My friend Walden Bello has been characteristically busy. He has just announced his intention to run for parliament in the Philippines (check out his site here, which is already gathering vast numbers of endorsements from the global left). Part of the reason so many regard him so highly is that he's an unusually lucid and clear thinker. A couple of days ago, he wrote this excellent and readable review of the plight of farmers struggling against international trade. Check it out, and see why he concludes that

As environmental crises multiply and the social dysfunctions of urban-industrial life pile up, the farmers' movement has relevance not only to peasants but to everyone who is threatened by the catastrophic consequences of obsolete modernist paradigms for organizing production, community, and life. ... read more »

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Posted on 1 May, 2007 - 18:34

The exodus of people, particularly youth and women, from rural to urban areas has left male farmers in South Korea loveless. Entrepreneurs have stepped in to fill the gap.

Posters on the lampposts in Yangbuk declare: "Get a new life - marry a Vietnamese lady! You can pay later!"

A thoughtful article in today's Financial Times points to the hardships of women who come to Korea this way. The article ends with this quote:

While Ms Tran seems to accept her new life, Mr Jang, who flits between temporary agricultural or building jobs, is not so happy. "It's quite a burden to send money to Vietnam because I don't earn much," he says. ... read more »

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Ch.3. NAFTA, Immigration, Urban Farming | farmers | gender | immigration | society | South Korea | Vietnam

Posted on 28 November, 2006 - 20:47