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Articles by Ben Phillips
Global South Leaders Redesigning International Cooperation
Credit: Coalition of Governments on Global Public Investment BANGKOK, Thailand, June 22 (IPS) - The fallout from the sudden collapse of the old system of financing international cooperation has been disastrous, unleashing a wave of harm and leaving the world more vulnerable to shocks and less able to respond to them. The wreckage is plain to see. The issue is what to do next.
Ten ways to build a new narrative for humanitarianism
The humanitarian system has not traditionally been known for talking about narrative. This was not because it operated without a narrative, but because the narrative it operated within was so pervasive that it was not even recognised as a narrative. When a humanitarian crisis hit, the humanitarian system would “kick in”. Those working within it “knew the drill” about “mounting a response”. The story of “how” was log frames, the story of “why” was “they need our help”.
Tax the superrich, we have a world to win
NAIROBI/BANGKOK — Why can't there be education for every child? Why can't there be health care for everyone who needs it? Why can't everyone be freed from hunger and deprivation? Though these are promised to all as rights, people are repeatedly told that there is no money. The wonderful news is that this is false: there is money, we know where it is going missing, we know how to get hold of it, and this year brings vital new opportunities for progress. Register to read this story and more for free.
Tax the Super-Rich. We have a World to Win Original
NAIROBI / BANGKOK, Feb 06 (IPS) - Why can’t there be education for every child? Why can’t there be healthcare for everyone who needs it? Why can’t everyone be freed from hunger and deprivation? Though these are promised to all as rights, people are repeatedly told that there is no money. The wonderful news is that this is false: there is money, we know where it is going missing, we know how to get hold of it, and this year brings vital new opportunities for progress.
The hidden costs of resistance: Contrasting the energetics of successfully and unsuccessfully fighting infection
1 INTRODUCTION Under the threat of infection, a host is required to activate a costly immune system, sequester essential nutrients away from the invading pathogen and potentially repair damaged tissue (Schmid-Hempel, 2011; Siva-Jothy et al., 2005). Exposure to a pathogen is therefore predicted to lead to increased energy use as organisms strive to meet the added energetic demands of fighting infection (Schmid-Hempel, 2003; Sheldon & Verhulst, 1996).
Vegetable program at Southwest Michigan Horticultural Days to focus on regional projects and opportunities
This year’s Southwest Michigan Horticultural Days will feature a full day’s vegetable program on Feb. 7, 2024, at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center in Benton Harbor, Michigan. My goal for this session is to report on the local research happening right here in southwest Michigan, and topics that apply to growers in this area. I have also built in some time before lunch to have a discussion on priorities for Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (SWMREC) projects.
Martin Luther King’s Message Shook the Powerful: Vital People can Hear it Today
Civil Society, Democracy, Featured, Global, Headlines, Human Rights, IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse, TerraViva United Nations Opinion Reprint | | Print | ROME, Jan 9 2024 (IPS) - All through this week, leading up to January 15th, the world will commemorate Martin Luther King. In a world as wounded as ours is today, the lessons of his life’s work offer a vital opportunity for healing.
Vegetable ‘Ag Ideas’ Will Focus on Pillars of Production for 2024
By Ben Phillips This year’s MI Ag Ideas to Grow With webinar series will feature a new slate of vegetable topics. Last year, we dove deep on the topics of root, shoot and froot vegetables with growers of a diverse range of experiences. This year, we will focus on pillars of production, including individual talks on fertility/moisture management, insects, diseases, pollination and soil microorganisms. There will also be a beginning vegetable production talk that focuses on getting started.
Vegetable ‘Ag Ideas’ will focus on pillars of production for 2024
This year’s MI Ag Ideas to Grow With webinar series will feature a new slate of vegetable topics. Last year, we dove deep on the topics of root, shoot and froot vegetables with growers of a diverse range of experiences. This year, we will focus on pillars of production, including individual talks on fertility/moisture management, insects, diseases, pollination and soil microorganisms. There will also be a beginning vegetable production talk that focuses on getting started.
Boosting JobSeeker is the most effective way to tackle poverty: what the treasurer's committee told him
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth established an Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee in December 2022 to advise the government on ways to lift economic inclusion and reduce disadvantage. I am a member of that committee, which was tasked with reporting to the government at least two weeks prior to the federal budget in May – enough time to include a response to in the budget. The committee delivered its report to the government in late February.
How can a transformational new social contract be won?
The US has a history of a much more progressive social contact, the set of transformations brought together from the New Deal, to the Great Society. As was pointed out in that Davos debate, from the 1930s to the 1960s the US marginal tax rate on the super-rich ranged from 70 to nearly 95%, ‘and those were pretty good years for growth’ (and for a growth that working people shared in).
A cheat sheet for Fil-foreign athletes in PH? Ask La Salle's Ben Phillips
MANILA, Philippines – When I first left the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the only thing that I was certain of was how nervous I was halfway around the world and far from home in Cincinnati, Ohio. I wanted to put a small guide together that would serve as an initial roadmap for Fil-Ams and Fil-foreigners so you wouldn’t feel lost and alone figuring out this new chapter in your life.
9 things to think about before establishing pollinator habitat
EAST LANSING, MI. – Looking to establish habitat for pollinators? There are many state, county, city and private programs available to help you do so. While these programs are designed to help, it is easy to be overwhelmed by all the options or get bogged down by all the acronyms, restrictions and paperwork they require.
An open letter to school leaders | Opinion
OPINION BEN PHILLIPS, Union University Published 12:56 p.m. CT July 10, 2020 Dear School Leader, In full disclosure, I must tell you that it’s been over a decade since I served as a K12 school leader. In my current role as a college administrator who oversees fully online graduate programs, my world has not been turned upside down by the Coronavirus crisis. However, this summer I can’t help but think about you often.
JMCSS on verge of repeating history with rushed Superintendent hire | Opinion
BEN PHILLIPS, Union University Published 3:24 p.m. CT April 3, 2020 Ben Phillips (Photo: Submitted) In recent weeks, columnists for this newspaper have weighed in on the current search for a permanent Jackson-Madison County Schools superintendent. The prevailing consensus has been that the board should seriously reconsider the timeline for hiring a new superintendent and delay the decision by a few months or even a year.
Cambridge United Say ‘Balls to Homelessness’
Ben Phillips reports on the U’s innovative initiative in tackling rough sleeping in Cambridge. Balls to HomelessnessCambridge United Community Trust by Ben Phillips Walk through the city centre streets of Cambridge and one thing you will notice is a large amount of people having to spend the night out in the elements as rough sleepers. The natural response is of course one of sympathy, sadness, and being left wondering what we can do to offer help and support.
Pre-emptive Quality Control of a Misfolded Membrane Protein by Ribosome-Driven Effects
Highlights • Yor1-ΔF shows synthesis defects when Sec61 or EMC function is compromised • Synthesis defects are suppressed by ribosomal and RQC mutants • Translation initiation is a second point of potential regulation • Pre-emptive quality control on the ER might protect the cell from aberrant proteins Summary Cells possess multiple mechanisms that protect against the accumulation of toxic aggregation-prone proteins.
The Potential for Rapid Evolution under Anthropogenic Climate Change
Understanding how natural populations will respond to rapid anthropogenic climate change is one of the greatest challenges for ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Much research has focussed on whether physiological traits can evolve quickly enough under rapidly increasing temperatures.
The functions - and dysfunctions - of those who fund our schools | Opinion
BEN PHILLIPS , Union University Published 10:00 p.m. CT Aug. 8, 2019 In the past few days, our community witnessed firsthand how messy the school funding process can be. The most recent flashpoint was the purchase of property in the northwest section of Madison County to build a new K-8 school to replace Pope Elementary.
Column by Ben T. Phillips on City, County and funding schools
BEN T. PHILLIPS, Special for the Sun Published 7:00 a.m. CT Dec. 7, 2018 Ben Phillips(Photo: Submitted) The City Council’s decision this week to fund the construction of a new Madison Academic High School was welcome news. The 30-year path to this point in our community’s history is a long and winding road.
Public vs. Private: Selecting avenues on the road to academic success
Within the educational landscape in Madison County, there exists a symbiotic relationship between public and private schools. Certain dimensions of this relationship are healthy and productive for all schools, but in a community with an unusually high number of families choosing private education, the competition for students and financial resources can be challenging for both the public and private enterprises.
Driven by Mission: How Jackson’s private schools maintain unique identities by staying true to founding principles
When Jennifer Garner and her family moved to Jackson a few weeks ago, the first order of business was selecting schools for her two youngest children. Garner said her family has moved several times over the years, and her husband’s job in the manufacturing industry brought them to Jackson after a 10-year stint in Colorado. When the Garners began exploring private schools in town, they did so with a well-informed view of private education.
Funding our future: Schools, taxes and the health of our community
Local public schools play a significant role in any community. The direct influence of the school system is easy to see; there are obvious ways in which it shapes students, teachers, administrators, and even parents. The indirect influences are less obvious but significant nonetheless. The truth is, it would be difficult to overstate the positive community impact of a thriving public school system — or the widespread detrimental effects of a failing one.
The money trail: Tracking the funding of Jackson-Madison County Schools
This past summer — just like every summer before — a familiar scene played out in Madison County. While the key actors change from time to time, the two principal roles are always the same. The first role is the Superintendent of Jackson-Madison County Schools, now played by Dr. Eric Jones. The second role is the Madison County Commission, the local funding body of the public school system. This summer, the scene opened with Jones’ funding request for the upcoming academic year.
Speakers by Content Stream
COMEDY & ENTERTAINMENT We work hard but we party harder. Standup comedy is always-on, on our main stage,The Summer Playground will be packed with nice people, good food and nice music.Also, some of the biggest local artists will be in charge with the good vibes at our famous Digital Live Music Party
The difficulty of securing a high school
Sadly, it has happened again. The breaking news Tuesday morning told of another shooting at another high school. Great Mills High School in Maryland is the location of the third high-profile school shooting in the past two months. At this point, we can predict the chorus of voices ready to weigh in on school security. The media coverage will almost certainly include reporters and analysts and other talking heads promoting their ideas for securing schools.
In memory of my Kentucky high school
On Tuesday, my high school was added to the most undesirable school list in America. As shots rang out just before school started, Marshall County High School joined the likes of Heath, Pearl, Columbine, Sandy Hook, and far too many others. Historically known for our bright orange spirit wear, crazy basketball fans, and lawman mascot (he’s a marshal), Marshall County High School will now be forever known as the place where two young students lost their lives in a senseless shooting.
Africa: Davos - a Tale of Two Mountains #WEF
analysis By Ben PhillipsNairobi — As the elite in the world of finance gather in the Swiss luxury town of Davos, rallies are taking place around the world as citizens demand for solutions to rising inequality. At the same time as the World Economic Forum's rich and powerful hold forth about fixing the crisis of inequality they created, a new movement called the Fight Inequality Alliance is telling another story that is growing around the world.
Davos: a Tale of Two Mountains
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 18 2018 (IPS) - As the elite in the world of finance gather in the Swiss luxury town of Davos, rallies are taking place around the world as citizens demand for solutions to rising inequality. At the same time as the World Economic Forum’s rich and powerful hold forth about fixing the crisis of inequality they created, a new movement called the Fight Inequality Alliance is telling another story that is growing around the world.
Vancouver’s most marginalized women face inequality with washroom access (BCIT Investigates)
Where in the city of Vancouver would you find men’s washrooms opening two hours earlier than the women’s? On the Downtown Eastside (DTES), the city’s most at-risk women face limited access to public washroom facilities in the morning hours. Two locations in the heart of the DTES – Main and East Hastings, and Hamilton and West Hastings, have both male and female washrooms, but they open at different times depending on gender.
Graeme Souness Claims Misfiring Star Daniel Sturridge Is Struggling to 'Train & Prepare Properly'
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has heavily questioned the training methods of out of form Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge. ?Sturridge was given a rare Premier League start in the 1-1 draw at Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon and it was clear to see that the England international was well off the pace before being replaced by Roberto Firmino.
Graeme Souness Claims Misfiring Star Daniel Sturridge Is Struggling to 'Train & Prepare Properly'
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has heavily questioned the training methods of out of form Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge. ?Sturridge was given a rare Premier League start in the 1-1 draw at Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon and it was clear to see that the England international was well off the pace before being replaced by Roberto Firmino.
City v. County: Everybody’s a winner after judge’s ruling
It is not very often that a judge’s ruling results in winners all around. Yet that is exactly what happened this week. My optimistic side sees a favorable resolution to the tax debate that pits Madison County versus the City of Jackson — and sooner rather than later. Late Tuesday afternoon in a packed Chancery courtroom, Judge James Butler announced his decision on the request for a temporary injunction filed by the County against the City.
Education: A simple answer to a complex problem
In a previous column, I explained we are awaiting a judge to determine the merits of the County’s lawsuit regarding the City’s annual sales tax allocation historically given to support Jackson-Madison County Schools. The court will decide what the City must do. In the meantime, let’s consider what I believe the City should do. Recently, my 15-year-old son and I found ourselves in a part of Jackson where he had never been before.
Weighing arguments in the City/County tax debate
The recent decision by the Jackson City Council to rescind its annual tax payment to support the Jackson-Madison County School System and the subsequent lawsuit filed by Madison County reveal a complicated series of points and counterpoints. Analyzing the issues is no easy task.
Africa: Fighting Xenophobia & Inequality Together in the Age of Trump
opinion By Ben PhillipsNairobi, Kenya — As the world marks 100 days of the Trump Presidency, we can see that we are now in a new era of crisis, that it goes well beyond one man and one country, and that only a profound and international response can get us out of the state we are in. The crises of xenophobia and inequality embodied by the Age of Trump are profound and are worldwide.
To seize back democracy we need carpe diem politics
We're immersed in one of the most dynamic periods of public protest ever recorded, so let’s seize the day. Just like economists, political scientists have a poor record of predicting the future, whether it’s the fall of the Berlin Wall, the victory of Trump, or the timing of a UK general election. They might be even less able – or willing – to foresee that a more significant change is on its way: the demise of representative democracy itself.
Fighting Xenophobia & Inequality Together in the Age of Trump
NAIROBI, KENYA, Apr 19 2017 (IPS) - As the world marks 100 days of the Trump Presidency, we can see that we are now in a new era of crisis, that it goes well beyond one man and one country, and that only a profound and international response can get us out of the state we are in. The crises of xenophobia and inequality embodied by the Age of Trump are profound and are worldwide.
Review: Free Fire
Ben Wheatley has been outspoken about his increasing disconnection from the extravagances of modern cinema, where often we are bombarded with so much spectacle that it loses all its weight, or led by the hand through an old story with a new, characterless face. In Free Fire, the gunshots are deafening, the suits are bullet-porous and most of the characters are recognisably incompetent.
A Film a Day Keeps Michael Bay Away
Since it’s a truth self-evident that it is impossible to have a good time going out on New Year’s Eve, I, the sensible but sad person that I am, stayed in and watched a film to celebrate the close of 2016. It had been a pretty bumpy ride, obviously, so a friend and I chose to watch Bone Tomahawk on Netflix as a form of escapism or, more cynically, eye bleach.
Better-off siding with Russia or China: there's no dictator's dilemma today
Whether you are a despot or merely an oligarch, you are likely to be looking longingly at Aleppo at the moment. This is what every leader of an authoritarian regime could ever dream of: a superpower that will support you, that will help you to keep your ruling class in power, that will help you destroy your enemies, but without one-hand tied behind its back; without making you spout pious formulas about peace and democracy. Of course, the deal is that you become a satellite state.
29 October 2016 | openDemocracy
“It's not only about us versus the system. The system is really us.” As Iceland’s radical Pirate party approaches the gates of power, we speak to its figurehead Birgitta Jónsdóttir.
FP 28/10/2016 | openDemocracy
Protection of women human rights defenders must be based on recognizing not only their existence, but also their contribution to creating better societies.
Donald Trump is not uniquely bigoted. He's 'as American as apple pie'
Yet again, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been caught saying ‘deplorable’ things about women. The dust is still settling from the leaked tape of Trump’s conversation with former NBC host Billy Bush in 2005, in which he bragged about his objectification of women: "I just start kissing them," Trump said unrepentantly. "And when you're a star they let you do it.
A conversation with Madeleine Thien
BR: I’ve had in my mind the lines of the poet Adrienne Rich, who laments that her generation was shaped by events beyond its control: “The great dark birds of history screamed and plunged / into our personal weather”. That moulds your characters too, doesn’t it? MT: Yes, that’s a great line.
Moazzam Begg and The Confession, Part Two.
"Whatever you want to think about Moazzam Begg... – the film demands that you recognize that the rule of law, that quintessential British value, has not been exercised in our time." : I’ve been asking myself what is so brilliant about your choice of subject. Your film, The Confession, invites Moazzam Begg, who so many coercive institutions have tried to silence, simply to speak as a human being, which he is very good at.
Schools to drive democracy change in Ukraine
The Ukrainian Schools for Democracy Programme will be at the World Forum for Democracy 2016 , demonstrating how it supports democratic reforms in secondary education. Amidst economic turmoil, security threats and war in the east, Ukraine is facing times of social change. Three years ago Ukrainian society voiced a demand for a modern state based on democracy, human rights and rule of law.
'May the circle be unbroken': remembering antiwar activist Tom Hayden
"He was a complex, difficult, impassioned person whom we should honour as one of our great champions of peace and justice." 52 years ago this December, an obscure group of young activists, Students for a Democratic Society, held a national council meeting in New York to discuss the next year’s work.
Unlocking the transformative potential of remittances
Remittances provide a lifeline for some of the world’s poorest, but we need better ways to leverage their impact, spread their benefits, and decrease their costs. Migrants and diasporans, some doing numerous jobs, often send a substantial part of their hard-earned cash to their relatives and friends in their country of origin.
10 clues to explain the Colombian frenzy
Explaining oneself is a complex and unfinished task. This is why people often resort to psychologists, friends, teachers or priests. Explaining to outsiders what has happened in Colombia in the last two weeks is no less demanding.
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