Don’t be fooled by crocodile tears about the reduction of army numbers and other cuts. The UK is beefing up its military forces for a global role, not defence of these islands.

Space is another area of investment with the Ministry of Defence to prioritise more than £6.6bn for research and development over the next four years.

A £2bn investment in the the Tempest Future Combat Air System over the next four yearsAn increase in drones. Sir Mike Wigston, the head of the RAF, predicted that by 2040, 80% of “planes flying on operations” in combat zones such as Syria and Iraq would “not have a human in them”. Air chiefs also want to develop “high energy” weapons – a form of laserWhile a third of the army’s Challenger tanks will be scrapped, the remaining 148 will be upgraded, at a cost of £1.3bn. £1.5bn to be invested over the next decade to build a “digital backbone” to share and exploit vast amounts of data and the creation of the National Cyber Force.

 A new analysis by IRS researchers and academics published Monday morning estimates that the richest 1% of U.S. households don’t report around 21% of their income, often using complex tax avoidance strategies that allow them to outmaneuver the federal government’s increasingly rare audits of the wealthy.

Led by two IRS researchers as well as Daniel Reck of the London School of Economics and Emmanuel Saez of the University of California, Berkeley, the new paper (pdf) finds  the richest households’ unreported income “correspond to undetected sophisticated evasion” such as offshoring, pass-through businesses, and other avoidance tactics.

The authors write. “We estimate that 36% of federal income taxes unpaid are owed by the top 1% and that collecting all unpaid federal income tax from this group would increase federal revenues by about $175 billion annually.”

When the IRS actually conducts random audits they “do not capture most tax evasion through offshore accounts and pass-through businesses, both of which are quantitatively important at the top,” according to the new analysis. As a result, the paper’s authors note, the incomes of the wealthiest people in the U.S. and the country’s overall inequality are significantly underestimated.

Reck told the Wall Street Journal ahead of the paper’s official release that the findings show “there is more revenue than you might have thought at the very top.”

‘This Is Tax Evasion’: Richest 1% of US Households Don’t Report 21% of Their Income, Analysis Finds | Common Dreams News

 Half of British workers had a real-terms pay cut in the year to autumn 2020, despite official figures showing the fastest earnings growth in almost two decades, research by the Resolution Foundation suggests. The thinktank said official figures on average weekly earnings had been “hugely disrupted” by the large number of workers furloughed, and that the headline rates were “too good to be true”.

Data showing average weekly earnings growth of 4.5% in late 2020 – its highest level since 2002 – did not reflect how pay packets had changed, it said, and was distorted by changes in the makeup of the workforce, with many in low-paid work losing jobs during the pandemic.

Hannah Slaughter of the Resolution Foundation said: 

“Sadly, the story of bumper pay packets from official headline data is too good to be true. In reality, half of all workers experienced a real-terms pay cut last autumn, with pay growth deteriorating most among those who have been hit hardest by the pandemic – the young, the low-paid and those working in social sectors like hospitality.”

The foundation said its research indicated that the median annual pay rise was 0.6% last autumn, which once inflation was taken into account meant half of workers had experienced a 0.2% pay cut over 12 months.

The median pay rise did improve, increasing to 1.8% in the final quarter of 2020, but this was still the second lowest rise since mid-2013, and worth just 1% after inflation according to the study.

The research found sharp falls in pay growth for young workers, and said this was particularly concerning as it could damage their earnings prospects for years to come. Among 18- to 24-year-olds annual pay growth fell from 12.3% in 2019 to 6% in 2020, the researchers said, while for 25- to 34-year-olds the drop was from 4.9% to 1.4%. On top of this young workers were more likely to have been affected by furlough and job losses, they added.

“The economy experienced its biggest recession in over 300 years last year, with a third of private sector workers put on furlough at its peak, and yet somewhat implausibly pay growth reached its highest level in almost 20 years.” Hannah Slaughter explained.

Half of British workers had real-terms pay cut in 2020, study says | Pay | The Guardian

A new analysis published in Ambio, a journal of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, explains:

 “We now know that society needs to be viewed as part of the biosphere, not separate from it. Depending on the collective actions of humanity, future conditions could be either beneficial or hostile for human life and wellbeing in the Anthropocene biosphere. Whether humanity has the collective wisdom to navigate the Anthropocene to sustain a livable biosphere for people and civilizations, as well as for the rest of life with which we share the planet, is the most formidable challenge facing humanity.”

The new report focuses on the unprecedented environmental degradation on the one hand and a situation in which vast economic inequality has created a political situation in which taking the necessary steps to alter humanity’s trajectory has proven almost impossible.

The study consider:

“The Anthropocene is characterized by a tightly interconnected world operating at high speeds with hyper-efficiency in several dimensions. These dimensions include the globalized food production and distribution system, extensive trade and transport systems, strong connectivity of financial and capital markets, internationalized supply and value chains, widespread movements of people, social innovations, development and exchange of technology, and widespread communication capacities.”

“In a single human lifetime, largely since the 1950s, we have grossly simplified the biosphere, a system that has evolved over 3.8 billion years. Now just a few plants and animals dominate the land and oceans,” said lead author Carl Folke, director of the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics and chair of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, in a statement Monday.  “Our actions are making the biosphere more fragile, less resilient and more prone to shocks than before.”

According to Line Gordon, co-author of the report and director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, “This is a decisive decade for humanity. In this decade we must bend the curves of greenhouse gas emissions and shocking biodiversity loss. This means transforming what we eat and how we farm it, among many other transformations.”

Co-author Victor Galaz, deputy director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, said: “As the pressure of human activities accelerates on Earth, so too does the hope that technologies such as artificial intelligence will be able to help us deal with dangerous climate and environmental change. That will only happen however, if we act forcefully in ways that redirects the direction of technological change towards planetary stewardship and responsible innovation.”

Scientists Say Humanity Now at ‘Dawn of What Must Be a Transformative Decade’ | Common Dreams News

And that is the sad thing in the view of our blog. Despite insights into the reality of climate change and the toll upon humanity and nature, the experts, the scientists, those who should know better, still think in terms of capitalist solutions. They dare not suggest that socialism and its steady-state, zero-growth sustainable mode of production is the alternative. 

A new analysis published in Ambio, a journal of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, explains:

 “We now know that society needs to be viewed as part of the biosphere, not separate from it. Depending on the collective actions of humanity, future conditions could be either beneficial or hostile for human life and wellbeing in the Anthropocene biosphere. Whether humanity has the collective wisdom to navigate the Anthropocene to sustain a livable biosphere for people and civilizations, as well as for the rest of life with which we share the planet, is the most formidable challenge facing humanity.”

The new report focuses on the unprecedented environmental degradation on the one hand and a situation in which vast economic inequality has created a political situation in which taking the necessary steps to alter humanity’s trajectory has proven almost impossible.

The study consider:

“The Anthropocene is characterized by a tightly interconnected world operating at high speeds with hyper-efficiency in several dimensions. These dimensions include the globalized food production and distribution system, extensive trade and transport systems, strong connectivity of financial and capital markets, internationalized supply and value chains, widespread movements of people, social innovations, development and exchange of technology, and widespread communication capacities.”

“In a single human lifetime, largely since the 1950s, we have grossly simplified the biosphere, a system that has evolved over 3.8 billion years. Now just a few plants and animals dominate the land and oceans,” said lead author Carl Folke, director of the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics and chair of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, in a statement Monday.  “Our actions are making the biosphere more fragile, less resilient and more prone to shocks than before.”

According to Line Gordon, co-author of the report and director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, “This is a decisive decade for humanity. In this decade we must bend the curves of greenhouse gas emissions and shocking biodiversity loss. This means transforming what we eat and how we farm it, among many other transformations.”

Co-author Victor Galaz, deputy director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, said: “As the pressure of human activities accelerates on Earth, so too does the hope that technologies such as artificial intelligence will be able to help us deal with dangerous climate and environmental change. That will only happen however, if we act forcefully in ways that redirects the direction of technological change towards planetary stewardship and responsible innovation.”

Scientists Say Humanity Now at ‘Dawn of What Must Be a Transformative Decade’ | Common Dreams News

And that is the sad thing in the view of our blog. Despite insights into the reality of climate change and the toll upon humanity and nature, the experts, the scientists, those who should know better, still think in terms of capitalist solutions. They dare not suggest that socialism and its steady-state, zero-growth sustainable mode of production is the alternative. 

A supposed hijack of an oil tanker some months ago generated international headlines and  members of the elite Navy force, the Special Boat Service, were hailed as heroes.

The defence minister, Ben Wallace, said at the time: “People are safe tonight thanks to their efforts.”

The Crown Prosecution Service findings differ. No charges were brought against the stowaways who have claimed asylum. No evidence could be produced to show that the ship or the crew were at risk.

“At first they said we were sea pirates but there was no evidence of that,” explained ‘John’ . “They said we tried to hijack a ship. Such an incident didn’t happen. I’m happy we had a good crown prosecutor who went through the case properly.”

Stowaway’s story raises questions about Nave Andromeda incident | Immigration and asylum | The Guardian

We have seen a massacre targeting Asian women in Atlanta USA, police dispersing a women’s protest against femicide in London, UK and large marches in Australian cities highlighting the violence against women. In Mexico, there has been protests against the government’s support for a political ally accused of rape and police inaction concerning the assaults and murders of women

We now have in Turkey nationwide demonstrations as President Erdogan withdraws Turkey from an international agreement to prevent violence against women.  Women responded to the decision with anger and outrage.  More protests are expected in the days and weeks to come. 

“I’m utterly appalled to learn that tonight Turkish government has officially announced they are withdrawing from Istanbul Convention. This in a country where three women are killed daily and femicide is a huge crisis,” prominent Turkish author Elif Shafak wrote. At least 38% of women in Turkey are subject to domestic violence, according to the World Health Organization. 

The 2011 agreement, commonly referred to as the Istanbul Convention, was drafted by the Council of Europe in the Turkish city in 2011. It is a legal framework seeking to protect women and promote gender equality through legislation, education and spreading awareness.  According to the accord, signatories had to “take the necessary legislative and other measures to adopt and implement state-wide effective, comprehensive and coordinated policies encompassing all relevant measures” to prevent violence against women.

Turkey quits Istanbul Convention on violence against women | News | DW | 20.03.2021

 Almost 1.4 billion hectares of land – close to 30% of the world’s agricultural land – is dedicated to producing food that is never eaten. 

 The carbon footprint of food wastage makes it the third emitter of CO2 after the US and China, according to the FAO.

In the UK, also, about a third of all food is thrown away – half of it in people’s homes. 

 It isn’t just the leftovers on our plate to consider but the many resources that go into producing our food, like water and land.

Millions sign up to anti-food-waste apps to share their unused produce | Food waste | The Guardian

 In the The Metro (18/3/21) is the headline: “Gig is up for zero hours, say unions”. The Supreme Court  has ruled Uber taxi drivers are employees–not contractors as the firm argued–and therefore eligible for more rights under Employment Law.

Uber has decided to give its 70,000 drivers–reluctantly we can imagine–a guaranteed minimum wage, holiday pay and pensions. 

 The ruling ‘opens the door’ for other gig economy workers to get better wages and conditions, unions say.

The decision ‘should mark the end of the road for bogus self-employment’ said Mick Rix of  The GMB Union, which engaged in a five-year legal battle against Uber.

Francis O’Grady, General Secretary of The TUC, vowed to take the fight ‘to the next level’. ‘Gig workers deserve the same basic rights as everybody else. Unions won’t rest until pay and conditions have improved’, she added.

Uber said it was ‘proud’ [are they ?] to be making changes which will see all drivers be automatically enrolled in a pension plan. Once workers have accepted a trip request, they will be guaranteed the national live wage of £8.72 an hour, after expenses. They make £14 an hour (£17 in London) but now have added security Uber have also claimed. 

Former Uber driver James Farrar, whose claim against Uber was a catalyst for the launch of the long legal fight, said his old work colleagues are still being short-changed.

James wants them to be paid from when they log in, not when a trip is accepted. He said, ‘Waiting is working. We are not there yet,’ he also added.

The Supreme Court’s ruling that the Uber drivers are employees is nothing strange to Socialists. If you rely solely on a wage or a salary you are a member of The Working Class.

In a Socialist society I expect there will be a different approach to transport where the priority is to have only vehicles on the road that don’t damage the environment.

Taxi drivers might want to pursue other interests too.

Socialism will have no employees and no employers. It will be a world without money. There will be free access to what is produced. You will take what you need when you need  it and for free.

 Twelve months of Covid-19 has reversed 12 years of global progress against tuberculosis, worse than previously estimated.

The pandemic has resulted in nearly a 25% decrease in diagnosis and treatment around the world, according to research published on Thursday by a coalition working to end TB.

Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund, said that while it feels there may be light at the end of the tunnel as far as Covid goes, “for the communities we’re talking about here, those most at risk of TB, we’re right at the darkest point”.

Due to the impact of the Covid pandemic on services, the number of people diagnosed and treated for TB in the worst-affected countries has dropped back to 2008 levels, said Stop TB Partnership’s executive director, Lucica Ditiu.

“After less than a year, a vaccine was developed and is now being deployed to help contain, and hopefully end, the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Thokozile Phiri Nkhoma, a Stop TB Partnership board member.

“But although TB has been around since the time of the pharaohs, the only approved vaccine is 100 years old and doesn’t fully work, especially in adults. First-line treatment for TB is several decades old, and drug resistance is on the rise, while the millions of people with TB who are not found and treated remain at risk of spreading the disease.”

Every year TB infects 10 million people and kills 1.5 million, more than any other infectious disease. Although Covid-19 overtook TB in 2020 as the most common cause of death from an infectious disease, TB still kills more people than Covid in low- and middle-income countries.

“TB didn’t go anywhere when the Covid-19 pandemic hit,” said India’s minister of health, Harsh Vardhan. “People just got distracted, health workers were redirected and health systems became overwhelmed.

Fight against tuberculosis set back 12 years by Covid pandemic, report finds | Global development | The Guardian