Originally broadcast 27/2/22

Lindsay is joined by journalist Alex Sammon, to discuss his story about the rampant logging of Romania's old growth forests.

Despite claiming a high sustainability record, Ikea sources large amounts of wood from Romania, much of which is suspected to be logged illegally. Alex talks about the dense network of political factors underpinning the logging- the role of violent "wood mafias" attacking activists, the impact of Romania's exit from the Soviet Union into global capital markets, and the role of dodgy sustainability accreditations in greenwashing firms like Ikea.

A gripping story in it's own right, Alex's piece also sketches how our global economy and environment has changed in the last 30 years.



For further reading on this topic:

Alex's Story -  Ikea’s Race for the Last of Europe’s Old-Growth Forest

Sunday Dispatch is recorded the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay respects to their elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded, this always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.

Graphic Design: Karina Aslikyan

Intro Theme: Sophie Gordon

Intro Music: Talk Talk – Ascension Day

Outro Music: Pulp - The Trees

Originally broadcast 27/2/22
Lindsay is joined by journalist Alex Sammon, to discuss his story about the rampant logging of Romania's old growth forests.
Despite claiming a high sustainability record, Ikea sources large amounts of wood from Romania, much of which is suspected to be logged illegally. Alex talks about the dense network of political factors underpinning the logging- the role of violent "wood mafias" attacking activists, the impact of Romania's exit from the Soviet Union into global capital markets, and the role of dodgy sustainability accreditations in greenwashing firms like Ikea.
A gripping story in it's own right, Alex's piece also sketches how our global economy and environment has changed in the last 30 years.
 
For further reading on this topic:
Alex's Story -  <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/165245/ikea-romania-europe-old-growth-forest">Ikea’s Race for the Last of Europe’s Old-Growth Forest</a><a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/165245/ikea-romania-europe-old-growth-forest"></a>
<hr>
Sunday Dispatch is recorded the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay respects to their elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded, this always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.
Graphic Design: Karina Aslikyan
Intro Theme: Sophie Gordon
Intro Music: Talk Talk – Ascension Day
Outro Music: Pulp - The Trees

On Sunday Dispatch, Lindsay Riley follows the thread between social and political crises around the globe. Join Lindsay as he sits down with writers, activists and experts to unpack a range of global issues, examine the shortcomings of mainstream media reporting, and highlight the resistance of those affected by some of the world’s most complex problems.

On Sunday Dispatch, Lindsay Riley follows the thread between social and political crises around the globe. Join Lindsay as he sits down with writers, activists and experts to unpack a range of global issues, examine the shortcomings of mainstream media reporting, and highlight the resistance of those affected by some of the world’s most complex problems.

Sunday Dispatch

4. Illegal Logging in Romania: Ikea, Neoliberalism and Ecological Catastrophe - w/ Alex Sammon

Over the last few years, Chile has seen an unprecedented level of public protest and mobilization against neoliberalism, eventually winning a commitment to replace the country’s military-dictatorship era Constitution. Thousands of local democratic councils emerged across the country, articulating new radical social, economic and political rights to be enshrined in a new Constitution.

Despite the transformative potential of the new draft Constitution, it failed to pass a national plebiscite. To understand why, we talk to historian and journalist Dr Camila Vergara, who worked with Chileans in drafting the new Constitution. In a wide-ranging conversation, we also explore the contours of struggle of people’s movements within and outside the political process, and how they deal with setbacks and defeats.

Follow Camila's coverage of Chile here:

_________________________________________________________

Sunday Dispatch is recorded on Gadigal land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded, this always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.

Graphic Design: Karina Aslikyan

Intro Theme: Sophie Gordon

Intro Music: Talk Talk – Ascension Day

Over the last few years, Chile has seen an unprecedented level of public protest and mobilization against neoliberalism, eventually winning a commitment to replace the country’s military-dictatorship era Constitution. Thousands of local democratic councils emerged across the country, articulating new radical social, economic and political rights to be enshrined in a new Constitution.
Despite the transformative potential of the new draft Constitution, it failed to pass a national plebiscite. To understand why, we talk to historian and journalist Dr Camila Vergara, who worked with Chileans in drafting the new Constitution. In a wide-ranging conversation, we also explore the contours of struggle of people’s movements within and outside the political process, and how they deal with setbacks and defeats.
Follow Camila's coverage of Chile <a href="https://newleftreview.org/sidecar/search?query%5Bauthor%5D=Camila+Vergara">here:</a>
_________________________________________________________
Sunday Dispatch is recorded on Gadigal land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded, this always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.
Graphic Design: Karina Aslikyan
Intro Theme: Sophie Gordon
Intro Music: Talk Talk – Ascension Day

14. Why Chile's New Democratic Constitution Failed w/ Camila Vergara

In 2020, a 44 day war saw Azerbaijan win the Nagorno- Karabakh territory from Armenia, who had held it for the past 25 years. One of the more forgotten global flashpoints, Nagorno-Karabakh has been long disputed between both nations. The reasons why can be found in the buried histories of the former Soviet Union, and the explosive rise of nationalism after it's breakup.

We're joined this week by Armenian- American professor and author Ron Sunny, to discuss what was behind the recent turn of fortunes in Nagorno- Karabakh, and explore the deeper reasons behind territorial conflicts between countries, and the broader challenges that nationalism can unleash. 

Some recent articles from Ron:

https://jacobin.com/2023/01/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-nagorno-karabakh-post-soviet-politics-history

https://theconversation.com/mikhail-gorbachev-the-contradictory-legacy-of-soviet-leader-who-attempted-revolution-from-above-189681

_________________________________________________________

Sunday Dispatch is recorded on Gadigal land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded, this always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.

Graphic Design: Karina Aslikyan

Intro Theme: Sophie Gordon

Intro Music: Talk Talk – Ascension Day

In 2020, a 44 day war saw Azerbaijan win the Nagorno- Karabakh territory from Armenia, who had held it for the past 25 years. One of the more forgotten global flashpoints, Nagorno-Karabakh has been long disputed between both nations. The reasons why can be found in the buried histories of the former Soviet Union, and the explosive rise of nationalism after it's breakup.
We're joined this week by Armenian- American professor and author Ron Sunny, to discuss what was behind the recent turn of fortunes in Nagorno- Karabakh, and explore the deeper reasons behind territorial conflicts between countries, and the broader challenges that nationalism can unleash. 
Some recent articles from Ron:
<a href="https://jacobin.com/2023/01/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-nagorno-karabakh-post-soviet-politics-history">https://jacobin.com/2023/01/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-nagorno-karabakh-post-soviet-politics-history</a>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/mikhail-gorbachev-the-contradictory-legacy-of-soviet-leader-who-attempted-revolution-from-above-189681">https://theconversation.com/mikhail-gorbachev-the-contradictory-legacy-of-soviet-leader-who-attempted-revolution-from-above-189681</a>
_________________________________________________________
Sunday Dispatch is recorded on Gadigal land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded, this always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.
Graphic Design: Karina Aslikyan
Intro Theme: Sophie Gordon
Intro Music: Talk Talk – Ascension Day

13. Nagorno-Karabakh: Nationalism and the Origins of Armenia and Azerbaijan's Conflict

Inflation- its something that pretty much all of us have been dealing with in the last couple of years. Petrol, food, rent, - they’ve all been going up. And it doesn’t seem to be stopping.

But how well do we actually understand inflation?  And does our government and reserve bank have any idea how to get it under control?

This week, we're talking to professor, author and economist Dr Radhika Desai to understand the structural reasons behind current inflation, and dispel some common myths and misunderstandings as to why it occurs.

Check out Radhika's work here

And her latest book, released for free

_________________________________________________________

Sunday Dispatch is recorded on Gadigal land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded, this always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.

Graphic Design: Karina Aslikyan

Intro Theme: Sophie Gordon

Intro Music: Talk Talk – Ascension Day

Outro Music: The Chats- The Price of Smokes

Inflation- its something that pretty much all of us have been dealing with in the last couple of years. Petrol, food, rent, - they’ve all been going up. And it doesn’t seem to be stopping.
But how well do we actually understand inflation?  And does our government and reserve bank have any idea how to get it under control?
This week, we're talking to professor, author and economist Dr Radhika Desai to understand the structural reasons behind current inflation, and dispel some common myths and misunderstandings as to why it occurs.
Check out Radhika's work <a href="https://radhikadesai.wordpress.com/">here</a>
And her latest book, <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-mono/10.4324/9781003200000/capitalism-coronavirus-war-radhika-desai">released for free</a>
_________________________________________________________
Sunday Dispatch is recorded on Gadigal land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded, this always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.
Graphic Design: Karina Aslikyan
Intro Theme: Sophie Gordon
Intro Music: Talk Talk – Ascension Day
Outro Music: The Chats- The Price of Smokes

4. Illegal Logging in Romania: Ikea, Neoliberalism and Ecological Catastrophe - w/ Alex Sammon

Sunday Dispatch

In 1 playlist(s)

Sunday Dispatch

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips