Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Southern Africa

30/05/2022

100Milliarden Sondervermögen für die Bundeswehr machen die Welt nicht sicherer und friedlicher, so Dr. Ingar Solty, Referent im Institut für Gesellschaftsanalyse der Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, als Sachverständiger im Bundestag.

Das Sondervermögen macht „die Welt nicht sicherer und friedlicher, es gefährdet die Demokratie, wird Sozialabbau nach sich ziehen und entfremdet Mittel, die dringend für den sozialökologischen Umbau gebraucht werden“.

10/09/2021

(In case you missed it) Now online: This discussion explored an evidence based and feminist analysis of the gendered impact of the COVID19 pandemic: http://rosalux.co.za/media/the-gendered-impact-of-covid19-in-south-africa/

09/09/2021

While the commercial food and agriculture sector continued operations as an essential service during the lockdowns imposed across the world, the working conditions of the frontline food industry workers—that kept the sector going—have not changed and instead worsened.

As local and ‘informal’ food markets were forced to shut down in most countries, millions of people struggled to access food through the supermarket and other ‘formal sector’ food retail channels that remained open.

The pandemic demonstrated: The prevailing food system is not only severely broken but in its current form it is irreparable. Hence, we need to urgently transform the food and agricultural systems into localized and people-centric food systems independent of corporate control.

http://rosalux.co.za/publication/the-prevailing-food-system-is-severely-broken/

23/08/2021

Many of the citrus available in German supermarkets are produced in South Africa under massive labour rights violations, as revealed by a new study published by RLS together with the Khanyisa Educational Development Trust.

Market power within the supply chain is extremely unevenly distributed, as expressed in the problematic trade practices pursued by German supermarket corporations. Lidl, Rewe, and others pressure suppliers through short-term supply contracts and renegotiating prices to their own advantage. In addition, price margins are unevenly distributed along the supply chain.

Of the almost €2 / R36* that a kilogram of oranges costs in German supermarkets, about €0.60 / R11* remain at the retail level in Germany. The gross margin of the South African producer is €0.45 / R8* Cents, less than a quarter of the final price. The share that the permanent, year-round South African farm workers receive is the equivalent of just € 0.06 / R1*.

View the study here:

Many of the citrus fruits available in German supermarkets are produced in South Africa under massive labour rights violations, as revealed by a new study published by Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung together with the Khanyisa Educational Development Trust.

24/05/2021

The roughly 300 to 500 million waged workers employed in agriculture worldwide constitute one of the most marginalized groups in the global economy. In addition to these workers, large numbers of casual and temporary workers are hired by small and large growers.

Work in agriculture is characterized by systematic violations of basic human and labour rights, including little or no right to join or be represented by a trade union and poor occupational health and safety standards. Agriculture ranks alongside mining and construction as industries with the highest rate of accidents, where the widespread use of migrant, temporary, and seasonal workers is a key feature.

The Struggle for Farmworker Organization
Thursday, 27 May 2021, 15:00 (Johannesburg)

Registration required: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Kp9GkWIHTmKerI9Z_tspZA

27/04/2021

Get a glimpse into the international trade in pesticide active ingredients.

A new study reveals which highly hazardous active ingredients were developed and/or marketed by these two German agrochemical corporations. They are still marketed by them in some cases even today, albeit sometimes in a hidden manner. This in-depth analysis of the pesticides and active ingredients markets in South Africa, Brazil and Mexico reveals the extent and non-transparency of the lucrative business with hazardous pesticides. This contrasts with the devastating effects of pesticide use on the health of indigenous people and farmworkers in the three countries.

26/04/2021

Double Standards and Hazardous Pesticides from Bayer and BASF: A glimpse into the international trade in pesticide active ingredients.

https://inkota-de.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BSHBOtBIS0Gw-clRP2fh7w

The study reveals which highly hazardous active ingredients were developed and/or marketed by these two German agrochemical corporations. They are still marketed by them in some cases even today, albeit sometimes in a hidden manner. This in-depth analysis of the pesticides and active ingredients markets in South Africa, Brazil and Mexico reveals the extent and non-transparency of the lucrative business with hazardous pesticides. This contrasts with the devastating effects of pesticide use on the health of indigenous people and farmworkers in the three countries.

26/04/2021

In , two German giants market a total of 6 active ingredients in their own pesticides, the use of which is banned in the EU due to severe associated health risks.

In a new study, the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, the INKOTA-netzwerk and PAN Germany show that Bayer and BASF are responsible for the marketing and in some cases the development of at least 33 pesticide active ingredients that pose an acute threat to human health. Many of these active ingredients are lethal even at low doses, others are considered likely carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic.

http://rosalux.co.za/publication/behind-the-scenes-the-trade-in-pesticide-active-ingredients/

22/04/2021

The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, the INKOTA-netzwerk, and PAN Germany have taken a glimpse behind the scenes of the international trade in pesticide active ingredients, focusing on the two German agrochemical giants, Bayer and BASF. The new study sheds light on the use of Bayer and BASF active ingredients in Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa, and the harm these chemicals bring with them.

The list of active ingredients highly hazardous to human health that have found their way around the world through Bayer and BASF is long. Terms like glufosinate, spirodiclofen, and (beta-)cyfluthrin conceal concrete hazards: they are highly toxic, probably carcinogenic or mutagenic.

More info: http://rosalux.co.za/publication/double-standards-and-hazardous-pesticides-from-bayer-and-basf/