 |
Evening Open Thread: Banana Wars, Corporate Homicide, & McCain Hypocrisy |
 |
The WTO has issued the latest ruling in its longest running trade dispute — EU banana imports.
In a case brought by Ecuador the World Trade Organization ruled that the EU’s historical, formalized trade preference for bananas from its former colonies in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific rim, constitute unfair trade practices against Latin America, a decision which may allow Ecuador to issue trade sanctions against the EU. More commentary here.
Also in Europe…this week in the UK a new law came into effect that will make it easier for corporations to be prosecuted and fined for manslaughter. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act lessens the burden of proof necessary and raises possible fines in cases where companies are charged with negligence.
But many observers view the act as insufficient because it still precludes individuals in corporate management from physically going to jail if a company is found guilty of manslaughter. One union representative of construction workers — 77 of whom died on the job in the UK in 2007 — told the BBC the law was “the dampest of damp squibs” (whatever that means), because it relied on financial penalties to alter the culture of corporate neglect for human health and safety.
(Personally, I 100% agree with the squib man. Executives should absolutely be made to do jail time if they are found to neglect human health and safety. Moreover, my favorite thing about this new Act, which I fully advocate bringing to the US: “Firms may also be made to take out adverts in newspapers publicizing their guilt.”)
Finally, golden stuff from Think Progress on John McCain’s purported support for veterans:
Not only has he refused to support the 21st Century GI Bill, which the Veterans of Foreign Wars endorsed last June, he has consistently voted against increasing funding for the Veterans’ Administration, which oversees all medical care for veterans:
– Voted AGAINST an amendment providing $20 billion to the VA’s medical facilities. [5/4/06]
– Voted AGAINST providing $430 million to the VA for outpatient care “and treatment for veterans,†one of only 13 senators to do so. [4/26/06]
– Voted AGAINST increasing VA funding by $1.5 billion by closing corporate loopholes. [3/14/06]
– Voted AGAINST increasing VA funding by $1.8 billion by ending “abusive tax loopholes.†[3/10/04]
– Voted AGAINST a $650 million increase in veterans’ medical care funding. [8/1/01]
What have you read today?
completely unrelated to your post, but since this is an open thread, check out this hilarious and pretty outrageous development in venezuela:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7338131.stm
one of the best social commentaries american television has to offer replaced by one of the dumbest, most stultifying and stupefying american shows that can only be redeemed, perhaps, by slow motion sequences of david hasselhoff playing a keytar. and all this on account of considerations of ‘appropriateness’ for children. wow!