Geopolitical Economy Report Ben Norton

Countries around the world are seeking alternatives to the US dollar. IMF economists say de-dollarization is "broad-based". The Federal Reserve reluctantly admits that it is happening. Ben Norton analyzes the latest research.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3Dsy7q1Miw

Topics
0:00 Examples of de-dollarization around the world
3:11 IMF paper on decline of dollar dominance
6:39 Dedollarization is "broad based", IMF says
8:07 Western sanctions lead central banks to de-dollarize
8:56 Gold: Why central banks are buying it up
12:37 US Federal Reserve acknowledges dedollarization
13:18 (Clip) Fed governor on de-dollarization "challenges"
14:28 Fed governor's speech on de-dollarization
15:38 Bitcoin & crypto are NOT an alternative to the dollar
17:29 CBDCs: China-led mBridge system challenges dollar hegemony
18:58 Fed governor discusses de-dollarization examples
20:21 Fed paper on de-dollarization
24:22 Outro

The United Nations Human Rights Council published a report that concluded that Israel has committed war crimes and "the crimes against humanity of extermination" in Gaza. Ben Norton analyzes the statements of UN legal experts.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCIEdThk2jc

Topics
0:00 Intro
0:42 (Clip) UN expert: Israel is committing crimes against humanity
1:11 Quotes from UN report
2:25 Israeli army is "criminal", says UN expert
3:01 (Clip) UN expert: Israeli army is "criminal"
3:39 Israel is ethnically cleansing Palestinians with West's complicity
5:10 UN expert: Israel is committing g -- cide in Gaza
6:40 Israel ignores Hague rulings
8:09 (Clip) UN expert details Israeli crimes in Gaza
10:17 The problem with bothsidesism and false equivalence
12:15 Outro

The vast majority of the world population, in the Global South, rebuked the West's pro-war so-called "Summit on Peace in Ukraine", which was held in Switzerland in June. Russia was not even invited. Ben Norton discusses NATO's hypocrisy and explains why only 78 countries (mostly in Europe) endorsed the "Bürgenstock declaration", while China and Brazil propose genuine peace talks.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY4e2kKcuhk

Topics
0:00 Intro
0:17 Map of countries
1:24 Western media admits conference failed
4:35 Zelensky claims China & Brazil aren't "civilized"
7:07 Joint statement & signatories
10:26 China proposes real peace plans
13:54 West is out of touch with rest of world
17:32 Colombia's president criticizes Swiss summit
20:13 Outro

Western governments invited billionaire BlackRock CEO Larry Fink to the G7 summit in Italy to speak about "public-private partnerships" and why oligarchs should buy up global infrastructure (to compete with China's state-led Belt and Road Initiative). Ben Norton discusses how capitalism is becoming so extremely monopolized and unequal that it is devolving into neo-feudalism.

(One correction: At 26:17, I meant to say "over 90%", well above 60%.)

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88VU1JjmEps

How Wall Street buys US elections: Blackstone funds Trump, BlackRock backs Biden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJaJ4BST6Nc

Topics
0:00 Global inequality
0:56 G7 summit in Italy
1:57 BlackRock CEO invited to G7 summit
2:32 What is BlackRock?
4:45 PGI: US' corporate alternative to China's Belt & Road
7:50 (Clip) BlackRock CEO Larry Fink speaks at G7 summit
8:44 Wall Street vulture funds
10:51 BlackRock buys up infrastructure
14:40 BlackRock buys Malaysia's airports
15:34 BlackRock veterans run Biden's Treasury
16:00 Blackstone CEO funds Trump campaign
17:53 Investment companies buy up houses
18:40 BlackRock runs world's largest Bitcoin fund
19:58 Privatization of infrastructure
23:34 WEF: "You'll own nothing. And you'll be happy"
25:56 Home ownership under socialism vs. capitalism
26:17 Correction: over 90%* (I misspoke)
26:21 Home ownership under socialism vs. capitalism
28:38 World Economic Forum
29:33 Return on capital exceeds economic growth
31:20 Outro

Ukraine is a "gold mine" with $12 trillion worth of critical minerals, US Senator Lindsey Graham insisted in a TV interview. Ben Norton discusses how Western companies want these resources, and how Washington hopes to block China's access to them to hurt its technology industries.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TRPk3N8FyQ

Zelensky is literally selling Ukraine to US corporations on Wall Street: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/09/09/zelensky-selling-ukraine-wall-street/

Topics
0:00 Intro
1:35 Clip: US Senator Lindsey Graham wants Ukraine's minerals
2:24 Ukraine war has nothing to do with democracy
5:44 US also wants to 'weaken' Russia in Ukraine
6:21 Wall Street buys up Ukraine
8:08 Military-industrial complex profits
10:07 Washington Post on Ukraine's 'battle for minerals'
11:55 Russia
12:48 US seeks to block China's access to minerals
15:44 Multiple reasons for Ukraine war
17:10 Trump wanted to take Venezuela's oil
19:16 Exxon CEO ran US State Department
20:29 US plan to seize Russia's $300B in FX reserves
21:20 Clip: Lindsey Graham calls to seize Russia's reserves
21:43 Debate over Russia's central bank reserves
23:07 De-dollarization
24:38 Outro

Polling shows that the vast majority of people in the US and Western Europe want a negotiated settlement to end the war in Ukraine, but NATO opposes a peace proposal made by China and Brazil, while refusing to invite Russia to a so-called "peace conference" in Switzerland. Ben Norton explains.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=l5eQd1E_Huo

Topics
0:00 Intro
1:30 Biden authorizes attacks inside Russia
2:12 France plans to send military forces to Ukraine
3:52 US discusses increased nuclear weapon deployments
4:57 Poll: most people in US & W Europe want peace
7:04 China & Brazil propose peace plan
9:38 West's "peace conference" didn't invite Russia
11:26 China wants peace in Ukraine
15:45 Nicaragua backs China-Brazil peace plan
16:05 Outro