The Philippines Trafficking Epidemic: Past & Present

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In this two part series on the US/Philippines human trafficking epidemic, Abby Martin recalls the history of the colonization of the Philippines and how it has led to a dramatic rise in human trafficking of Philippine workers. She interviews the executive director of Damayan, the 8,000 member strong New York City based organization created and led by Filipino women domestic … Read More

The Roots of the Philippines Trafficking Epidemic

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In this sequel to The Empire Files’ report on trafficked Filipina domestic workers, Damayan’s Linda Oalican provides a deeper context to the epidemic of human trafficking by guiding us through the history of colonialism, resistance and US domination of the islands. From the centuries of Spanish rule and decades of US brutality, through the evisceration of the Philippine economy, this episode … Read More

Walmart’s Predatory Profit Model: Low Prices With a Heavy Cost

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As the saying goes, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Nowhere does that ring more loudly true than in the aisles of every Walmart store. Always low prices, yes – but at what cost? There are, unfortunately, two inconvenient truths about the dollars you’ve supposedly saving from having elected the world’s largest retailer over Joe’s little store just down … Read More

Massachusetts Resolves to End Corporate Personhood

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MEDIA ROOTS – Massachusetts just became the seventh state in the nation to officially call for a repeal of Citizens United, the 2010 court case that recognized corporations as people and money as speech. That landmark ruling is the primary reason for the development of “super PACs” in the last two presidential elections. A super PAC is a political action … Read More

Insomnia, Sleep, and Unconventional Rhythms

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MEDIA ROOTS — Like many customs handed down to us by ‘experts‘ we often uncritically accept, sleep is yet another custom we may be misinformed about.  Daily, millions of people struggle with the simplest of biorhythms—sleep.  And we are often led to believe this has always been so.  Insomniacs are stigmatised and branded inadequate and defective.  But what if everyone … Read More