Brazil’s Non-Elections: A Crisis of Trust, a Failure of Democracy

By Asad Ismi Former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva was still, at publishing time, the Workers Party (PT) candidate and frontrunner in Brazilian elections scheduled for October 7. This was despite him being sentenced in July to 12 years in prison for what his allies and vast supporter base (June polls put Lula […]

Bangladeshis Victims of Corporate Exploitation: Western companies responsible for deaths of garment workers

By Asad Ismi In April 2013, the Rana Plaza building collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh, killing 1,129 garment workers and injuring more than 2,500. The building contained four garment factories. This was the worst industrial disaster in Bangladesh’s history, and the worst in the garment sector’s history. As of late January, workers and their families were […]

It’s a Poor Sort of Memory that Only Works Backwards

First editionby Johan Grimonprez, Catherine Bernard, Slavoj Zizek, Benoit Detalle, Asad IsmiHardcover, 352 Pages, Published 2011 by Hatje CantzISBN-13: 978-3-7757-3130-0, ISBN: 3-7757-31

“Toxic Bob” Wastes Burma: Forced Labour and Pollution Rampant at Canadian-Owned Mine

By Asad Ismi According to a recent report, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., a Canadian company owned by Robert Friedland, is “raping the environment” and using forced labour in Burma. Ivanhoe operates the US$90 million Monywa copper mine, Burma’s largest mining investment, in a 50-50 partnership with the Burmese military dictatorship (known as the State Peace and […]