From coal to solar and wind power plants: Towards a renewable energy production in India, Pennsylvania, and the Philippines

Publicerad denFörfattareAnna Drujan

The transition to renewable energy production must be tackled globally. Three examples from India, the US state of Pennsylvania and the Philippines show that climate-friendly power generation can succeed. They are leaving coal behind them and are building large solar and wind power plants. This is because coal, oil and gas are fossil fuels that are extremely harmful to the climate. To combat the climate crisis, we need to be replace them with renewable energy sources.
Renewable energy in India: the world’s largest solar park
The world’s largest solar and wind power plant is being built in a barren salt desert in western India. Once completed in 5 years, it will supply around 16 million Indian households with electricity from renewable sources. The construction of this park will cost 20 billion dollars. The park will be one of the most important and largest clean energy sources in the world. The company behind the project is AGEL (Adani Green Energy Limited), which once made its fortune with coal and is now turning to renewable energy production.

“A region so large, a region that is so unencumbered, there’s no wildlife, there’s no vegetation, there’s no habitation. There is no better alternative use of that land,” said the managing director Adani about the site in the middle of a salt desert.

India spends 100 billion US dollars on the transition to renewable energy
With the huge solar and wind farm India wants to make its own energy policy fit for the future. The power plant is intended to reduce environmental pollution, achieve climate goals, and meet energy requirements at the same time. After all, India is not only one of the countries with the highest population in the world, but also one of the fastest growing economies. The demand for electricity is correspondingly high. Until now, 70% of India’s electricity has been generated by coal. But that is now set to change. The company is planning to invest 100 billion US dollars in the transition to renewable energy in India over the next decade, with 70% of the investment earmarked for clean energy.
After all, if India were to fall back on fossil fuels, the consequences the climate crisis would be catastrophic. Not only globally, but also for its own country. This is because India – like other South Asian countries – is repeatedly overwhelmed by extreme heatwaves. These heatwaves have led to power cuts, extreme air pollution and increased glacial melting in the north of the country. Since 1992, more than 24,000 people have died from heatwaves in India.
Pennsylvania replaces its largest coal-fired power station with a solar farm
Pennsylvania closed one of its largest coal-fired power stations in June 2023 and is now building a huge – 2,700-hectare – solar farm instead. The solar farm will be built in close proximity to the old power station to prevent further damaging of the environment. Once the plant is up and running, it will supply 75,000 households with green electricity. The costs amount to 90 million US dollars. The Mineral Basin Solar Project fills a critical gap in power generation and creates 750 new jobs. The plant is expected to be completed in 2026.
A gigantic solar park like this is being build in Pennsylvania. (Unsplash: Nuno Marques)
A huge photovoltaic park in the Philippines
Ambitions are also high in the Philippines when it comes to switching to solar and wind energy: With around 5 million solar panels on 3,500 hectares, the energy company SPNEC (Solar Philippines New Energy Corporation) planes to build one of the biggest solar parks in the world – probably even larger than the one in India. The park will go into operation in 2026. If the project succeeds a large proportion of the Philippines’ energy requirements will be covered by renewable energies.
Unlike in India or Pennsylvania, the solar park in the Philippines is being built on a large area of forest. This is of course problematic. It further destroys the habitat of animals and plants. Experience has shown that this has a negative impact on local biodiversity. However, this diversity is essential for maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
Climate-friendly power generation: Away from coal and gas
Scientists have agreed for a long time that we can only stop the climate crisis if we replace environmentally harmful energy sources with renewables. This means moving away from gas and coal and towards wind, water and solar energy. Many countries and regions now have realized this: The global output of wind energy, for example, doubled between 2014 and 2020. India, Pennsylvania, and the Philippines are all taking a step towards renewable energy and are examples of how future energy needs can be met in a climate-friendly way.
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Investigative platform uncovers: Orbán finances anti-immigration advertising in 7 EU countries

Publicerad denFörfattareAnna Drujan

The Hungarian non-profit organization “Direkt36” has proven the importance of investigative journalism: it has uncovered that Viktor Orbán has financed xenophobic online advertising – in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Belgium. Was Orbán trying to influence elections in other EU countries? Evaluations by the “Google Advertising Transparency Center” also point to this.
In autumn 2023, the cabinet office of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán apparently placed video advertisements with inflammatory anti-immigration statements on YouTube. The explosive thing about this is that the ads were not only shown in Hungary, but also in seven other EU countries. The xenophobic videos were distributed in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Italy, Austria, Germany and Belgium.
This was reported by the Hungarian investigative platform “Direkt36“. Together with VSquare.org, they found out that these ads were viewed between 8 and 9.7 million times by users. This allowed them to draw public attention to Orbán’s alleged election interference.
Did Orbán’s ads influence elections in other EU countries?
At the time the ads were placed, there were election campaigns in four of the seven countries. Slovakia and Poland elected a new parliament in the fall, while Germany and Italy elected new representatives on the municipal level. The advertising placements in Slovakia were particularly intensive. They were displayed between 1.6 and 1.8 million times on screens there. Theoretically, the campaign could have reached around a third of the entire population. The Slovakian government has already reacted to the possible influence:

“As a government and personally as Minister of Defense, I have been informed about the interference of the Hungarian government in the Slovakian electoral system and processes. This also includes the deliberate highlighting of issues such as migration, which was a top priority,” said Jaroslav Naď, Slovakian Minister of Defense from 2020 to May 2023.

The importance of investigative journalism during elections
The content of the promotional videos incites fear of refugees and is reminiscent of videos by the Alt-Right. They were produced in English and can therefore be understood by most of the European population. The suspicion arises that anti-immigration sentiment is being promoted in seven EU countries.
It remains to be seen how this should be dealt with. If Hungary really wanted to influence elections, then extreme caution is required in the EU elections. The work of investigative platforms such as Direkt36 and VSquare is therefore essential for the election campaign period in the upcoming months. Because at a time when we can expect a swing to the right in the European Parliament, only the early exposure of such scandals can ensure fair elections.
This work is licensed under the Creative Common License. It can be republished for free, either translated or in the original language. In both cases, please cite Kontrast / Lena Krainz as the original source/author and set a link to this article on Scoop.me. https://thebetter.news/orban-influences-elections-eu/

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Finland is successfully fighting homelessness – despite new political developments

Publicerad denFörfattareKontrast.at

No more homelessness – a goal that sounds like utopian fiction may become reality soon. The “Housing First” concept in Finland, supported by NGOs like the Y-Foundation, is aiming towards the end of homelessness in 2027. In a new interview, Juha Kahila, Head of International Affairs at the Y-Foundation, talks about the implementation of “Housing First”, new developments in politics and his hopes for the future.
The “Housing First” project in Finland is still successfully reducing homelessness. Those affected by homelessness receive an apartment and additional support without any preconditions. The result: The number of people without housing is decreasing steadily since the 80s. In 2022, there were 3,686 homeless people in Finland, which is 262 less than in 2021. The aim is to end homelessness in Finland by 2027. We’ve already reported on this in a previous article.
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New developments on “Housing First” in Finland
A key stakeholder in the Finnish fight against homelessness is the Y-Foundation. The NGO has been providing housing for the homeless since 1985. It is now one of the sponsors of the “Housing First” policy in the country. It organizes housing and is the fourth largest landlord in Finland. Today, it manages 19,000 apartments throughout Finland. 7,000 of these apartments are specifically for homeless people or people who are about to become homeless.
In a recent interview Juha Kahila who works as Coordinator and Lead Coordinator of the National Housing First Development Network at the Y-Foundation is talking about the process of “Housing First”. He gives detailed information about the financial benefits of the housing project and explains the role of the Finnish government in the realization of this concept.
A new development is the election of a conservative government in 2023. Kahila believes that the success of “Housing First” is depending on whether the new government is cutting certain social benefits. But he is still hopeful that the goal of ending homelessness can be achieved. Furthermore, he thinks that organizations and political decision-makers in other countries can be inspired by the project and that this will help the countries greatly in the long term.
Interview with Juha Kahila from the Y-Foundation about the implementation of “Housing First” in Finland
Kontrast.at spoke to Juha Kahila about the successful Finnish concept and the Y-Foundation. He has been involved in helping the homeless for over 10 years and worked at the Finnish Youth Housing Association services (NALPA) before becoming its CEO. He later moved to the Y-Foundation, where he now works as Head of International Affairs. You can read the interview in German here.
Juha Kahila (Photo: Juha Kahila:Twitter)
Mr. Kahila, what does the process of the allocation of housing look like? How does a person approach you and how long does it take to get an apartment?
Juha Kahila: First of all, before a person becomes homeless, most people have already tried a lot to prevent this. If someone still loses their apartment, they can consider – together with one of our social workers – what the best housing solution and form of support is. In other words, whether it should be a single apartment with occasional support or a “Housing First” unit, i.e. an apartment in a “Housing First” complex where help is available around the clock.
At the moment, we can provide both housing and support very quickly. Only if someone wants to live in a specific “Housing First” unit they may have to wait longer for an apartment. But many people want to wait in temporary accommodation anyway and that is always possible.
Social benefits begin to flow immediately. Depending on the person’s situation, we also consider appropriate job opportunities. For example, the “Housing First” units offer low-threshold employment provision themselves.
The Y-Foundation always works together with other agencies. We provide the housing. Support, advice, social services and other services are then provided by the welfare districts and other organizations.
Common rooms – and even a sauna: This is what the “Housing First” houses look like
What do these apartments or houses look like? Are they spread throughout the city?
Juha Kahila: The apartments are mainly quite ordinary. 80 percent of the apartments are scattered around the city. The rest are in “Housing First” units, each with around 33 to 100 apartments in one building and support services on the ground floor. The apartments are equipped with a fridge, oven, etc. The residents furnish the rest themselves so that they feel at home. In the “Housing First” units, there are also communal areas where people can cook, watch TV together or just meet and chat.
Housing First Unit Väinolä in Espoo, Finland. (Foto: Y-Foundation, zVg)
There are certainly people who say it is unfair that many people have to spend a large part of their income on housing, while others simply get it “for free”. What do you say to them?
Juha Kahila: The answer is that housing is a human right. If that’s not enough of an argument, we explain that it actually saves money to provide housing in this way – and to avoid people having to sleep in emergency accommodation or on the street. We explain that the city is also safer for everyone if we really take care of everyone.
Besides, nothing is given away for free, people pay rent for their apartments. Of course, in the early stages most of them pay their rent through various social benefits. But a permanent home gives them the chance to contribute more again.
You and the Y-Foundation say that it is cheaper for the state to provide housing for the homeless than to have them remain in their situation. What does this calculation look like?
Juha Kahila: It’s true that ending homelessness saves money in the long run. The reason behind this is that people don’t have to use expensive emergency services. They spend fewer nights in prison, they less often need police or legal services and so on. In Finland, we have calculated that the savings are around 15,000 euros per person per year if they get housing instead of being left in shelters or on the streets.
Once people have a home and the help they need, the resources that are needed for the other shelters and services are freed up. In addition, homeless people become taxpayers again in the long run – but we haven’t even included that in our calculation.
Overall, the effects are multifaceted. We studied this in Finland and there are studies worldwide that show the same result: It is always cheaper to house people with support than to leave them in emergency shelters or on the streets.
The initiative for “Housing First” came from the Finnish government
In Finland, there is a lot of political support for the “Housing First” approach. How did this come about – who convinced whom?
Juha Kahila: The “Housing First” model was inherently a political decision in Finland. It worked differently here than in many other countries, where organizations and other stakeholders had to explain to politicians why it makes sense. In Finland, politicians had to convince the stakeholders! With carrots and sticks, so to speak.

The politicians said: We want to change the system. If you are on board, we will help you with the renovation of the apartments. If you’re not on board, we won’t buy the accomodation you provide. So, there has been a ‘gentle push’.

However, we currently have a government that wants to cut social benefits and build less affordable housing in the future. Of course, this presents us with challenges. But we are not despairing, we are working with the tools we have.
What about other countries: Do NGOs or political representatives come to you to learn from your experience with “Housing First”?
Juha Kahila: Yes, we get several hundred visitors every year and many of them are political decision-makers: Ministers, mayors and EU decision-makers. In addition, many groups come and get inspiration for their own work.
Do you know of any comparable international projects?
Juha Kahila: There is currently great work on this in Denmark and Austria and I believe that this will benefit the countries greatly in the long term.
No one should be homeless by 2027 – Helsinki wants to achieve this goal by 2025
The Finnish government wants to eliminate homelessness completely by 2027. Will that work out?
Juha Kahila: That depends on the decisions of the current government. If not all the cuts are implemented, I firmly believe that it will be possible to end homelessness by the end of 2027.
Helsinki has an even more ambitious goal: the city wants to end homelessness by the end of 2025. They also have an excellent program, so this goal can also be achieved.
Are there also criticisms of “Housing First” and if so, from whom?
Juha Kahila: Sometimes, yes. Mostly from people who think that “Housing First” is only about housing and who don’t realize that other forms of support are an essential part of the model. Of course, we all need to do a better job in the future to reduce these prejudices.
What motivates you personally to work at the Y-Foundation?
Juha Kahila: The foundation really wants to change the world and is taking concrete measures to do so. Reducing homelessness worldwide is a goal that I can easily and happily support. We want to do everything we can to ensure that one day everyone has a home.
Is there a story of a person that you particularly remember and would like to share?
Juha Kahila: I used to be a social worker and worked with a young man for several years. At some point, he no longer needed support and was ready to live independently. This fall, after several years, he suddenly called to let me know that he had become a father and that he really wanted to tell me about it. The thought of that always makes me smile.
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Historic decision forces corporations to pay minimum of 15% tax globally

Publicerad denFörfattareKontrast.at

Multinational corporations such as Amazon, Facebook and Apple will now have to pay a minimum global tax of 15%. Even hiding their profits in tax havens won’t help. They will have to pay tax where they generate their profits, not where they produce or where they have their fictitious headquarters. This has been agreed by 138 countries after years of negotiation. This global tax is now coming into force – a “reform of the century” on the road to fair taxation.
OECD countries and the G20 nations have been negotiating global tax justice for more than ten years. In 2021, 138 of the 141 countries agreed on a two-pillar reform; a minimum tax rate of 15% and a tax shift away from the place of production to the place where profits are made. The regulation will come into force in January 2024.
The basic idea is simple. If profits in tax havens are taxed at a higher rate, it pays less for companies to shift their profits there. This won’t only effect stereotypical tax havens such as the Caribbean islands, where there is often no corporation tax at all. Tax havens within the EU, such as Ireland with 12.5% corporation tax or Hungary with 9%, are also set to be hit.
“The principle of paying taxes where profits are generated is gaining acceptance and a common tax rate of 15 per cent puts a stop to destructive downward tax competition,” says Evelyn Regner. The MEP (Social Democratic Party of Austria) has been campaigning for fairer taxation of corporations at the European level for years.
Despite criticism that China and the USA are not on board, and that a global tax rate of 15% is too low, there has never been a comparable regulation before.
“For the first time in the history of taxation, states are being given the right to tax profits generated in other states according to agreed rules,” write tax experts Prof Dr Deborah Schanz and Dr Ulrike Schramm.

A MINIMUM TAX RATE OF 15 % COULD BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL 220 BILLION DOLLARS
The minimum tax rate will apply to all groups with an annual turnover of more than 750 million euros – regardless of whether the parent company or only one subsidiary is based in an EU member state. This affects around 7,000 to 8,000 companies worldwide and, according to OECD calculations, is likely to generate around 200 billion dollars in additional taxes.
For Austria, the tax office is expecting 100 million euros in additional revenue from 2026. According to economist and head of the tax department at the Vienna Chamber of Labour, Dominik Bernhofer, this could even amount to 200 to 300 million euros per year. In the long term, it could be even more, as there will be less profit shifting and tax competition. Together with his colleague Professor Matthias Petutschnig from the University of Vienna, Bernhofer looked at 19 of the largest Austrian companies. These include the cardboard group Mayr-Melnhof, banks such as Erste Bank and Raiffeisen, Vöst and Andritz. According to them, these 19 companies alone would have to pay a good 130 million euros more per year.
AUSTRIAN PEOPLE’S PARTY REPEATEDLY OPPOSED TRANSPARENCY DIRECTIVES AT EU LEVEL
Conservative and liberal governments in Europe have been resisting tighter taxes for corporations for years. The Irish government, for example, once declared that it did not want Apple to pay any back taxes, even though this would be necessary under EU law. Austria’s Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) finance ministers are also taking part in the blockade games. Back in 2018, the then ÖVP Finance Minister Löger blocked tax disclosure by large corporations at EU level. His predecessor Schelling – also ÖVP – also blocked the EU’s planned financial reporting obligation for large corporations in 2016.
The Austrian parliament decided in 2019 that Austria should campaign for more transparency and tax disclosure, no matter who is finance minister in the future. Despite this decision, Austria abstained from another vote at EU level in 2021, once again preventing a push for greater tax transparency. The Finance Minister at the time was Gernot Blümel (ÖVP).
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Complete success for the 4-day week in South Africa: 90% of companies want to keep it

Publicerad denFörfattareKontrast.at

South Africa has become the latest in a long list of 4-day week trialists. Here, the test run was a complete success. Not only the employees, but also over 90% of participating companies want to keep the reduced working hours with the same pay. This is in line with the global trend. However, one small detail distinguishes the African country from previous tests – very few South Africans want to have Fridays off.
The test of the 4-day week in South Africa has been running since 1 March 2023. 28 South African companies and one company from Botswana took part. Most of them are in the IT, finance and recruitment sectors. But how exactly does a study like this work?
Essentially, employees only work four days a week instead of five, do the same work and receive the same salary. Unlike in most previous trials, each employee in the 29 companies was allowed to choose their own day off.
As in the previous tests, the results are consistently positive, both for the employees and for the companies.
RESULTS: LESS STRESS & BURNOUT AND MORE JOB SATISFACTION
After around six months, the first results are now available. These are similar to the results of trials already carried out in other countries. The employees report that they were:
– less stressed
– sick less often
– enjoyed going to work more than before the trial
The mood of trialists had also improved at home as a result of the reduction in working hours. The frustration and stress normally induced by a long week were not taken home from work.
The participating companies are also satisfied, as productivity has remained the same. In the long term, it could even increase as a result. This is because staff turnover fell during the test phase, i.e. fewer employees left the company during this time. This means that the company’s expertise and experience is retained.
Around 92% of the participating companies plan to retain the 4-day week. However, there is one peculiarity that distinguishes South Africa from fellow trialists. While employees in other countries mostly want Fridays off, it is not so clear in South Africa. Only around a quarter of them took Fridays off.
TEST OF THE 4-DAY WEEK IN SOUTH AFRICA IS PART OF A GLOBAL SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS
The study is part of a whole series of tests being carried out by the non-profit organisation “4 Day Week Global”. It has already been successfully implemented in several countries around the world, including Australia, Spain, Japan, the UK and Iceland. The results have been consistently positive.
Iceland is one of the first countries to de facto introduce the 4-day week following a successful test. The reduction in working hours is already a reality for almost 80% of Icelanders.
THE 4-DAY WEEK IN AUSTRIA?
In contrast to South Africa, a 4-day week test has yet to be carried out in Austria. Nevertheless, there are already some companies that have switched to the 4-day week on their own. For example, the Upper Austrian IT company Tractive. A detailed list of companies that have already opted for shorter working hours in Austria can be found here:
This work is licensed under the Creative Common License. It can be republished for free, either translated or in the original language. In both cases, please cite Kontrast.at / Ingo Geiger as the original source/author and set a link to this article on Scoop.me. https://thebetter.news/4-day-week-south-africa/

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Portugal launches a 4-day week field trial

Publicerad denFörfattareKontrast.at

Last week sees the launch of a pilot trial of the 4-day week in Portugal. Thirty-nine companies are taking part, including 12 that have previous experience with shorter working hours. The aim of the project is to measure the impact of the 4-day week on employees’ physical and mental health, as well as the economic impact on companies. 
The companies have committed to reducing weekly working hours while maintaining full pay. Specifically, the 100-80-100 model will be used: Employees receive 100% of pay if they work 80% of the time and perform 100% of the time in return. Companies have volunteered for the program without receiving financial compensation. They can also reverse the measure at any time if they wish.
Participation was open to all private companies in Portugal. The project is now being carried out in collaboration with the non-profit organization 4-Day-Week-Global, which is contributing its expertise and supporting implementation.
Companies from production, trade, research – including daycare center and nursing home
The participating companies come from various industries. They include companies from the manufacturing sector, the retail trade and non-profit organizations. A daycare center, a nursing home, a research and development center and a stem cell bank are also part of the pilot project.
The main reasons for participating were to reduce stress and burnout risks among employees and improve employee retention.
The project is coordinated and supervised by Dr. Pedro Gomes, professor of economics, and Dr. Rita Fontinha, professor of strategic management. They will follow the companies’ experiences during the test to determine the economic, social and environmental impact of the four-day week.
“The future belongs to those who can attract the best workforce”
“So much has changed in society in the last 30 years: the technology we use, the speed at which we communicate, the types of jobs we do, the length of our lives or the role of women in society. But we still organize work in exactly the same way. We believe that the four-day week is a more efficient and sustainable way to organize work in the 21st century, and that it brings mutual benefits for workers, companies and the economy,” the project’s coordinators, Dr. Pedro Gomes and Dr. Rita Fontinha, explain the field trial.
“Portugal is taking another step into the future of work. The four-day workweek pilot project is based on the premise that work-life balance is crucial to attracting employees and improving productivity and innovation. The best companies are those that guarantee to provide space for talent and fulfillment for workers. This is just the beginning – a promising start – of one of the many changes we are implementing in the labor market of a country that has historically high employment levels and strives to attract and retain talent. The future belongs to those who can attract the best workers with strong skills and higher levels of satisfaction in a globally competitive marketplace where talent and people are the best resources.”

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South Africa begins own production of groundbreaking HIV-prevention drug to make it affordable within the continent

Publicerad denFörfattareHarry Markham

South Africa will soon begin production of the groundbreaking HIV-prevention drug, long-acting cabotegravir (CAB-LA), finally making the life-saving treatment affordable within the African continent. The treatment, which must be injected every two months, almost entirely eliminates the risk of becoming infected by HIV through sex. This development is expected to help millions of people at risk within Africa.  
Following a collaborative agreement between the developers of CAB-LA, ViiV Healthcare, and the United Nations-backed Medicine Patent Pool (MPP), an HIV-preventative will be produced in South Africa for the first time. This has great implications for Africa as a whole, with an affordable solution to a problem that has long been a source of pain for the continent.
A patent-free, highly effective HIV-prevention drug
A branded version does exist, and in the USA just one injection costs $3,500. But thanks to this new agreement which was announced in March 2023, a generic version of the drug can finally be produced. A generic drug is a pharmaceutical drug that contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected by chemical patents. This is important as it drastically cuts the cost involved for governments looking to obtain the treatment for their populations. While there are already free of cost HIV-prevention drugs available across much of Africa, they must be taken daily and are not as effective as the long-lasting cabotegravir injection, which must only be taken every two months. The drug almost entirely eliminates the risk of becoming infected by HIV through sex.
It is rare for medicine to be produced within Africa, despite certain drugs such as HIV-preventatives being in higher demand there than anywhere else. In fact, only 38 countries across the world have any drug manufacturers, and even less than that actually develop new drugs. The new availability of this highly effective drug is expected to help millions of Africans who are currently at risk of HIV infection.
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Cooperation on producing generic drugs saves lives
The company which will produce the drug, an Indian group called Cipla, received permission to do so back in March through an agreement between its developers and the United Nations-supported MPP. The MPP state that:
“Our mission is to increase access to, and facilitate the development of, life-saving medicines for LMICs. We do this through an innovative approach to voluntary licensing and patent pooling.”
To achieve this goal, they work hand in hand with civil society, international organisations, industry, patient groups and governments. Between 2012 and 2021, through partnerships with 18 patent holders and 56 generic manufacturers, they provided 26.91 billion doses of treatment, saving at least 18,000 lives.
The work of groups such as the MPP is essential to ensuring that low-income nations can give essential and life-saving care to their populations. Often, people in need are left to suffer and potentially die because they do not have access to specialist medicines. The developers of the medicines themselves are usually guilty of financial gatekeeping, driving for profit as opposed to producing medicine for the common good.
Securing HIV-prevention drug is a big victory, but the fight continues
The gatekeeping of essential and lifesaving drugs by pharmaceutical companies has long been a problem. This problem really came to attention during the COVID pandemic, when rich nations were able to buy up billions of doses of the vaccine – more than they needed – while low-income nations were left to suffer.
Allowing Cipla to produce the vital drug in South Africa is a big first step, but there is still a lot more that could be achieved through further cooperation with drug producers. Firstly, allowing more companies to produce the same drug will improve availability and help to negate future shortages, as long as the companies which receive access to the knowledge are ready to produce in the quantities required. In addition to this, increased competition means lower prices. The US based Food and Drug Administration showed in one report that products with six or more generic producers were on average 95% cheaper than when only a single branded option was available.
Regardless of the imperfect situation, the ability to produce a generic version of CAB-LA in South Africa will save countless lives and is a victory in the ongoing struggle to make lifesaving drugs available to all in need. Läs mer…

Royalties for the Environment: Musicians give Earth Songwriting Credit

Publicerad denFörfattareSpeziell.at

Brian Eno has a charity organization called Earth/Percent. It encourages musicians to donate a portion of their earnings to environmental protection. They do this by making the earth a co-writer of their songs. The resulting income is then donated directly to environmental, research and climate protection projects. 
Most people know musician Brian Eno as the co-founder of the band Roxy Music. Still others may know him as the producer of music legends such as David Bowie, Talking Heads and U2. Few may know that he composed the startup music for Windows 95 – ironically, on an Apple Macintosh. 
Brian Eno is and was many things: musician, producer, electronic music pioneer and visual artist. His latest project: the charity organization Earth/Percent.
Earth/Percent: Income from music royalties for climate protection
The charity organization campaigns for more sustainability in the music industry. It collects money to donate directly to climate protection and environmental organizations. The idea behind it is quite simple: 

Musicians make the earth the co-author or co-songwriter of their songs. How much percent they give away, they determine thereby themselves.
The Earth receives royalties, i.e. income from the rights to the songs.
The income is used to support climate protection projects and environmental organizations

The first musicians have already joined in, including Fraser T. Smith, Jacob Collier, Anna Calvi, Mount Kimbie, Erland Cooper, Rostam Batmanglij and Aurora. 
On Brian Eno’s latest single “Line in the Sand, Earth is already co-writer, alongside Hot Chip and goddess.
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Earth/Percent’s goal: $100 million for climate protection by 2030
The organization aims to raise around $100 million for climate protection by 2030. The money will be used to support not only environmental protection organizations and research, but also people who already have to live with the effects of climate change. After all, the music industry still emits too much CO₂, too. 
“Many in the music industry want to do something about the climate crisis, but don’t know how. That’s why Earth/Percent works with scientists and experts to identify and fund the most promising solutions.” Brian Eno, founder of Earth/Percent
The music industry: music streaming consumes an extreme amount of electricity
In the UK alone, live concerts cause around 405,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year. Mainly from transport, flights, consumption and waste. And platforms like Apple Music, Spotify or Pandora also consume extreme amounts of electricity to run their music streaming platforms. 
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A train collision, a toxic derailment and thousands killed in an earthquake: How cost-cutting led to disaster in Turkey, Greece and Ohio

Publicerad denFörfattareHarry Markham

A train collision in Greece, a toxic derailment in Ohio, and thousands killed under collapsed buildings in Turkey – February 2023 was a month marked by tragedy across the world. What unites those affected by these disasters is a feeling of injustice and a demand for change within the governments and regulatory bodies that they see as responsible. As blame is passed around, the people of these nations see a common theme: cost-cutting, profiteering and a lack of respect for workers rights and civilian safety. 
As the dust settles after a month of tragedy across the world, those left grieving the loss of family, friends and fellow citizens, and fearing what the future holds, are questioning who is to blame for their loss. Residents of Turkey and Syria watched as buildings toppled and crumbled around them, people in East Palestine, Ohio, were left fearing the air they breathe, and Greeks awoke to the tragic news of a train collision which took the lives of dozens. These disasters are varied and spread across Europe, Asia, and North America, but they are linked by a common theme. They were – largely, if not entirely – avoidable. In each affected country, people have come out to protest what they see as government and regulatory failings, blaming a thirst for profit and the cost-cutting which goes along with it.
Neglected infrastructure and outdated equipment in Greece
Last month, in the Thessaly region of Greece, a passenger train and a freight train collided, resulting in the deaths of at least 57 people – many of whom were young students. This tragedy whipped up great anger among Greeks and particularly young people who had lost fellow students and felt a sense of solidarity with those who had been the victim of, as they see it, governmental failings.
Protests broke out as the news hit the population, soundtracked by calls of “murderers!” towards the officials and the centre right government who many Greeks hold responsible. Metro and rail workers immediately organised a strike through their unions, showing anger at a problem that had been placed at their door through years of apathy and neglect directed at their sector.
Those who wish to deflect from the government’s responsibility claim that the tragedy was the result of human error, which is reflected in the arrest of the stationmaster responsible for the affected section of railroad on the night of the collision. But as the unions see it, the people involved were never given a fair chance at operating safely. The stationmaster, Vassilis Samaras, according to his lawyer, shares this view. As they see it, they are partly responsible, but were working under difficult conditions – he was the only staff member responsible for the region as his colleagues had already gone home – and with a barely functioning signalling system.
Protesters highlight outdated rail infrastructure in the Mediterranean country (Photo: Nick Night / Unsplash)
Protesters and unions have called the government out on staff shortages, outdated equipment and underfunded infrastructure, with the overarching problem of cost-cutting at every opportunity. One such protester, Stelios Dormarazoglou, explained how he understood the disaster:
“Everyone knows that if the Greek state had wanted, this accident could have been prevented. My own son worked on upgrading the signalling system – nine years ago. Ever since it’s been stalled because companies are only ever interested in profits.”
The Greek president, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, has pledged to do all she can to modernise the Greek railway system and introduce automated safety systems, but for many Greeks this is too little too late.
Overworked railroad workers in Ohio
On February 3, thirty-eight cars of a Norfolk Southern freight train passing through East Palestine – eleven of which were carrying hazardous materials – derailed and ignited into a 48-hour-long blaze. This resulted in toxic and carcinogenic materials being pumped into the air and seeping into the ground and waterways. While people within a one-mile radius were evacuated, this is seen as a feeble response to an environmental disaster which should never have taken place.
The bulk of health concerns from residents of East Palestine and the surrounding area relate to the release of vinyl chloride into the surrounding environment. It is reported that upwards of 40,000 fish and animals have died as a result, including family pets as far as 10 miles away. While no people died directly as a result of the derailment, residents of the town report rashes, headaches and coughs, and live in a state of anxiety surrounding the long-term health and environmental consequences of the pollution.
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Echoing the accusations made by those in Greece, residents of the area and railroad workers argue that this disaster was avoidable and was the result of underfunding, overworking, and a lack of respect for safety regulations. Ron Kaminkow, the general secretary of Railroad Workers United, made clear his feelings of where responsibility lies:
“Without a change in the working conditions, without better scheduling, without more time off, without a better work-life balance, the railroad is going to suffer… it’s just intrinsic, with short staffing. Corners get cut and safety is compromised.”
Between 2018 and 2020, railroad jobs were cut by 40,000. This added great strain to already overworked employees, not helped by the fact that they receive no paid sick leave, forcing workers to either work through illness or lose wages. They can also be disciplined and eventually let go simply for taking time off. This added stress for the workers is even more insulting, as the six main railroad companies in the United States reported $22 billion in profits over 2022.
The toxic cocktail of working through illness, punitive measures for time off, increased workload due to staff cuts, and the resulting low morale, means railroad workers are far from being able to do their job to the required standard. This, evidently, can result in disaster when working with dangerous cargo.
Leo McCann, chair of the rail labor division of transportation trades department, summed up the general feeling, saying:
“The railroads are more interested in profitability and keeping their return on investment up and their numbers down so they can satisfy Wall Street, and they just live behind this shield hoping nothing will happen.”
Buildings crumble and collapse in Turkey
While nothing can be done to prevent the occurrence of an earthquake, the Turkish authorities were not naïve as to the inevitability of such an earthquake taking place. The nation, which straddles the European and Asian continents, is the meeting place of three tectonic plates: the African Plate, the Arabian Plate and the Anatolian Plate. This leaves the area highly vulnerable to severe earthquakes.
85,000 buildings collapsed as a result of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake, claiming almost 50,000 lives and injuring and additional 115,000 in Turkey. As the initial shock settled and rescue efforts began, people started to wonder why some buildings collapsed while others stood and saved those within.
Many nations, such as Japan, who are plagued with the same problem take strict measures to minimize destruction and casualties, mostly through building regulations which require contactors to construct earthquake-proof buildings. This was also the case in Turkey until 2019 when the Erdogan government retroactively legalised thousands of buildings which did not meet earthquake construction standards. In order to avoid adapting these substandard buildings and ignore regulations for new buildings, owners and contractors had only to pay a fine to the Turkish government, putting money before the lives of thousands.
Around 75,000 buildings in the earthquake zone had been affected by this change in law, and when the disaster struck many crumbled under the stress, leaving those within or passing by trapped, injured, or dead. Turkish engineers and architects had warned that this relaxation of the law was putting lives in danger, but they were ignored, and their voices drowned out by those who saw only economic growth.
The lax regulations and resulting tragedy are not just the result of profiteering, they are also due to a hunger for political power. A large part of Erdogan’s electoral success is down to his promise of more jobs and more homes for the Turkish people via a massive construction drive. But many of the country’s residents did not receive the homes that were promised – thanks to an obsession with profit and growth and the resulting neglect of regulations and building standards, they received tombs. Läs mer…

New study: Corporate profits drive up inflation in Australia – not higher wages

Publicerad denFörfattareHarry Markham

A recent Australia Institute report has shown that profiteering is the source of the country’s high inflation. This is in contrast to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s fearmongering claims that higher wages are the main threat to economic growth and security. The report highlights the need to control excess profits and artificially increased prices in order to protect the purchasing power of workers, and argues that increased wages should not be feared.
We’ve all heard the argument before—if wages increase, prices must increase to cover those wages, and the end result will be inflation. This theory is referred to as the ‘wage-price spiral’. It is often wheeled out to shut down any demands for fair pay, and particularly for the raising of the minimum wage. Contradicting this argument, a study by the Australia Institute has found that inflation is more the result of a ‘profit-price spiral’, with 69% of the nation’s inflation being attributed to excess profits.
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Australia Institute calls wage-price spiral ‘economic fairy-tale’
For many people, the wage-price spiral argument provokes suspicion. Inflation is all around, but wages don’t seem to have risen in line and surely can’t be to blame for higher prices. In Australia, inflation reached a year-over-year rate of 7.8% by the end of 2022. This has resulted in a major hit to the real purchasing power of working Australians.
Australia faces a macroeconomic slowdown due to higher interest rates, which means job losses and even greater income losses in the coming months—all while the nation reports an unprecedented upsurge in business profitability. These profits are shown in the report to be the result of businesses increasing prices well beyond incremental expenses for their own purchases. The institute states that:
“new empirical evidence confirms the dominant role of business profits in driving higher prices in Australia – not wages.”
They argue that the focus of monetary policy by the Reserve Bank of Australia on wage restraint is misplaced and unfair, and that more attention should be given to the artificial inflation of prices by businesses. Dr Jim Stanford, the researcher behind the report, said:
“we’ve been told a story that workers need to restrict wage growth and accept a permanent reduction in living standards in order to fight inflation. This report shows that’s an economic fairytale.”
Report’s major findings suggest profit-price spiral
The Institute’s investigation found that as of September 2022, Australian businesses had increased prices by a total of $160 billion per year above their higher expenses for wages, taxes, and other inputs.
Had those excess profits for Australian-made goods and services not been engineered through increased prices, average annual inflation since 2019 would have been 2.7% per year, as opposed to the reality of 5.2%. This would have also meant that such harsh interest rate hikes would not be necessary, and Australians would have been spared the worst part of job losses and a cost of living crisis.
Despite this empirical evidence, the Reserve Bank of Australia, who conduct monetary policy within the nation, repeatedly refer to the dangers of a wage-price spiral and make almost no reference to the role of excess corporate profits in driving inflation. In their most recent statement from February 2023, the Reserve Bank mention wages 75 times and profits only once. This is despite the fact that corporations have increased their profits much faster than the nominal growth of Australia’s economy, and have benefited from the acceleration of inflation since the pandemic.
The report states that the focus by the Reserve Bank of Australia on suppressing wage growth in their anti-inflation policy and ignoring the role of record profits:
‘blames the victims of inflation, while ignoring its perpetrators, and will impose further needless harm in coming months through further real wage reductions, and quite likely an economic recession.’
Profits grow while inflation’s victims suffer
This story is far from limited to Australia and is being played out across the world. As workers struggle to cover skyrocketing costs, energy companies and big businesses post record-breaking profits. Workers not be taken for fools by their employers and governments, and should continue the fight for higher wages and a share of the profits which they generate, at the expense of greedy owners and investors. Läs mer…