![]() After the organization won early successes in recovering wages for denigrated workers, its popularity skyrocketed among the working class. One of the earliest examples of this is the formation of the American Railroad Union in 1893, an event that is prominently featured in the film. With the birth of the labor unions, these industries were forced to re-examine their worker policies or run the risk of losing their businesses altogether. The operations of industries like railroads, steel and coal were characterized by slave wages, dangerous working environments, punishing hours, and child labor. The film itself is the cinematic version of that anthem, as it allows us a comprehensive understanding of the need for these early labor unions, and the enormous sacrifices of its members to ensure fairness, safety, and equality in the workplace. Its subtitle refers to a 1915 song composed by Ralph Chaplin as an anthem for unionized workers. The film, which is the second part of an ongoing historical series, covers the seminal labor-related events which occurred between the late 1800's and the 1920's. The feature-length documentary Plutocracy II: Solidarity Forever is a studious and well-produced portrayal of America's long-standing clashes between the working-class and the industrial beast. That sad history foreshadows what many are still grappling with today. Pan American Silver paves the way for ecologically and socially destructive mines, and lets communities deal with the fallout.Income inequality may be a hot topic during the current American election season, but it's also a stark reality that has plagued the country for hundreds of years. Vancouver Mining Corp Shrugs Off Violence Against Guatemala’s Indigenous People In the face of extractive industries’ enormous economic clout, Central Americans are facing increasing displacement and threats to their democratic rights. Excessive Corporate Power Breeds Political Repression Mexico should lead a Latin American exodus. Latin America Should Withdraw From the World Bank’s Harsh Trade CourtĪ secretive World Bank tribunal lets multinational corporations sue governments over basic regulations. The victory of Xiomara Castro in Honduras is a sign that region is ready to exit its lost decade. ![]() Suddenly, those trends appear to have reversed. The last decade saw democratization in El Salvador and brutal repression in Honduras. Democratic Progress in Honduras, Setbacks in El Salvador The region faces a choice between top-down “green growth” and bottom-up efforts to transform economies. Building a Post-Extractivist Future for Latin America Its seafloor is also rich in phosphate, a key component of fertilizers, at the center of a multi-billion-dollar arbitration suit that US company Odyssey. A Sea of Trouble: Seabed Mining and International Arbitration in Mexicoįeb 24, 2022The Gulf of Ulloa off the coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico teems with marine life, from gray whales to lobster. Guatemalan Water Defenders Celebrate 10 Years of ResistanceĪn attempted assassination, criminalization, and violent eviction in 2014 didn’t stop the Peaceful Resistance of La Puya in Guatemala. The Impact of Green New Deals on Latin AmericaĪ new wave of extractivism from the Global South is the hidden side of the energy transitions in the North. Global mining companies have used the pandemic to push unwanted projects on vulnerable communities, who are fighting back - and sometimes winning. In Patagonia, an Indigenous community’s fight against repressive mining interests mirrors struggles across the hemisphere. Mining Resistance From Alberta to Argentina The recent election in Colombia has produced new hope for the country–and for the whole region. Running on a platform of gender equity, progressive taxation, and environmental protection, Colombia’s first leftist president could bring much-needed change to a deeply unequal nation. ![]() Gustavo Petro’s Victory Brings an Opportunity to Reverse Inequality in Colombia Does the Amazon Now Have a Shot at Survival?Ĭolombia has new leaders who see the direct link between plutocracy and the plunder of our most valuable ecosystem. The pandemic provided opportunities for more exploitation, but communities kept rising up despite greater adversity. How Mining Companies Profited off the Pandemic
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