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Human destiny in Ukraine (Washington’s New Cold War, in ‘Counterpunch’)

…Russian leaders believe, probably correctly, that this is a fight for their survival. Ukrainian leaders, ditto – except there’s no “probably” about it; it’s definitely. And it is pointless to attempt to judge those leaders under such circumstances. But for American leadership, this is a proxy war. It is not existential. It is a proxy war of choice. | more…

Listen: Foster on the future of so-called “civilization” (The “Old Mole Variety Hour”)

Bill Resnick, host of KBOO’s “Old Mole Variety Hour,” recently talked to John Bellamy Foster about the future of the planet and what we call “civilization.” Foster is convinced that humanity possesses the resources and technologies to succeed in limiting climate change to manageable levels while building authentic democracies. They discussed several issues: the time remaining to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations and stop global roasting; the risks of thinking in terms of decades; and whether capitalism and its exponential growth can continue on a finite planet.

Listen at KBOO- Portland | more…

“A skillful, researched warning against the blind acceptance of wartime propaganda” (The Hidden History of the Korean War to appear in ‘Foreword Reviews’)

The presentation is novelistic: there is a rising action as tensions build before the war begins. Once the conflict starts, there’s gripping escalation, then brief falling action as the war concludes. Questions posed throughout keep engagement high while also allowing time for contemplating new pieces of information. The result is illuminating… | more…

Value Chains reviewed in Indonesian for ‘The Suryakanta’

(Read on, if you know Indondesian) Dalam ekonomi global saat ini, sebagian besar produksi terjadi di negara-negara “berkembang” seperti Tiongkok, India, dan Indonesia. Namun, sebagian besar keuntungan dari produk-produk yang dihasilkannya tetap menggunung dalam dompet para kapitalis di Eropa, Amerika, dan Jepang. Enak saja! Kok bisa?  | more…

Dispelling folkloric stories of “spitting” soldiers (from the co-author of Dissenting POWs)

There is no evidence that Vietnam veterans were spat on. Nor could they have been, at least not in the manner described in the most often told stories. Those stories tell of landing at San Francisco Airport and being met by groups of spitters, often hippies. But flights from Vietnam landed at military airbases like Travis outside San Francisco; protesters could not have gotten on the airbase, much less near deplaning troops. | more…

An inspiration and a warning (Ross’ How the Workers’ Parliaments Saved the Cuban Revolution reviewed in ‘Morning Star’)

Cuba’s continuing economic crisis has produced a social malaise that manifests itself in many ways. One of them has been a political detachment including a decrease in political and electoral participation. Ross’s account of Cuba’s survival is at the same time an inspiration to everyone struggling for socialism, and a warning of the challenges to be faced in building it… | more…

Many millions gone (Endless Holocausts reviewed in ‘Counterpunch’)

Ron Jacobs, of Counterpunch: “David Michael Smith and Monthly Review Press have done us a favor by publishing this book. Not only is it honestly refreshing, it is perhaps the most important history of the United States published in recent years. There are no excuses here, no rationales; just an accounting of the essential truth in the making and maintenance of the US empire. It is harsh. It is relentless. It cannot be any other way. The endless death described in its pages does not allow another interpretation.” | more…