Communism 2.0 - Chinese Authoritarian Capitalism

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Communism 2.0 - Chinese Authoritarian Capitalism

Naomi Klein, investigative journalist and author of No Logo and The Shock Doctrine, on the modern Chinese system, a potent hybrid of authoritarianism and capitalism, and how this model may become a global trend.

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China's High Security State

11 aug | Investigative journalist and author of The Shock Doctrine, Noami Klein on the Beijing Olympics and the billions of dollars spent on security. China may be booming but it's an increasingly unequal society with rising unrest. . . read more

Naomi Klein on Chinese McCommunism

10 aug | Investigative journalist and author of No Logo and The Shock Doctrine, Noami Klein on the Beijing Olympics and Chinese McCommunism, a potent hybrid of authoritarianism and capitalism. . . read more

Chinese Youth Embraces Communism

22 aug | Despite the demise of communism in the rest of the world, the Communist Party of China has had little problems finding new members. In the last five years three-quarters of those who flocked to join were under 35. . . read more

HPD Travel: When you lose the right

10 may |

By Sean Maguire

For most young Westerners, traveling is seen as an inalienable right and a rite of passage when becoming an adult. With the story that Chinese dissident writer Liao Yiwu has been refused permission to attend an Australian literary festival - perhaps this right needs rethinking.

We need to realise that while international borders might seem more fluid and more open in this era of globalization; for the world's most dangerous thinkers their country can act as an enormous prison stopping them from leaving to learn from foreigners and spreading messages their government doesn't like.

It's time we realise that traveling is still a luxury enjoyed by a privileged few that has to be used to learn and change situations where it is still restricted.

What do you think about the story of Liao Yiwu? Has it made you rethink your ideas on travel and the responsibilities that this comes with? Tell us and remember....Disqus!

. . read more

Are the Olympics Affecting China on Human Rights?

28 jul | Media Director of Human Rights Watch and editor of China's Great Leap: The Beijing Games and Olympian Human Rights Challenges Minky Worden discusses whether recent international attention due to environmental disasters and the 2008 Beijing Olympics has affected China's positions on human rights. . . read more

China's Olympics Best-Case Scenario

30 jul | China correspondent for The Economist James Miles outlines what would be the best possible scenario for China during the 2008 summer Olympics. . . read more

Beijing Olympics - Are They A Trap?

1 aug | Onion News Network 'In The Know' panelists discuss whether athletes will be able to escape the bamboo cages the Chinese government will try to imprison them in. . . read more

The Commercial Games - From Robert Weissman

7 aug | The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games have been referred to as the “People’s Games”, the “High Tech Games” and the “Green Games” but they could be more aptly described as the Commercial Games.

Commercialism is overrunning the Olympics. It is undermining the professed ideals of the Olympic Games, and subverting the Olympics' veneration of sport with omnipresent commercial messaging and branding. The Olympics have auctioned off virtually every aspect of the Games to the highest bidder. In addition to multimillion-dollar sponsorship deals between the International Olympic Committee and international companies, smaller firms are paying for designations from “official home and industrial flooring supplier” to the “frozen dumplings exclusive supplier” of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games...

To its credit, the Olympics do prohibit advertising in sports stadia or other venues. The Olympics also prohibit advertisements on uniforms (other than uniform maker logos)... Besides celebrating sport, there is an official ideology of the Olympics, called "Olympism." It aims to promote a pure blend of sport, culture and education. Sports, of course, remain at the center of the Olympics, but commercialism has overwhelmed whatever other values the Olympics hope to embody. The overwhelming cultural influence at the Olympics is now commercial culture; and the overwhelming informational message is: buy, buy, buy. [More] . . read more

Waiting... and waiting... and waiting for Superman

10 dec | Waiting... and waiting... and waiting for Superman . . read more

Examining China's Human Rights Record

7 aug | Many supporters of the Beijing Olympics argue that hosting the Games will ultimately lead to a more open China. So have the seeds for such change been planted - and if so how long will it take for them to bear fruit? . . read more

Ron Paul on Why Bankster Power Must be Eradicated

It is imperative that the American people be educated on the dangers of the Fed and the importance of restoring sound money. Now that nearly 50 years have elapsed since silver was removed from circulation, fewer and fewer Americans have firsthand familiarity with real money.

The laying of the groundwork must begin today, so that the American people will be prepared for the day when the mirage the Fed has created evaporates completely.

Chinese army general calls for 'decisive action' vs PH

China should launch "decisive action" against the Philippines to reinforce Beijing's claim on the disputed Scarborough Shoal, a hardline Chinese army general said Friday.

People's Liberation Army (PLA) Major General Luo Yuan, in a commentary published by state-owned website china.org.cn, said China has not abandoned the idea of "war at all costs" to protect its interests.

"'Peaceful rise and 'period of strategic opportunity' preclude war," said Luo, who has been described by Western media as "hawkish" for his ultranationalist views.

"It is incorrect to assume that China will completely rule out military action in any event during this 'period of strategic opportunity,'" he said, referring to Beijing's dispute with Manila.

Think Again From The Outsider

The great challenge facing everyone who wants to change the world we live in is how do you get traction for your ideas? Gunter Pauli the inventor of the ‘blue economy’ has a novel approach. His missionis to develop globally 100 manufacturing innovations with viable business models that could generate 100 million jobs in 10 years. All with zero emissions and no waste.

The novelty? To drive this revolution in an economic framework that will attract investors and governments in entrepreneurial partnerships that feed self-interest while revolutionising outcomes – particularly in relation to carbon.

The blue economy was initially a report to the Club of Rome recommending innovations inspired by science and biometrics. This is a truly cool equation. Science + Economics = A Better Future.

The Really Big Apple

Recently it was announced that Steve Jobs had an FBI file that detailed his personality, how he ran his company and the possibility that he would be appointed to George Bush Sr.' s government.

What is more interesting about Apple at the moment is the $100bn in cash reserves it's accrued and what it might use them for.

End world hunger?

Take over other companies?

Pay its suicidal employees more?

Whatever it chooses, we should really stop focussing on Jobs' genius and start thinking about how the wealth his genius created can be spent for good.

The Future of Trust - From The Outsider

The images of senior Australian politicians being bundled into cars to escape the threat of indigenous demonstrators confirms how weak the post-apology environment is in Australia. The whole point of the apology was not to say 'sorry' but to build a new platform for the positive evolution of indigenous Australians. The apology created a climate of trust but the ignoble inaction that has followed, apart from proposed tinkering with the Australian constitution, has destroyed the platform and the belief in the trustworthiness of political process. Can't we (non-indigenous Australians) actually do something? Something communal not bureaucratic, spiritual not gestural – something that shows that we care.

Abbott says "sink or swim, or do both"

Tony Abbott has released a radical plan to combat the asylum seeker crisis by proposing to send all boats, regardless of their seaworthiness, back to Indonesia.

Abbott in a prepared statement said, "I was inspired by Split Enz."

"The band tell a story, entitled ‘Six Months on a Leaky Boat,' of a man who survived a full half a year on a sinking vessel."

"If we can replicate that achievement there shouldn't be a problem."

The UNCHR has hit back at the proposal saying it breeches international law.

A UN representative said, "We would expect Mr. Abbott to follow the long-held precedent of giving us the asylum seekers to wallow for decades in refugee camps without any chance of resettlement."

"That is the law after all."

Is it such a gamble? From The Outsider

The dithering about whether or not to bring in limitations on how much you can lose on the pokies is just another example of Australian government policy waiting for a leader. Think about smoking. It took until the late 'eighties for governments to grasp the nettle and begin to clamp down on people's freedom to smoke (and kill themselves – if not others). Twenty five years later you wonder why legislation was so slow to come in for a policy that today looks like a no-brainer. Most habitual smokers, like myself, secretly welcomed preventative legislation and I have no doubt that people hooked on the pokies will welcome the social changes that are so long overdue.