The global shift to clean energy depends heavily on minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements. This article by Utkarsh Mishra examines how the extraction of these resources is reshaping economies and geopolitics while imposing significant environmental and social costs on communities in the Global South. Drawing on evidence from Congo, Indonesia and the Lithium Triangle of South America, it highlights issues of child labour, displacement, pollution, deforestation and water depletion. The article argues that a just energy transition requires stronger protections for workers, Indigenous communities and local ecosystems.
by Gisela Cernadas, David Vine, and John Bellamy Foster
A new analysis by the Project On Government Oversight argues that the real cost of maintaining the U.S. military is far higher than officially reported. By examining spending across multiple agencies and including long-term obligations and debt-related costs, the study estimates total military-related expenditures in 2025 at between $1.5 trillion and $2.3 trillion. The authors contend that decades of fragmented budgeting have obscured the true scale of U.S. war spending. They call for greater transparency and reforms that would allow the public and lawmakers to assess military priorities alongside social and environmentalneeds.
by Layne Hartsell, Max Wilbert and Ntafakabirhi-Aganze Clovis
The article examines the growing global race for lithium in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its implications for local communities, ecosystems, and international politics. It traces how rising demand for batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage is intensifying competition among major powers, including the United States, Europe, and China. The authors place the current mineral boom within the broader history of colonialism, conflict, and unequal exchange in the Congo, and argue that the pursuit of a so-called green transition risks deepening environmental destruction and social upheaval without fundamental changes in consumption and development models.
South Africa’s growing anti-migrant movement blames Black African migrants for unemployment, crime, and strained public services, despite limited evidence supporting these claims. Khwezi Mabasa argues that the country’s deep economic inequalities are rooted in decades of deindustrialization, labor market precarity, and policy choices rather than migration. Drawing on research and labor data, the article examines how migrants occupy a small share of the workforce and are often concentrated in insecure, low-paid jobs. It calls for evidence-based reforms aimed at expanding employment, strengthening labor protections, and addressing the structural causes of exclusion and inequality.
by Nirmal Gorana, Gig and Platform Service Workers Union
The Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) argues that the new international convention on platform work falls short of workers’ demands for enforceable rights and accountability. While acknowledging issues such as unsafe work, algorithmic control, misclassification, and inadequate social protection, the union says the framework leaves too much to national laws and future implementation. It warns that exclusions, weak obligations, and reliance on ratification could limit its impact. GIPSWU calls for stronger national legislation, collective bargaining rights, wage protection, social security, data rights, and safeguards against arbitrary deactivation and termination.
Claudio Katz assesses the newfound prominence in Argentine politics of Workers’ Left Front – Unity (FIT-U) MP Myriam Bregman, and outlines some of the debates on the left. Katz also examines Argentina’s political situation, its economic crisis and President Javier Milei’s declining support, within a regional framework marked by events in Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia.
Fulton Armstrong, a former U.S. intelligence official, told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo that “Trump and Rubio are crafting a narrative tailored to their needs to justify an escalation against Cuba”
This article by Utkarsh Mishra examines the human cost of India’s vast informal economy, which employs nearly 90% of the workforce. It traces the realities faced by brick kiln workers, construction labourers, and gig workers, highlighting debt bondage, child labour, unsafe conditions, and the absence of social protection. Drawing on research and workers’ testimonies, the article argues that exploitation is embedded in the organisation of work rather than being an accidental by-product of growth. It also highlights ongoing struggles by workers and the need for greater accountability and labour protections.
India’s rapid expansion of AI and data centres is raising concerns about environmental justice, resource use, and the impact on vulnerable communities. In this article, Dr Gopabandhu Dash examines the growing ecological footprint of data infrastructure, including its demands on water, electricity, land, and its contribution to carbon emissions. Drawing on studies, public interventions, and international experiences, the article argues that the costs of digital expansion are often borne by marginalized populations. It calls for greater public scrutiny, stronger environmental safeguards, and a more equitable approach to technological development.
In “The Machine and the Schoolhouse,” Vijay Prashad examines the reported use of AI-enabled military systems in the US war on Iran through the lens of the February 2026 strike on a school in Minab that killed 120 children. He explores the growing relationship between Silicon Valley and the national security state, the limits of corporate oversight, and the ways AI systems shape military decision-making. The article argues that technological power is advancing faster than public accountability, making responsibility for violence increasingly difficult to trace.
Denmark’s new agricultural reforms are prompting a broader debate about the future of farming in Europe. In this essay, Gunnar Rundgren examines efforts to curb industrial pig production, strengthen environmental protections and support smaller-scale farming. He argues that decades of consolidation and market-driven agriculture have weakened rural communities, eroded public support for farming and disconnected food production from local needs. While welcoming recent reforms, Rundgren calls for a deeper transformation that restores farms as diverse ecosystems and redefines farmers as stewards of land, animals and food security.
Julian Barnes and the Princess of Asturias Award Or Literature in the Service of the Empire On the 10th of this month, the Princess of Asturias Foundation announced that its 2026 Literature Prize had been awarded to the British writer Julian Barnes. As stated on its website, the “Princess of Asturias Foundation is a private, non-profit organization whose aims are to contribute to the appreciation and promotion of all scientific, cultural and humanistic values that constitute universal heritage, as well as to strengthen the existing ties between the Principality of Asturias and the title traditionally held by the heirs […]
n May 21, activists with the Philadelphia chapter of the youth-led environmental justice group Sunrise Movement began a protracted hunger strike, vowing to starve themselves until Mayor Cherelle Parker committed to spending an extraordinary $1.19 billion municipal budget surplus on community programs. They were demanding investments in renewable energy alongside demands not traditionally associated with the environmental justice movement, including affordable housing, food justice, and increased funding for rec centers and public libraries.
A hypothetical solar or nuclear future, at current energy usage rates, would require more minerals or uranium than can realistically be extracted. Recycling would help, but there are also limits to recycling. In the end, the main solution to our energy and climate problems must be to find a way to use less,
The primary importance of the cooperative sector in Brazil and elsewhere, where cooperatives are established, lies in their effective embedding in communities. This inherent decentralization encourages local participation in resilience and adaptation projects.
Nate Bear examines the 2026 FIFA World Cup through the lens of visa denials, travel restrictions and security practices affecting teams, officials, journalists and supporters from several countries. The article argues that these measures, along with what the author sees as inconsistent international scrutiny of host nations, expose deeper patterns of racism, double standards and imperial power. It also criticises FIFA’s response and contrasts its stance toward the United States with the demands it imposed on previous World Cup hosts. The piece situates the tournament within broader debates over human rights, global inequality and accountability.
A proposed U.S.-funded Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya has sparked protests, legal challenges and a wider debate over transparency, sovereignty and public trust. Busani Ngcaweni argues that the controversy reflects deeper concerns about governance, economic insecurity and the relationship between citizens and the state. Drawing on the idea of narrative economics, the article examines how repeated cycles of protest and official responses shape public perceptions and economic confidence. It also places Kenya’s experience in a broader African context, highlighting how trust, accountability and institutional responsiveness influence both political stability and economic outcomes.
This article by Ghassan Shahrour reflects on the findings of ICAN’s 2025 report on nuclear weapons spending, which shows that nine nuclear-armed states spent $119 billion on their arsenals in a single year. Writing from the perspective of a physician, Shahrour contrasts these expenditures with unmet needs in health care, essential medicines, nutrition, and climate resilience. He argues that peace and public health are closely linked and examines how military priorities and corporate interests shape resource allocation. The article calls for renewed engagement by health professionals in advancing disarmament and human security.
In an historic victory for the working class — one that will have a political impact on the upcoming national election — Brazil’s chamber of deputies voted to end the odious “6x1” work week, writes Israel Dutra.
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Produce less. Distribute it fairly. Create a greener world for all.
