Detained National Democratic Front consultant Elizabeth Prinsipe is heartened after an Ilocos regional trial court judge dismissed the rebellion charges against her and ordered her release. It’s one down, three more pending cases to go, for Prinsipe. BY ROD TAJON HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur (347 kms. north…
Day: October 25, 2008
Greenspan Concedes Error on Regulation
In his prepared remarks, Alan Greenspan, considered as the infallible maestro of the financial system, said he was in “a state of shocked disbelief” about the breakdown in the ability of banks to regulate themselves. He also warned about the economic consequences of the crisis, saying that he “cannot see how we will avoid a…
Halloween 2008 – The Horror of Foreclosures
As Halloween neared in 2006, the looming mortgage crisis was already apparent and now two years later the horror of it all hasn’t gone away. It keeps getting worse. We’ve spent the last few months talking about the possibility that two million people might lose their homes by early next year. Now it turns out…
Why Soldiers Rape: Culture of Misogyny, Illegal Occupation Fuel Sexual Violence in Military
The view of women as sexual prey has always been present in military culture. Indeed, civilian women have been seen as sexual booty for conquering soldiers since the beginning of human history. So, it should come as no surprise that the sexual persecution of female soldiers has been going on in the armed forces for…
Corruption in Water Costs Billions of Dollars, Hits Poor the Hardest – Global Report
To compensate for the losses caused by corruption, Transparency International reports that an additional $45 billion would have to be invested over the next decade in order to reach the Millenium Development Goals, particularly increasing the access to safe water. BY RONALYN OLEA Bulatlat The Transparency International’s “Global Corruption Report (GCR) 2008: Corruption in the…
World Crisis to Adversely Affect China Too – Sison
The current GDP of China is reportedly already USD 3.251 trillion. But China is a huge country with a huge population of 1.33 billion. With a per capita income of only around US$ 2,700, China is still a very poor country, a far cry from the US per capita income of US$ 46,000 in 2007.…
Scientist Group Calls Anew for Scrapping of EPIRA, VAT amid the Power Rate Hike
With the impending 36 percent hike in electricity rates, AGHAM, an organization of scientists and technologists, called anew for the scrapping of the EPIRA or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, and the VAT on electricity. BY BULATLAT The AGHAM (Science and Technology for the People), an organization of scientists and technologists, has called anew…
Interfaith Mission Deplores All-out War, Humanitarian Crisis in N. Cotabato, Maguindanao
Even as the Arroyo government publicly declares it is for peace in Mindanao, a National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission conducted in North Cotabato and Maguindanao from Oct. 22-24, 2008 concluded that: “The military offensives in North Cotabato and Maguindanao are carried out under the pretext of pursuit operations against Kato and his group, but these in reality fall within the context of an all-out war.” Even evacuation centers are not spared from the military offensives, the mission said, resulting in the deterioration of the situation reaching the proportion of a “humanitarian crisis”.
Costly, Incomplete Irrigation Projects Being Paid for by Gov’t, Farmers at Losing End
Delays in government irrigation projects, and unresolved inquiries and cases of corruption pertaining to these are costing taxpayers millions since 2002. But in the end, it is the small farmers bear the brunt of corruption, said IBON Foundation Research Head Jose Enrique Africa.