The EU
Beware Bolkestein re-born
The EU attempts to impose a neoliberal ‘Directive on Services’ on all Europeans
The EU Council of Employment Ministers, in company with the European Commission, have again decided to ignore all democratic procedures and attempted to impose a neoliberal ‘Directive on Services’ on all Europeans. This law, originally named after the former Dutch EU Commissioner and noted market enthusiast Frits Bolkestein, would allow privatization of virtually every public service on a ‘country of origin’ basis. This would mean that a Latvian water company could buy up Spanish or British water supply services and run them based on Latvian environmental and labour standards. The Spanish and British could have no role at all in regulation, which would be left up to Latvian regulators – who would presumably travel to Spain and Britain for this purpose. The original Directive was opposed by a European-wide mobilization of trade unionists and then watered down by the European Parliament. The Council and the Commission are now ignoring the changes and trying to impose the essentials of the original Directive.
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Voices from the margins:
Multimedia: video, podcasts, and more.
- Poetry Slam in Zimbabwe
- The House of Hunger poetry slam held in Zimbabwe in 2006, and organised by the Pamberi Trust, showcased young artists performing inspirational work on issues from corporate power to child soldiers. The video features four of the poets.
Published by Pambazuka News.
- Iranian women speak out
- 3 March 2007, London. Women's rights activists marched through the English capital last week to celebrate International Women's Day with a protest against the misogyny of the Islamic regime in Iran and the threat of invasion by the US. Hear the voices of Iranian feminists Azar and Leila Parnian and the sounds of the demonstration as it passed through the heart of the city. Click here to learn more about the campaign.
Produced by Heidi Bachram.
- Raised Voices audio:
- Benny from West Papua on Corporate Power
- Vinayan from India on agriculture
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