Archive for October 22nd, 2015
1% of population control 50% of global wealth?
Global inequality is growing, with half the world’s wealth now in the hands of just 1% of the population, according to a new report.
The middle classes have been squeezed at the expense of the very rich, according to research by Credit Suisse, which also finds for the first time that there are more individuals in the middle classes in China – 109m – than the 92m in the US.
“Middle class wealth has grown at a slower pace than wealth at the top end,” said Tidjane Thiam, the chief executive of Credit Suisse. “This has reversed the pre-crisis trend which saw the share of middle-class wealth remaining fairly stable over time.”
The report shows that a person needs only $3,210 (£2,100) to be in the wealthiest 50% of world citizens. Some $68,800 secures a place in the top 10%, while the top 1% have more than $759,900.
The report defines wealth as the value of assets including property and stock market investments but excludes debt.
Andrew Bossone shared this link
The 2008 financial crisis helped a few: “Wealth inequality has continued to increase since 2008, with the top percentile of wealth holders now owning 50.4% of all household wealth.”
About 3.4 bn people – just over 70% of the global adult population – have wealth of less than $10,000. A further 1bn – a fifth of the world population – are in the $10,000-$100,000 range.
Each of the remaining 383m adults – 8% of the population – has wealth of more than $100,000.
This number includes some 34m US dollar millionaires.
About 123,800 individuals of these have more than $50m, and nearly 45,000 have more than $100m.
The UK has the third-highest number of these “ultra-high net worth” individuals.
The report said: “Wealth inequality has continued to increase since 2008, with the top percentile of wealth holders now owning 50.4% of all household wealth.”
At the start of 2015, Oxfam had warned that 1% of the world’s population would own more wealth than the other 99% by next year. Mark Goldring, Oxfam GB’s chief executive, said:
“The fact it has happened a year early – just weeks after world leaders agreed a global goal to reduce inequality – shows just how urgently world leaders need to tackle this problem.
“This is the latest evidence that extreme inequality is out of control. Are we really happy to live in a world where the top 1% own half the wealth and the poorest half own just 1%?”
The Credit Suisse report concludes that global wealth has fallen by $12.4tn so far in 2015 – to $250tn – the first drop since the 2008 banking crisis.
This is largely a result of the strength of the dollar, the currency used for Credit Suisse’s calculations.
The estimates are for the end of June 2015, when Chinese stock prices had fallen 20% from the peak after soaring by more than 150% between June 2014 and mid June 2015.
The report was published at the end of September, by which time the Chinese stock market had fallen a further 25%.
A year ago, the the UK had been singled out as the only country in the G7 where inequality had risen this century. In this year’s report, the authors say:
“[In the UK] wealth inequality has risen since 2000, as the gap in wealth per adult between the lower segment and rest of the population has increased.”
The UK is fourth in the world for median wealth – which strips out the impact of those at the highest and lowest end of the wealth league – at $126,500 (£83,000) per person, down 13% on a year earlier.
The Credit Suisse survey calculates that there are now 2.4 million dollar millionaires in the UK , up 68,000 on a year earlier. In the US the number of millionaires is now more than 15m – up 903,000.
The UK was one of only three countries, along with the US and China, to record a rise in household wealth in 2014. It also leapfrogged Germany in the number of people with more than $50m, with 400 more than 2014 and a total of 5,400.
This put the UK in third place, behind the US with 61,300 of the world’s wealthiest and China with 9,600.
This year’s report focuses on the middle classes, as defined by personal wealth rather than profession. It says 14% of adults worldwide are middle class, with $50,000-$500,000 of assets.
But Markus Stierli, of the Credit Suisse Research Institute, said:
“From 2008 onwards, wealth growth has not allowed middle-class numbers to keep pace with population growth in the developing world. Furthermore, the distribution of wealth gains has shifted in favour of those at higher wealth levels. These two factors have combined to produce a decline in the share of middle-class wealth.”
Civil Disobedience Not weakening: Mobilization of Garbage crisis
Lebanese youth have been manifesting for 2 months against Not resolving the garbage crisis that has been accumulating in all streets and provinces for the last 3 months.
Au 5ème jour des manifestations qui ont débuté ce samedi, la mobilisation ne faiblit pas alors que d’autres revendications se font désormais entendre que celles plus basiques du ramassage des ordures, se font désormais entendre.
La société civile réclame désormais des réformes en profondeur de l’Etat.
Alors que le gouvernement libanais a annoncé hier l’annulation des résultats de l’appel d’offre qui s’est clôturé ce lundi, suite aux prix excessifs des entreprises candidates au ramassage des ordures des 6 régions libanaises, provoquant au passage un tollé à la fois dans les milieux politiques et sociaux, cette décision est vécue par la société civile présente dans les rues du centre-ville comme une véritable victoire, amenant certains à s’interroger sur la possibilité d’une #RevolutionDesOrdures (voir la tribune libre publiée sur notre site).
Le Conseil des Ministres – marqué par une crise politique et le retrait des ministres du CPL, du Tashnak, du mouvement Marada et du Hezbollah – qui s’était exceptionnellement réuni ce mardi pour discuter des résultats de l’appel d’offre, avait annulé les procédures en cours, en raison des prix demandés et considérés comme excessifs par les entreprises participantes (voir le lien).
Le Mouvement YouStink, qui avait annulé les protestations initialement prévues ce lundi, a indiqué qu’une nouvelle protestation aura lieu ce samedi en dépit des incidents désormais devenus quotidiens à proximité immédiate du Grand Sérail, siège du gouvernement libanais. Une autre manifestation du Mouvement WeWantAccountability entamera elle, une manifestation aujourd’hui à partir de 18 heures.
Les entreprises gagnantes dénoncent l’annulation de l’Appel d’Offre par le Cabinet Gouvernemental
2 responsables des entreprises candidates ont dénoncé l’annulation de l’appel d’offre ce mardi, accusant le gouvernement de vouloir favoriser la reprise de l’activité du ramassage des déchets par Sukleen.
Ces derniers ont également accusé le ministre de l’environnement Mohammed Machnouk d’avoir menti au sujet des prix proposés et de les avoir augmenté afin de permettre à l’entreprise Sukleen de paraitre compétitive.
La solution gouvernementale rejetée aussi bien au Akkar qu’à Naameh
Sous le slogan « Le Akkar n’est pas une décharge », les mouvements civils locaux dénoncent le projet de création par les autorités gouvernementales d’une décharge provisoire dans cette région du Nord Liban, et annoncent la tenue de prochaines manifestations.
Ils dénoncent également le versement – vécu comme une véritable tentative de corruption des habitants – de la somme de 100 millions de dollars à cette région considérée comme déshéritée, estimant la qu’il s’agit d’un droit et non d’une récompense pour accepter l’ouverture d’une déchetterie.
A Naameh également dont la fermeture, le 17 juillet dernier, de la décharge a été à l’origine de l’accumulation des ordures des régions du Mont Liban et de la Capitale Beyrouth, les habitants redoutent la réouverture évoquée par le Ministre de l’Environnement Mohammed Machnouk en attendant la mise en place d’une solution permanente, de la cette dernière et menacent de mettre le feu à toute benne à ordure pénétrant dans la zone de depot.
Ils réclament également l’adoption par le Conseil des Ministres, d’un décret déclarant la fermeture permanente de la déchetterie.
Les conducteurs de Sukleen en grève
Les conducteurs libanais de l’entreprise Sukleen en charge jusqu’en juillet dernier du ramassage des ordures ont entamé ce mercredi une grève ouverte provoquant une nouvelle accumulation des déchets dans les régions du Mont Liban et de la capitale libanaise. Manifestant devant le siège de la compagnie située dans le quartier de la Quarantaine, à l’entrée Est de la capitale libanaise, ils réclament aux autorités de connaitre le sort qui leur ait réservé.
Après #YouStink, #WeWantAccountability se joint au mouvement
Le mouvement “We Want Accountability” (Nous demandons des Comptes) s’est joint au Mouvement #Youstink, demandant une transparence accrue et une lutte contre la corruption au sein des administrations publiques, avec une manifestation prévue ce mercredi à 18 heures, cela afin de redonner les droits fondamentaux à la population libanaise.
#WeWantAccountability a également exigé la démission du gouvernement du Premier Ministre Tamam Salam dans un communiqué publié aujourd’hui
« Les autorités craignent les personnes qui réclament leurs droits », a indiqué, ce mercredi depuis la place Riad el Solh, épicentre des manifestations, le porte-parole de ce mouvement qui dénonce également les violences dont on été sujet les manifestants, estimant par ailleurs que la guerre n’est pas avec la police mais avec « le régime ».
Ce mouvement a appelé à la libération immédiate des manifestants encore détenus.
Les collectifs civils dénoncent le maintien en détention de manifestants
Alors que le mouvement “We Want Accountability” dénonce le maintien en détention de 60 personnes, les forces de sécurité libanaises ont indiqué que 48 individus ont été arrêté dont seulement 18 personnes sont toujours en détention.
Le collection “We Want Accountability” indique également être sans nouvelle de 4 personnes désormais portées disparues depuis les manifestations de ce mardi.
Selon les informations disponibles à cette heure, les activistes notent que les voitures des personnes disparues sont toujours au Centre-Ville de Beyrouth alors que leurs téléphones mobiles sont éteints. Des membres de cette même organisation ayant préparé les manifestations des derniers jours font état de violences politiques et de mise en détention arbitraire.
Plusieurs proches des personnes arrêtées et emmenées aux commissariats des quartiers de Sodeco, Mar Elias, Corniche al-Nahar, Hamra, Verdun et de Bachoura, ont fait part de l’interdiction faite par les FSI aux détenus de consulter leurs avocats.
Ils ont indiqué que les suspects des violences subissent également des examens sur fond de suspicions d’utilisation de drogues.
Les personnes depuis libérées ont indiqué avoir payé une caution de 50 000 Livres Libanaises à l’issue d’un examen de prise de drogue négatif.
Pour rappel, le juge militaire Dani al Zaani a débuté l’enquête ouverte suite aux violences ayant visé manifestants et forces de sécurité au centre ville de Beyrouth ces 5 derniers jours avec l’interrogatoire de plusieurs membres des forces de l’ordre et le témoignage de manifestants présents.
Certaines sources médiatiques que l’enquête viserait notamment 7 personnes impliquées dans les incidents au cours desquels plus de 100 membres des forces de l’ordre et un nombre équivalent de civils auraient été blessés. Dans un communiqué publié par les FSI, on indique que les Forces de Sécurité ont été aspergées avec de l’essence lors des manifestations de ce mardi, entrainant l’entrée en action des forces anti-émeutes au cours desquelles plusieurs personnes ont été arrêtées.
Les Emirats Arabes Unis et la France appellent leurs ressortissants à la prudence.
Après Bahrein qui avait appelé ses ressortissants à quitter le Liban et le Koweit qui demandait à ses compatriotes d’éviter les déplacements non-nécessaires voir même à préparer leur départ si nécessaire, les Emirats Arabes Unis ont demandé à leurs ressortissants d’éviter de se rendre au pays des Cèdres. La France appelle ses compatriotes également à la prudence dans un message envoyé par SMS.
The ins and outs of SUKLEEN and SUKOMI’s contracts: Lebanon waste crisis
Posted on: October 22, 2015
A Series of White Papers on the Garbage Crisis in Lebanon
Issue #1: Sukleen’s Waste Mangement; Reality versus Myth Author: Sahar Tarhini
The ins and outs of SUKLEEN and SUKOMI’s contracts: take a look at what the $2 billion from the independent municipal fund were paid for!
Why do we need White Papers on garbage?
The majority of the Lebanese public opinion is shaped by the information shared on mass media and social media.
A lot of that information is misrepresented in a way that limits the reader’s ability to build a sound opinion regarding a public issue.
Within today’s chaotic disputes around the garbage crisis, YEF wants to share sound information that can positively feed into the ongoing debates. Within this framework, and with the support of YEF’s research interns, a series of white papers are being published on the garbage crisis in Lebanon.
This is the first white paper of the series and its focus is on Sukleen’s track record for managing waste in Lebanon.
We will look into contract conditions, prices, and actual implementation
Background Information
Sukleen has been contracted by the Lebanese government to collect the waste in Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon since 1994.
In 1997 following the closing of the Bourj Hammoud dump site, the government decided to implement an Emergency Waste Management plan.
In 1998, the contract with Sukleen was expanded to include its partner organization, Sukomi. Both are divisions of the parent company Averda, which operates throughout the Arab region, and has expanded significantly since 2008 with major investments coming from Growthgate Capital.
Sukomi was charged with management of the then newly designated landfill in Naameh.
Since 1998, Sukleen/Sukomi has been responsible for the garbage collection, partial recycling and treatment, and landfilling, while the Lebanese government is responsible for providing the landfills.
Although the contract expired on July 17 2015, Sukleen continued to collect waste.
According to Averda, during the contract period, there were more than 1500 laborers collecting and processing 2500 tons of garbage per day at the recycling plants. However, the Naameh landfill far surpassed its maximum capacity of 2 million tons, and this is why the garbage crisis started.
So far Sukleen has refused to participate in any new waste management tenders. (But the government let it resume the collect and weeping part for $50 million for 18 months?)
| What do the contracts with Sukleen/Sukomi state? Contract Description | Contractor | Contract Dates | Period | Total Amount Paid by CDR | Source of Funding | ||||||
| COLLECTION & SWEEPING Estimated Cost from 1995 – 2015 USD 780 Million | Solid Waste collection and sweeping of Greater Beirut and its surroundings | Sukleen | Dec 1995 – Aug 2007 (with extensions) | 12 years | USD 383 Million (estimate) | Independent Municipal Fund | |||||
| Solid Waste collection and sweeping of Greater Beirut and its surroundings | Sukleen | Sep 2007 – Apr 2015 | 8 years | USD 384 Million | Independent Municipal Fund | ||||||
| Supervision of garbage collection in Greater Beirut and its surroundings | DG Jones & Partners | Mar 1996 – Apr 2015 | 19 years | USD 13 Million | Council of Development & Reconstruction | ||||||
| PROCESSING WASTE Estimated Cost from 1998 – 2015 USD 684 Million | Operating and Maintenance of a Household solid waste processing plants for Greater Beirut and its surrounding (Aamroussiyeh and Karantina) | Sukomi | Jun 1998 – May 2008 | 10 yeas | USD 284 Million | Independent Municipal Fund | |||||
| Operating and Maintenance of a Household solid waste processing plants for Greater Beirut and its surrounding (Aamroussiyeh and Karantina) | Sukomi | Aug 2007 – Apr 2015 | 8 years | USD 372 Million | Independent Municipal Fund | ||||||
| Supervision of Processing Plant Operations | Laceco | Jun 1998 – May 2008 | 8 years | USD 13 Million (estimate) | Independent Municipal Fund | ||||||
| Supervision of Processing Plant Operations | Laceco | Jun 2007 – Apr 2015 | 8 years | USD 15 Million | Independent Municipal Fund | ||||||
| LANDFILLING Estimated Cost from 1998 – 2015 USD 607 Million | Designing and Operating Sanitary Landfill for Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon | Sukomi | Jan 1998 – Feb 2008 | 10 years | USD 233 Million | Independent Municipal Fund | |||||
| Designing and Operating Sanitary Landfill for Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon | Sukomi | Aug 2007 – Apr 2015 | 8 years | USD 346 Million | Independent Municipal Fund | ||||||
| Supervision of Sanitary Landfill Operations for Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon | Laceco | Jan 1998 – Feb 2008 | 10 years | USD 13 Million (estimate) | Independent Municipal Fund | ||||||
| Supervision of Sanitary Landfill Operations for Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon | Laceco | May 2007 – Apr 2015 | 8 years | USD 15 Million | Independent Municipal Fund | ||||||
Its scheduled closure date was set on the 17th of January 2015. This deadline was extended twice for a 3-month period, the last being on 17 July 2015.
What is Sukleen’s current position?
Sukleen serves municipalities that have provided alternative temporary storage space for baled waste. The management of these sites is the responsibility of the municipality, and Sukleen’s role in this instance is solely the haulage to the site.
Sukleen has been instructed by the Government, in the absence of any other solution, to continue the street cleaning and waste collection services for the transition period and until the new contractors are in place.
According to Sukleen’s website, it has decided not to participate in the recent Waste Management tenders for Lebanon due to the following considerations:
1. Sukleen cannot secure and provide new landfill locations.
2. The pre-requisite diversion from landfill and recycling rates cannot be achieved within six months.
3. The method of collection which has been in place for the last twenty years, and is also stipulated in the new tender, is based around the collection of bins from streets and curbsides. Today, with the continuing urbanization, population growth and the increase in vehicular traffic, this operating model is no longer appropriate and requires a modern, progressive approach and methodology.
What is Sukleen’s role in Chehayeb’s current Waste Management Plan?
(Chehayeb is the minister of agriculture but was appointed to handle the garbage crisis. Why? He is the same minister to handled the Bour Hammoud crisis in 1997 and was paid handsome on the side for dealing with his militia leader Walid Jumblat to open the Na3emeh landfill. Chehayeb has been meeting with representatives of the youth movements with expertise in waste management, but refuses to take notes or care for their inputs and solutions)
The Cabinet extended one part of Sukleen’s contract for 18 months. The extension covers the process of collecting garbage only. The section related to treating garbage and managing landfills is not part of the plan.
yefevent@gmail.com | http://www.yef-lb.org | Facebook/yeflebanon
| Costs | USD$/ton |
| Collection | 25 |
| Sorting | 26 |
| Bailing | 16 |
| Wrapping | 13 |
| Landfilling | 52 (from 0 to 400,000 ton/year)
38 (from 400,001 to 500,000 ton/year) 45 (› 500,001 ton/year) |
| Composting | 30 |
| Total | 130 |
| Based on the above table, we can see how much each of the waste management contractors were paid by the Council of Development and Reconstruction over the past 20 years. Contractor | Amount Paid | Period |
| Sukleen | USD 767 Million | 1995 – 2015 |
| Sukomi | USD 1,235 Million | 1998 – 2015 |
| Laceco | USD 56 Million | 1998 – 2015 |
| DG Jones & Partners | USD 13 Million | 1996 – 2015 |
| TOTAL | USD 2,071 Million | 1995 – 2015 |
Adonis Diaries 