nuggets

blessed britons

It was in December 2001, after the passing of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act, that G became one of 12 foreign nationals detained in Belmarsh prison. Police and immigration officials arrived at 4am, and took him away on his crutches. "There were 15 police officers crammed into this one-bedroomed flat," G recalls. "They were swearing and very aggressive. My young daughter started crying." There was no stopping at a police station to be interviewed - it was straight to Belmarsh. To this day, neither G nor any of the other detainees have been told what they are supposed to have done, and G has still not been questioned by police or security services. The "Belmarsh 12" have never appeared in a normal court to answer charges...

— Paul Donovan, 'In Britain, I have fewer rights than an animal'

mad world

the statistics [in Russia] were sobering: with efficient capitalism replacing moribund and decadent communism, output was supposed to soar. In fact GDP declined 40 % and poverty increased tenfold. And the results were similar in the other economies making the transition who followed the advice of the US Treasury and the IMP.

— Joseph Stiglitz

The Roaring Nineties

we're getting greedier

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Submitted by antarchi on February 23, 2008 - 02:46.

According to the 1999 Human Development Report, in 1820 the fifth of the world's population living in the world's richest countries collectively received three times the combined income of the fifth of the world's population living in the poorest countries. A century later this raio had increased to 11 to 1. By 1960 it was 30 to 1; by 1990, 60 to 1; and by 1997, 74 to 1.

— Peter Singer

, in One World

One World