Mexico’s drug war is a global crisis

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Ruth Green

Here is my latest article published in Prospect:

On Sunday morning, 27 people were killed and beheaded in northern Guatemala following a raid on a dairy ranch in Caserio La Bomba. The incident has been described as the worst massacre in Guatemala for over 15 years. Amid growing suspicion that the attack may be linked to the rising presence of the Mexican Zeta drug cartel in Guatemala, the massacre may also point to the wider responsibilities of Mexico’s drug war.

Published on 19-05-11. Read on here

South Africa invited to form ‘BRICS’ Grouping

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Ruth Green

Here is my first short piece published on the news feed for IBA Global Insight:

Following its successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2010 last summer, South Africa has had much to celebrate. In December, the coveted BRIC group opened its doors to South Africa and invited the country to a meeting in Hainan in April. The decision has been met with some criticism, but the invitation to become the ‘S’ in ‘BRICS’ highlights the country’s growing importance on the world stage.

Published on 11-05-11. Read on here

Brazil stands up to its guns

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Ruth Green

Here is my first article published in Prospect:

On 7 April, 23-year-old Wellington Menezes de Oliveira entered a school in Rio de Janeiro brandishing a gun. He killed 12 students and injured more than 20 others before shooting himself. Although Brazil has become increasingly associated with violence and gun crime in recent years, this was the first time in the country’s history that a school has been the target of a shooting, drawing comparisons with the 1999 Columbine massacre.

Published on 06-05-11. Read on here

New Russia

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Ruth Green

Here is my latest blog for Booktrust:

This is a historical week for Russia, since it marks the 50th anniversary of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s pioneering journey as the first man to fly into outer space. It’s also the week where the London Book Fair has named Russia its market focus country. As a whole host of Russian writers and literary publishers flock to London, I thought it would be worthwhile drawing attention to what modern-day Russian literature has to offer.

Published on 26-04-11. Read on here

BP’s Russian roulette

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Ruth Green

Here is my latest article published in IBA Global Insight:

In January, BP and state-owned Russian energy company Rosneft shocked the world by signing a US$16bn share swap deal. The two companies intend to jointly exploit oil and gas reserves in Russia’s Arctic shelf and make Rosneft the largest single shareholder in BP. The deal, which will also see BP increase its holdings in the former assets of Yukos oil company, occurred only a matter of weeks after Yukos’ former CEO, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was sentenced to a further six years in prison.

A stark reminder of BP’s recent past also came shortly after, when the company reported a loss of US$4.9bn – mainly due to US$40.9bn for charges relating to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill – making 2010 its first year of losses for 20 years. The tie-up therefore not only raises many questions about the viability of a British – Russian exploration operation, but also poses questions about the future of BP and the oil and gas industry as a whole.

Published on 04-04-11. Read on here

Ruth Green

International Freelance Journalist

Author Archives: Ruth Green

Mexico’s drug war is a global crisis

South Africa invited to form ‘BRICS’ Grouping

Brazil stands up to its guns

New Russia

BP’s Russian roulette