are resisting the push for monopoly rights over information in different sectors. The main feature is a panel interview from people working in different sectors in the fields of free and open software (FOSS), access to medicines, seeds, communications and the media. There is also an article about the synergies between the movements fighting for free seeds and free software, and some other convergence-related and -unrelated pieces. The latest issue of Seedling further explores what we have come to call 'convergence': the ways in which people are resisting the push for monopoly rights over information in different sectors. The main feature is a panel interview from people working in different sectors in the fields of free and open software (FOSS), access to medicines, seeds, communications and the media. There is also an article about the synergies between the movements fighting for free seeds and free software, and some other convergence-related and -unrelated pieces.
IPR epicenters a geography of intellectual property by Peter Drahos | 28 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 Where is intellectual property policy made? Governments make intellectual property law, but where does the policy thinking that lies behind the law come from? More than a decade ago I, along with my colleague John Braithwaite, set out to answer this question. Where is intellectual property policy made? Governments make intellectual property law, but where does the policy thinking that lies behind the law come from? More than a decade ago I, along with my colleague John Braithwaite, set out to answer this question.