I Wanna Live Here - Anna Brownfield

Director Anna Brownfield won the first I Want to Live Here film competition. Standing room only saw a positive atmosphere as we …

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Show Notes - Vanuatu’s Invisible Chains

Karl’s return from speaking to the Council of Chiefs for the Shepherd Islands (Vanuatu) reveals the new weapon of choice - land speculation. Interviews with locals tell the story that ugly aussie expats are leading. Film comp screening Wed Dec 3rd.

Vanuatu

Sovereignty – 1980
Land speculation the neo-colonial weapon of choice
89% Port Vila foreign owned
25% live on less than US$1 per day
Strong link to West Papuan freedom
Enclosure of the commons so fresh – connection to land is strong

The synopsis:
1. Land has not been valued in many areas since 1980
2. Property taxes on buildings only
3. Land taxes mysteriously reduced to under 1% in last few years
4. 2 people work in the Valuer Generals office
5. 4 people work in valuation for the Department of Lands
6. None of them have time to value land.
7. US Aid is building a sealed ring road around the main island of Effate.
8. There is very little internet access there
9. No free internet anywhere, even the library
10. 89% of land in capital city Port Vila is foreign owned
11. 99% medium to large biz foreign owned
12. Land speculation and land banking is rife.
1. 24% capital gains p.a over last 5 years.
2. Most by aussies. Society dominated by dodgy expat Oz conmen. Embarrassing ;(

The invisible chains of land speculation are threatening the freedoms of ni-Vanuatuan’s. Land monopolisation is just so dominant there could hardly be a better example of the perils of poor tax regimes.

‘We must turn off the tap to the magic money of land speculation’
‘Economic rent is the urban gold’
‘Foreign aid for foreign speculators’

Interviews -
Tommy: ni-Vanuautuan labourer, Port Villa
Chief Andrew Popovi…where’s my notepad….sorry

photo credit: vaschenko

Michael Hudson

This article appeared in counterpunch.

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When: Wednesday 3 December 2008, 7pm to 9pm.
Where: The Order, Level 2, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne.
Cost: Free.

The screening of The ‘I Want To Live Here’ short film competition will be an event of great importance. Here finally young …