Friday 28 June 2013

28 June 2013

July 2013

... what Brazilians want; why the Turkish protests; Syria's growing tragedy; Kuwaitis without a name; Portugal, where is the sun? Greece, what next for the left? US, get in, then get on; South Korea special - Samsung, a state in itself; cashing in Gangnam-style ... and also the online ads we helped create; footie figures it out ... and more...

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Back to a feudal Europe - Serge Halimi

Are the economic policies needed to maintain the euro still compatible with democracy? Greece's state broadcaster was established after the fall of the military dictatorship. Last month the Greek government (which is implementing EU injunctions) decided to shut it down without authorisation from parliament (see Where Syriza stands). Before the Greek courts suspended this decision, the European Commission could have recalled the public service broadcasting protocol to the Amsterdam Treaty of (...)

Translated by Charles Goulden
Biggest non-samba crowds since the dictatorship fell

We want a different Brazil - Janette Habel

For the first time in 20 years, massive countrywide demonstrations have rocked Brazil. A year ahead of elections, President Dilma Rousseff knows she needs to listen carefully: the young, the poor and the new middle classes all want a country that works and that is cleaned of corruption.

Translated by Krystyna Horko
Protests in turkey while GDP has soared

Erdogan goes too far* - Tristan Coloma

Why were the June protests in Istanbul's Taksim Square and Turkey's other cities so strong when the country's economy has prospered under Erdogan? His growing authoritarianism is now unacceptable to one half of a divided society.

Translated by George Miller
Turkey in figures*
Internal conflict turns into regional power play

Syria's proxy war - Alain Gresh

What began in Syria as another civil uprising of the Arab spring against an established government has grown into a multi-dimensional war, drawing in first the region, then the world.

Translated by Charles Goulden
A life of discrimination and exploitation

Kuwait's citizens without rights* - Alain Gresh

Kuwait depends on the labour of foreign nationals, and of its underclass who do not have formal proof of nationality.

Translated by Charles Goulden
Europe in crisis : Portugal, Greece, Croatia

Where Syriza stands - Baptiste Dericquebourg

Syriza leads the leftwing coalition in Greece, and the opposition to the external financial occupation of the country by the states and organisations that are at present keeping it from bankruptcy.

Translated by Krystyna Horko
The way out* - José Luis Peixoto

The new austerity plan approved in May is making life in Portugal tougher: whether they emigrate or stay at home, people must forget their dreams for the future.

Translated by Charles and Kate Goulden
Croatia's entry fee - Jean-Arnault Dérens

Translated by George Miller
What comes after the millennium goals aren't reached?

No development without better health* - Dominique Kerouedan

Even though the UN's millennium development targets won't be reached by 2015, new goals are being set, especially in health. They may not be the right ones

Translated by Charles Goulden
US employers will control immigration

Getting in and getting on - Benoît Bréville

The proposed immigration reforms in the US seem mostly intended to supply cheap and docile guest workers for short-term use by employers, rather than full US citizens.

{Translated by Charles Goulden}
Who will own the public services we can't live without?

No cure for the cost disease* - Pierre Rimbert

Work that needs actual human action and interaction can't be made more productive to keep the costs down. And in future, it's going to be more, not less, important.

Translated by George Miller
Selling to the world: Samsung to TV series

South Korea's corporate dynasty* - Martine Bulard

The remarkable rise of South Korea depends on the power of the chaebol, the family-dominated business conglomerate, and the greatest of these is Samsung, a state in itself

Translated by George Miller
The inside story* - Martine Bulard

Translated by George Miller
Soft power and big money* - Stéphane Thévenet

You can watch Korean television series across Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and the young in Europe and the US have joined the Chinese and Japanese in following K-pop. Some astute decisions in the 1990s have paid off handsomely

Translated by Charles Goulden
Football now dominated by data analysis

Keep your eye on the stats - Simon Kuper

A number of recent crucial football matches have been won by the application of the kind of number-crunching that has already changed baseball - the Moneyball approach

Original text in English
The online ads you helped to create

You selling to me? - Ariane Krol and Jacques Nantel

Individually targeted online marketing, based on unwittingly supplied consumer information and monitoring of online activities, is replacing conventional advertising media

Translated by Stephanie Irvine