Category Archives: India

Russia Sanctions Trade Shock: Fulfilling the Fears of Smoot-Hawley?

More on the possiblity of severe blowback from sanctions against Russia in the form of trade disruption.

India Is Mulling Rupee-Ruble Payments System for Trade with Russia

India is mulling setting up rupee-ruble payment arrangements, to allow it to trade with Russia in spite of the sanctions regime.

America Shoots Its Own Dollar Empire in Economic Attack on Russia

The US is gambling with its superpower status by putting its dollar hegemony in play to hurt the Russian economy.

Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine Highlights America’s Fading Geopolitical Influence

Why Russia is not as isolated as the US press would have you believe. The US has wrongfooted some recent dealing with influential countries.

EU Chief Defends Vaccine Patents as ‘Precious’ as South Africa Demands Waiver

Failure to grant patent waivers under the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement has stalled ramping up of production in Africa and other developing countries of coronavirus vaccines.

NYT Recognizes “That Organic Cotton T-Shirt May Not Be as Organic as You Think”

Could a well-structured class action lawsuit either prod fashion companies to build verifiable organic cotton supply chains, or abandon their claims that they’re selling organic cotton?

Bangladesh-Based Group Promotes Plans to Resettle Climate Refugees

Where will climate refugees go? Bangladesh-based group promotes a ten-year resttlement program

Plastics Packaging: Yet Another Reason to Loathe Amazon

India has forced Amazon to eschew plastics packaging. Rolling out its Indian practices world-wide would in a single step drastically reduce Amazon’s plastics footprint.

Coal On Track To Break Records Despite Efforts To Curb Production

So much for coal being on the way out….

Climate Change: Where’s the Beef?

McDonald’s continues to dodge meaningful movement on climate change policies, which would require a big shake-up of its beef dominant product mix. Meanwhile, three supermarket chains have dropped Brazilian beef suppliers over deforestation concerns.

Climate Change: Adapt for the Future, Not the Past

Climate adaptation in the global South needs to be addressed through development. Moving from de-risking to diversification requires a developmental state committed to ‘green’ industrial policy – involving investment and technology.

Waste Watch: Fast Fashion Discards Pile Up in the Global South

The Glasgow COP26 talks have wound down with little to show, and scant progress in areas such as food, plastics, and fashion that also contribute to our global problems.

India Breaks the Diaper Monopolists. Why Won’t Americans Step Up?

An innovation popular in rural India offers a solution to the diaper duopoly stinking up the budgets of western households.