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Le Monde diplomatique
-----------------------------------------------------
January 2000
LEADER
A new dawn *
by IGNACIO RAMONET
<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/01/01leader>
Translated by Ed Emery
MIDDLE EAST HOLDS ITS BREATH
Israel and Syria on the brink of peace
by ALAIN GRESH
In January negotiations have begun near Washington between Israel's
prime minister, Ehud Barak, and Farouk Sharaa, the Syrian foreign
minister. Although we can expect several months of tough
negotiations, both sides are bent on reaching a settlement, helped
by the direct involvement of the United States and the personal
interest of President Clinton who hopes to end his administration
with a historic foreign policy success. This will close a chapter
in the history of the Middle East that began with the Israeli-Arab
war of 1948-49 - but will leave a question mark over an equitable
outcome for the Palestinians.
Translated by Barry Smerin
FROM EMBARGO TO EXILE
Road to Calvary for Iraq's Christians
by our special correspondents HANA JABER and KHALIL KAMOUK
A year after Operation Desert Fox, the UN Security Council has
adopted a new resolution on Iraq. The abstention by three of its
permanent members - France, Russia and China - emphasises that it
was essentially an Anglo-American decision. At whatever cost the
United States is determined to maintain a murderous embargo. In
these circumstances the cancellation of Pope Jean-Paul II's visit
is causing vast disappointment, especially among Iraq's Christians.
Translated by Derry Cook-Radmore
IN EGYPT AND MEXICO, A NEW TYPE OF CONFLICT
Zapatistas and Islamists fight the odds
by DAN TSCHIRGI
There are things in common between the rebellions of the Mexican
Zapatistas and the Egyptian Islamists. As surprising as it may
seem, these violent internal conflicts have similar features. They
spring from marginalised groups in outlying regions impoverished by
the withdrawal of state support and the end of hopes raised by the
development policies of the 1960s. And in both cases, religion has
encouraged the insurgents to engage in a cause they consider just -
against all the odds.
Original text in English
THIRD WAY, BRITISH-STYLE
Blair's march to market modernity
by KEITH DIXON
Half-way through its term of office, Tony Blair's government is
keener than ever to set its stamp on European social democracy.
President Clinton's undisguised support has become less important
to the Labour leadership. What counts now is ideological
consistency and a party line perfectly tailored to neoliberal
globalisation. Hence Blair's ruthless determination to prevent
old-style "leftie" Ken Livingstone from becoming mayor of London.
<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/01/05blair>
Translated by Barry Smerin
RUSSIA IN TRANSITION
Lost pride of the working class
by KARINE CLÉMENT
Boris Yeltsin's surprise resignation makes Vladimir Putin -
Yeltsin's fifth prime minister in 17 months - the front-runner for
Russia's presidential elections, now brought forward to 26 March.
Putin's strong stand in the Chechen war has brought him strong
popular support as seen in the December parliamentary election -
support now rated at 60% to 75%. But will the campaign for the
presidency address the issue of labour?
<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/01/06clement>
Translated by Harry Forster
SEATTLE TURNING POINT
Fixing or nixing the WTO *
by SUSAN GEORGE
After the WTO fiasco at Seattle, many neoliberal commentators set
about rewriting history. They said, somewhat improbably, that the
US had emerged victorious and Europe and the countries of the South
had lost out, Europe because it had not managed to table new rules
and the South because it had failed to get more markets opened in
the North. In fact, despite suitable noises from President Clinton,
the failure of the trade talks shows the limits of Washington's
power in the WTO, where for the first time delegates from the South
turned the consensus rule to their advantage. As for the Fifteen
and the European Commission, it is true that they had wanted to
extend the agenda, but only in order to deregulate more areas for
the benefit of their own multinationals. The true victors at
Seattle are the citizens' movements. They have struck a blow
against the proposal to use trade as a means of general
deconstruction of all collectives and governments of the South, of
whatever persuasion, that have now staked a claim to full
partnership in the future. This is the birth of world public
opinion. What we need now is national and international recognition
of the peoples' elected representatives. - B. C.
<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/01/07george>
Translated by Barbara Wilson
The day the South cut up rough *
by our special correspondent AGNÈS SINAI
<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/01/08sinai>
Translated by Barry Smerin
AFRICA'S FORGOTTEN TRIBE
Who would be a mother?
by ELISABETH LEQUERET
According to the International Labour Organisation, sub-Saharan
Africa is one of the parts of the world where women work most. Of
course, there's a world of difference between the prosperous
businesswomen of Togo or Nigeria and those who sell a few items on
a pavement in Dakar. Only a minority of African women have gained
their independence, usually at a high price, leaving the vast
majority vulnerable and dependent. And there is a gulf between
their real economic role and their social and political power.
Translated by Derry Cook-Radmore
Ill-used, overworked, undervalued
by COLETTE BERTHOUD
Translated by Julie Stoker
No child, no role *
by GÉRALDINE ZAMANSKY
<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/01/11senegal>
Translated by Julie Stoker
DEFINING THE WORLD'S PUBLIC PROPERTY
A global public good *
<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/01/12a>
Apartheid of pharmacology *
by MARTINE BULARD
Twenty-two million people in Africa are seropositive - 65% of all
the people infected with the Aids virus world wide. South Africa,
which is particularly badly affected, has made fighting the scourge
a priority. But rather than help, in their determination to protect
their patents, the pharmaceutical laboratories are putting
treatment beyond the reach of the poorest patients and countries.
<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/01/12bulard>
Translated by Malcolm Greenwood
Safeguarding the future? *
<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/01/13aids>
Translated by Malcolm Greenwood
Who owns knowledge? *
by PHILIPPE QUÉAU
<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/01/14queau>
Translated by Malcolm Greenwood
International Protection
Plants above ground *
<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/01/16plants>
On the Web *
<http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/01/17web>
TYRANNY OF THE 35-HOUR WEEK
A production-line dictatorship
by GILLES BALBASTRE and STÉPHANE BINHAS
For a long time Renault factories served as an industrial and
social showcase for the entire car industry, but with privatisation
the firm has come to resemble its competitors. Increasingly
international in outlook, Renault is now exporting its most brutal
methods for rationalising operations (at Nissan for example) and
importing Japanese-style production techniques.
Translated by Harry Forster
BACK PAGE
Should outsiders have the vote?
by MONIQUE CHEMILLIER-GENDREAU
Translated by Ed Emery
English language editorial director: Wendy Kristianasen
_________________________________________________________________
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