Latest news with #Marxism
Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
‘Uncool to be woke': Donald Trump calls for US companies to reject ‘poisonous Marxism'
US President Donald Trump claims Americans don't want 'woke Marxist lunacy' in the artificial intelligence models. 'They don't want it, they don't want anything to do with it,' he said during his address at an AI summit. 'That's why on day one, I very proudly terminated Joe Biden's order on woke AI effective immediately. 'It's so uncool to be woke – I encourage all American companies to join us in rejecting poisonous Marxism in our technology.'
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Viral photo shows Labubu doll on Karl Marx's grave, sparks debate: ‘Deeply poetic and unhinged'
A viral social media post has captured a bizarre and oddly moving scene that's surprised and amused the internet, racking up over nine million views. Shared by an X user, the photo shows a Chinese student's handwritten three-page letter to German philosopher Karl Marx, carefully placed on his grave in London, a gesture reportedly not uncommon among visitors. The wildly popular designer Labubu toy was seen perched against Karl Marx's tombstone.(X/@Uaitniu) But it wasn't the letter that got everyone talking. What stole the spotlight was the unexpected presence of Labubu, the wildly popular designer doll that has taken the world by storm, perched against Marx's tombstone. The dark grey monster doll with a mischievous smile was seen peeking over the pages of the letters. Many were quick to point out the irony of the situation: A wildly expensive toy that has fuelled consumerism worldwide was placed as an offering on the grave of the father of anti-capitalist thought. "There's something deeply poetic and unhinged about a collectable capitalist gremlin sitting on the grave of the man who critiqued capitalism itself. Peak irony," said one user. Others were quick to jokingly call it the most unusual collab: "Late-stage capitalism really said: Labubu x Karl Marx collab," wrote another user. "Don't be surprised if the gravestone spontaneously combusts," joked a third person. Some even joked that the doll was acting as a guardian at the grave. "The labubu: Perfectly symbolic of unthinking people with infantile tendencies, wasteful and trendy. Just like Marxism," quipped another user.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
V S Achuthanandan, a rebel with many causes
The fifth communist Chief Minister of Kerala was the first proletarian. When V S Achuthanandan organised coir factory workers, he was one. His role in the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising contributed to his legend. Struggle defined his life and career from the beginning, whether it was against the Travancore monarchy, for the many causes he championed, or for supremacy in the party. Successful or otherwise, they helped shape the reality of Kerala today. His reinvention of himself from organisation man to mass leader, and the image he built of a tireless campaigner unafraid to go against the party line, won him an enduring place in the public imagination. The tussle for power in the Kerala CPM between Achuthanandan and the current Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, shadowed much of the political discourse in the early 2000s, right up till Vijayan's victory in 2016. It's seen as having an ideological dimension, with Achuthanandan taking the more orthodox line, as the Left across India tried to articulate a response to the tide of economic liberalisation. Achuthanandan's Marxism dovetailed with his anti-corruption stance, environmentalism and commitment to people's land rights, as seen in his campaigns to protect wetlands, ensure justice for victims of the endosulfan tragedy and opposition to the Plachimada Coca-Cola plant, and his drive against encroachment in Munnar. He was ready to take up more unlikely causes, too, such as open-source software. There's also a different story to be told, of IT parks and infrastructure — Technopark saw massive expansion and the Kochi Metro project was approved during his tenure as CM. The last survivor of the 32 members of the CPI national council who walked out to form the CPM in 1964, Achuthanandan remained a rebel throughout his life. It often led him into conflicts with his party. He was expelled from the Politburo twice and was even characterised as functioning like an opposition leader when he was CM. He was no stranger to intra-party political manoeuvring, having crushed a rival faction in the party's trade union wing, the CITU, in the 1990s, and played a role in the ousters of senior party leaders M V Raghavan and K R Gouri Amma; eventually, he was outmanoeuvred himself. But if there was one factor that remained unchanged, it was the fervour he inspired among the people — the public outcry in 2006, which pushed the party leadership to walk back its decision not to field him in the assembly polls, is one example. That spirit could be heard one last time during his funeral procession on Tuesday in the slogans that rang in the streets.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
V.S. Achuthanandan: A life of conscience and courage
V.S. Achuthanandan lived by a guiding principle: public service must be grounded in integrity. For him, ethics and politics were profoundly interlinked — one could not exist meaningfully without the other. He believed ideas should determine action, not remain confined to texts or slogans. His approach to Marxism was thoughtful and practical, not rigid or ceremonial. It reflected a genuine commitment to justice, equality, and honesty. This is why his concerns extended beyond class issues to include the environment and gender rights. His convictions were influenced by lived experience, not just ideology. Achuthanandan believed that natural resources — land, water, and air — belong to everyone, not just the elite. He was among the first to raise concerns about unsustainable development in Kerala. He consistently warned that haphazard construction of malls, resorts, and highways was destroying the State's ecological balance. For him, progress should never come at the cost of nature or human dignity. He frequently questioned who truly benefited from the environmental degradation that accompanied rapid modernisation. These questions often made him unpopular with those in power. Driven by foresight In Kerala's political history, few leaders spoke as passionately about the environment as Achuthanandan did. His activism was not driven by trends, but by foresight. He marched with the Adivasis in Muthanga, supported women plantation workers in Munnar, and stood with victims of chemical exposure in Kasaragod. He stood with the people of Plachimada in their fight against corporate misuse of water resources. He challenged unlawful land acquisitions — even when it meant confronting his own political party. His sense of justice was expansive, including both social equity and environmental protection. VS argued that laws must uphold science and environmental responsibility. He was vocal in holding both political opponents and allies accountable. He criticised his own government when it ignored expert assessments on the Western Ghats, and he criticised the Emerging Kerala summit for encouraging unchecked privatisation. For him, political slogans were meaningless without the courage to act on them. Achuthanandan never shied away from standing alone. While others operated behind closed doors, he chose transparency. He called out every shortcut, backroom deal, and hollow promise made in the name of progress. His simple but powerful message was clear: protect what truly matters. Don't fall for superficial glamour. Uplift the marginalised. Care for the earth. Honour the truth. He did not win every political fight, but he remained true to his ideals. His strength was not measured by positions held, but by his bold dissent. Through shifting governments and cooling alliances, he stayed committed to one idea: politics must answer to the people, the environment, and the judgement of history. V.S. Achuthanandan's life reminds us that genuine change is not loud or self-congratulatory. It is rooted in moral strength, courage, and the refusal to look away from injustice. His legacy lives on — not in statues, but in every person brave enough to speak for what is right. (The writer is Director, Inter University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension, MG University)
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
From peasant uprising to industrial revolution: hero's hometown revived
An aerial drone photo shows Peng Pai's former residence at Shanwei, a coastal city in south China's Guangdong Province, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo) GUANGZHOU (July 22): When tourists arrive at Shanwei, a coastal city in south China's Guangdong Province, they quickly notice that red is everywhere. In what is known as the city's red block, the upper facades of street-side shops selling fish maw, eyeglasses and savory Chinese pancakes are painted in red, accented with touches of yellow — echoing the colors of the flag of the Communist Party of China. Shanwei is a famous 'red land.' It is the birthplace of China's first Soviet government, the Hai-lu-feng Soviet, established in 1927, and also the hometown of Peng Pai, a Communist hero who led the founding of the government, hailed by Mao Zedong as the 'king of peasant uprisings.' Today, locals still recount the stories of Peng. Despite being born into a wealthy landowning family, he burned the land deeds to give his lands to farmers after he accepted Marxism. He mobilized countless peasants to join the revolutionary cause before his execution at the age of 33. Peng's rebellion and boldness are regarded as a reflection of the Shanwei people's fearless spirit and strong perseverance. 'Peng's dream was to build a new world where the country would become strong and the people could live a happy life. As offspring, we have inherited his legacy,' a senior official of the Shanwei government told Xinhua. One example is the achievement of Peng Shilu, the son of Peng Pai. He was arrested after his father's death, but was rescued and sent to the revolutionary base in Yan'an for education. Later, he was sent to study in the Soviet Union. After returning to China, Peng Shilu devoted his life to the nation's nuclear enterprise and was eventually hailed as the 'father of China's nuclear submarines.' Another prominent Chinese nuclear submarine designer, Huang Xuhua, was also born in Shanwei. Before his passing in February 2025, Huang's story had been widely covered by the media, including a TV drama adaptation that aired in 2021. However, despite being located in the economically developed province of Guangdong and adjacent to the bustling city of Shenzhen, Shanwei struggled to reach such lofty development heights, and historically had a high concentration of underprivileged residents. Until December 2013, there was not even a railway leading to the city. In order to realize Peng Pai's dream, Shanwei's officials went above and beyond painting the streets red, and worked hard to develop the economy. 'We have accelerated industrial project implementation and construction by offering proactive, service-oriented governance,' said Chen Jianhua, director of the municipal development and reform bureau of Shanwei. Peng Pai's statue is pictured at Shanwei, a coastal city in south China's Guangdong Province, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo) He noted that Shanwei has benefited from high-tech business production transferred from bigger cities, adding that the city had been focusing on the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector, attracting upstream and downstream enterprises to establish itself as a major hub for NEVs. One notable example is the Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone, established in 2011 under the cooperation between Shanwei and Shenzhen. Located in Shanwei, the zone has become a key hub for the NEV industry, with Shenzhen-based NEV giant BYD and around 30 companies in the NEV supply chain. According to the official Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, BYD's auto industrial park within the zone had secured total contracted investment exceeding 31.5 billion yuan (about 4.4 billion U.S. dollars) as of February 2025. Following the signing of a construction agreement for the park's fourth phase in November 2024, its total annual output value is projected to exceed 200 billion yuan once all four phases are fully completed and operational. Previously, some investors doubted Shanwei's ability to complete the construction in the industrial park within the specified time. But the hard-working local people completed the task ahead of the scheduled deadline. At the same time, Shanwei has developed itself into a major clean energy supply hub for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area through the development of wind power. The city has the world's largest 18-megawatt offshore wind turbine and the largest 16-megawatt floating offshore wind turbine. By the end of 2024, new energy accounted for nearly 30 percent of the city's total installed power generation capacity, reaching 9.17 million kilowatts. The city has also upgraded its ports to accommodate large container ships. The development of new energy and new ports has therefore attracted more partners who hope to export their products to the European Union to invest in the city. Between 2020 and 2024, Shanwei recorded an average annual GDP growth rate of 5.5 percent, outperforming any other city in the province during the period. Chen said the city was evolving into a key focal point on China's eastern coastline. 'With its tradition of bold innovation, Shanwei is striving to transform from a revolutionary base area into a modern industrial stronghold,' he added. This also reflects the changes happening in China, a country that is striving for modernization. The economic boom has drawn back many Shanwei natives, who had once left to seek opportunities elsewhere, with renewed hope. Liu Dejiang, 37, came back to Shanwei to open a coffee shop in 2022, after closing a clothing business that he had run for over 10 years in Guangzhou due to market changes. Now he owns eight outlets in operation or under preparation in Shanwei. Tourists relax at a coffee shop in the Red Bay beach of Shanwei, a coastal city in south China's Guangdong Province, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo) The first outlet was constructed on the site of an abandoned abalone farm at a beach in Shanwei's Red Bay. Liu named it 'Floating Sun Hideaway,' inspired by its impressive sunset view. What happened next, Liu describes, was a 'breakout.' Young people flocked in to take pictures to share on social media, attracting more visitors to check in. Some even came from as far away as Beijing or Chongqing. 'We have benefited from Shanwei's rural revitalization efforts that have renovated the environment of villages in the city's suburbs,' Liu said. To attract vacationers, the local government has removed a number of aquaculture farms, set up water purification facilities, launched regular cleanups of coastlines, and invited artists to create paintings on the facades along the seaside street, incorporating ocean-themed elements such as whales and sailboats. At a corner of the Red Bay beach, a stone monument inscribed with the words 'Beautiful Red Bay,' penned by nuclear submarine designer Huang Xuhua, is a tourist's photo favorite. Indeed, Red Bay has made a name for itself among the younger generation. 'I decided to come here after reading some reviews of this place on 'rednote,' and I found it to be super photogenic. I will definitely come again,' said Cai Jinhan, a 20-year-old female who traveled to Red Bay from another city in Guangdong. 'It's hard to imagine how far young people today are willing to go just to capture the perfect photo,' Liu said. In 2024, Shanwei received over 9.5 million tourist visits, a 15.1 percent increase from the previous year, with its tourism revenue exceeding 10 billion yuan for the first time. Meanwhile, the city's permanent population increased by nearly 10,000 from 2023, marking the second consecutive year of positive population growth. Liu has become the chairman of the newly established Shanwei Young People Entrepreneurship Association, which has over 80 members, all of whom are Shanwei natives returning to start businesses, ranging from tourism to fruit processing. It provides regular entrepreneurship counseling services and gives lectures in local colleges. 'With an improving business environment and more support for businesses in Shanwei, we hope to work together to contribute to rural revitalization and achieve further development,' he said. – Xinhua China Peng Pai Shanwei tourists
