OUT TODAY! My book with – SILENT COUP – traces the origins and consequences of the corporate empire that rules our world – with reporting from 25 countries
The story behind many stories. Where power really lies today.
You can buy it here: shorturl.at/efgL7
Follow
Claire Provost
@ClaireProvost
Investigative journalist, editor, feminist! Prev . Book 'Silent Coup' out May 2023. Founder of #trackingthebacklash
Claire Provost’s Tweets
Asking questions, approaching (all) sources critically = essential for journalism to fulfil its democratic function. Unless you work for , and the only right answer is echoing what MPs/the gov says? (In this case, that left-wing academics are Putin stooges...)
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Last night, @BBCRadio4 aired a documentary which repeatedly accused me and other academics of spreading Russian disinformation.
In a glaring and twisted irony, this amounted to an apparent smear operation that would not seem out of place on Kremlin media. Here’s why...
NEWS! Me & have signed with for a book years in the making - about how giant corporations run the world & determine what's possible in ways few understand (spoiler: because it's been v shady & media has largely failed to investigate)
This is important. How can the media be expected/trusted to hold power to account when, internally, there are violations like this? The cover-ups show these are structural, institutional problems
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At @GoodLawProject we are receiving increasing numbers of distressing accounts from women of how their lives and careers were harmed by the combination of bullying or sexual misconduct within the media organisations that employed them and then cover-ups by their management.
Amazing to see my book Silent Coup, with , in an Amsterdam bookstore, at the front next to celebrity memoirs! It's true though, understanding where power really lies should be very mainstream too
I spent years w/ investigating shadowy global systems of corporate control & power like #ISDS, which lets multinational companies sue countries for billions over policies they don't like. Today one of those companies featured in this story: opendemocracy.net/en/oureconomy/
WTF - spies at school. Yes. You read that correctly. What are they doing? We don't really know. Dodgy x 100. (great job @DCKennard )
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REVEALED: The UK's largest intelligence agency is infiltrating British schools.
@DCKennard outlines part 1 of our major 3-part investigation.
Watch here and on our youtube channel - rb.gy/7ocber - and read it here - rb.gy/em3wha
declassifieduk.org
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Spotted at Waterstones in central London today! and I worked on Silent Coup for years, amazing to see it out in the world!
So excited to finally see this in print! With my former bestie , from our journeys into the infrastructure of global corporate power, inspired by the legendary Gavin MacFadyen. Out in May, pre-orders here: bloomsbury.com/uk/silent-coup
Norway has now confirmed that "on 24 April, as a result of your report" the UNDP was "informed that no further payments with Norwegian funds should be made to cover activities carried out by, or including participation from IRCU" (one of the anti-LGBTQI groups in this research)
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If you've paid taxes in Europe or North America, did you know that you might be connected to anti-LGBT religious groups in Uganda via aid flows??
Find out more: centreforfeministforeignpolicy.org/2023/04/24/rep #SayNoToAHB23 @nas009 @the_ijsc
Have been enjoying a break from Twitter while deep in revisions for this mammoth project! Still checking DMs, but that's pretty much it for the next few weeks at least
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Coming soon. 30 countries. 5 continents. 8 years. The whole story for the 1st time.
Are you a journalist who has steered clear of/avoided covering #transrights because you would treat them as #humanrights and might face harassment for doing so? If so I'd love to speak to you #journorequest
If you've paid taxes in Europe or North America, did you know that you might be connected to anti-LGBT religious groups in Uganda via aid flows??
Find out more: centreforfeministforeignpolicy.org/2023/04/24/rep #SayNoToAHB23
Thrilled to announce inaugural feminist investigative journalism fellowships! Help with investigations #trackingthebacklash against sexual and reproductive rights.
Apply by 15 February: opendemocracy.net/5050/apply-for
Some personal news: after almost five thrilling years I’m moving on from at the end of this month to take on new challenges, including completing an epic book project with that’s been percolating since our time at (short thread)
Regardless of what happens in the US elections 3 November, these American Christian Right groups linked to Trump have a global agenda and won't stop coming for women's and LGBTIQ rights around the world
New #trackingthebacklash investigation:
opendemocracy.net/en/5050/trump-
Last week uploaded 17,000 documents from inside the Spain-based ultra-conservative groups CitizenGo and HazteOir that are part of internationally-connected far-right movements. We have started digging into the files. Story 1 here, with (more coming):
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The depth of the ties between leading Conservative Brexiteers and the global Christian Right, anti-abortion and anti-LGBT movement are laid bare in a series of documents released by Wikileaks last week, @ClaireProvost and @tahovhannisyan report.
opendemocracy.net/en/5050/wikile
In Cambridge UK today + spotted SILENT COUP by me and up front at the historic Heffers Bookshop!
. talks to about surviving online violence against women and how to fight back opendemocracy.net/5050/claudia-w
This is a huge victory, led by #womeninjournalism :) – there are women in the UK, right now, who may not be at risk of severe haemorrhaging because of the regulator's action in response to an investigation
If you've already been vaccinated and are a youngish person w/o serious health conditions or a frontline job – STOP SAYING YOU'RE LUCKY. THIS IS *INJUSTICE*, NOT "LUCK", AND YOU PROBABLY LIVE IN ONE OF THESE SELFISH PINK COUNTRIES. #PeoplesVaccine
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Vaccine equity and universal access to vaccines are essential. It is immoral and selfish and unjust--and will prolong the pandemic--to oppose waiving patent production for #COVID19Vaccine production.
What do you do when your book already sold out its first print run in the UK and is out of stock on the publisher's website?
A) Cry b/c people can't easily buy it
B) Celebrate b/c many people already did
C) PUBLISH AN EXTRACT EVERYONE CAN READ
(+ More copies are coming soon!)
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NEW -- How Britain built a second empire under the cover of ‘aid’
by @claireprovost and @kennardmatt
The UK government has long presented its aid budget as a beneficent gift to the world’s poor. The truth is rather different.
declassifieduk.org/how-britain-buThis is an interesting, thought-provoking thread
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I wonder sometimes how much of a role The Handmaid's Tale played in making (white) Americans think that abortion would only ever be illegal in a dystopian future, distant and alien to their everyday. Whereas #RoeVWade is about to overturned in the here and now, in the everyday.
You want to know what I desire? What I really... truly... deeply... desire?... UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS, BABY :) #SextLikeAFeminist
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Stay tuned here for more soon on my book ‘Silent Coup’ (with ), that delves deep into secretive mechanisms that multinational corporations have used to challenge, even overrule, democracies around the world
Exciting news for 2018!: will be at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy, in April, organising a panel on 'Why We Need Feminist Investigative Journalism'. With #womeninjournalism
For the *first time*, the scale of US Christian right spending in Africa has been revealed – thanks to @KSWepukhulu
>$50m to fight US 'culture wars' on the continent
opendemocracy.net/en/5050/africa #ddj #trackingthebacklash
If you're in London do check out this powerful & innovative art exhibition inspired by Silent Coup, a new book from me and
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SILENT COUP by @peterkennardx is open until 1 July at a/political, 6 Stannary Street, London, SE11 4AA.
Entry is free | Tues-Sat, 10am-6pm
by Alastair Levy
by Alastair Levy
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NEW: Churches in Ghana backing an extreme anti-LGBT bill have also benefited from millions of dollars in foreign aid (from donors that support LGBT rights!) By me and
Help us track the backlash against women's and LGBTIQ rights and support the work of fearless feminist journalists across Europe and around the world, . Donate here: opendemocracy.net/globaldarkmoney #trackingthebacklash #womensrightsarehumanrights
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ICYMI: great review of a "once in a generation" book – Shon Faye's instant bestseller The Transgender Issue – by activist MBE: opendemocracy.net/en/5050/the-tr on #TransRightsAreHumanRights
Wow I'm so proud & impressed by our team ! TWO other major award nominations for our feminist investigative journalism! societyofeditors.org/events/nationa #trackingthebacklash cc
NEW: This Madrid-based anti-abortion, anti-LGBT rights group, supported by US and Russian ultra-conservatives, is working across Europe to drive voters towards far-right parties
opendemocracy.net/en/5050/reveal on #trackingthebacklash #RightsAtRisk
Working on this investigation made me angry.
#COVID19 restrictions have cut off access to #contraception & #safeabortion for many women PLUS they've made #childbirth more painful & dangerous.
There are laws & guidelines on paper to protect women's rights. But in practice?...
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'No woman should be treated as I was during childbirth'.
Today, a major #TrackingtheBacklash investigation reveals how COVID-19 has seen a 'shocking' rise in abuse and mistreatment of women giving birth.
Please WATCH and share this 2-min film widely.
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THRILLED & SO PROUD to see both & from my team long-listed for the New Voice Award AND up for International Journalist of the Year! oneworldmedia.org.uk/awards/longlis #womeninjournalism #trackingthebacklash cc
These girls are on 🔥🔥! Follow in #Armenia & in #Georgia – about 12 months ago they joined as fellows, now they're Assistant Editors covering feminist movements and #trackingthebacklash against women's & LGBT rights #womeninjournalism
This is a good & important thread
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For the second week in a row, Private Eye have run a story accusing me of bullying based on - and I really must emphasise - this tweet.
Maybe you're thinking I'm being misleading, that's there's more to it, that they can't really mean just this tweet.
It's literally this tweet! twitter.com/OwenJones84/st…
Are you a journalist who has faced harassment for covering #transrights as if they are #humanrights? If so I'd love to speak to you #journorequest
"Studies of this kind would never have seen the light of day had the experimental subjects been rich Westerners" africasacountry.com/2019/10/the-po cc
I’m in London next week for events to launch Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy with including this one with @NatalieFenton1
gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id=1
Really excited about this! will be publishing more original journalism on women's rights and corporate power in 2018 – with a reporting fellow in partnership with . Apply by 23 March and help us demystify how the global economy works: opendemocracy.net/claire-provost
I am so excited to share the job ads for three new positions on the extraordinary #trackingthebacklash project at , investigating organised opposition to women's and LGBTIQ rights around the world. Deadline 30 Sept: opendemocracy.net/en/5050/join-o #journojobs
In 2018 will launch our inaugural feminist investigative journalism fellowships for young women and trans writers, from around the world. Follow the site to find out more: opendemocracy.net/5050 #womeninjournalism #RightsatRisk
Wow - there are dozens of feminist media projects in Spain and Latin America. Read @rociorosreb's round-up of 25 of these platforms: opendemocracy.net/5050/roc-o-ros on #womeninjournalism
The best part of my job is supporting other women & LGBTIQ people to advance their careers in the media and investigative journalism in particular :) Today began as our newest fellow , writing from Turin, Italy :)
Il Vaticano si è a lungo opposto all'aborto, contraccezione, matrimonio e all'adozione per le coppie LGBT. Quindi perché ha bisogno di un ruolo permanente nei dibattiti ONU sulla salute mondiale? opendemocracy.net/en/5050/esclus
If you're an ambitious, investigative journalist who cares about social justice, is an extraordinary place to work. Based in the US? Apply by 15 May to join me & awesome colleagues including opendemocracy.net/en/5050/join-o
I'm so dismayed by how many comments on this are not about the actual piece, but rather from angry people objecting to "pregnant people" in the tweet.
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For almost 25 years, pregnant people were harassed by anti-choice protesters as they made their way into the @MSIchoices clinic in Ealing, London.
Thanks to successful campaigning by @SisterSupporter, this is no longer the case bit.ly/2SdGJ3u
Corpotations overthrew democracy with long-term and WILD plans, including 1930s visions of a new World Government 🤯🤯
Thanks for publishing this extract of my new book SILENT COUP with
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It'll cover CORPORATE JUSTICE, CORPORATE WELFARE, CORPORATE UTOPIAS & CORPORATE ARMIES. But it will also show what fighting back looks like – and how we need our media to be part of the solution (democracy) by doing more than 'watchdog' journalism that focuses on one-off scandals
This is the (very important, also bizarre) story I've been waiting years for someone to write – how a tiny US Christian right group in Arizona has trained African politicians to oppose women's & LGBT rights opendemocracy.net/en/5050/us-chr by #trackingthebacklash
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It shows for example how a powerful corporate justice system called investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) has challenged democracies globally – and how it was set up undemocratically too
This system is in the news this week in the US:
Thrilled to join as the new editor of the 50.50 section () covering #gender & #socialjustice opendemocracy.net/5050/claire-pr
On #IWD2021 follow these amazing feminist investigative journalists and read more about our team #trackingthebacklash against our rights: opendemocracy.net/en/5050/meet-t
Despite its reputation for cosmopolitanism, Hong Kong society still holds conservative views on gender and sexuality. A new generation is changing this, reports
How the US conservative Atlas Network (which has hundreds of partners around the world) undermined Indigenous energy rights in Canada theguardian.com/environment/20 important story by
I've said before but my fav thing about working & is collaborating w/ & learning from amazing women journos incl -> follow them NOW, if you haven't already
BREAKING: US taxpayer money has funded a controversial health news website in Armenia that is spreading “incredibly dangerous” COVID-19 misinformation, can reveal. opendemocracy.net/en/5050/us-mon by a #TrackingtheBacklash fellow cc
We need fearless, independent feminist media. This is 50.50 (), the section covering women's rights, gender and sexuality, worldwide: opendemocracy.net/5050/claire-pr
El Salvador makes history as first nation to impose blanket ban on metal mining theguardian.com/global-develop
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It will be dedicated to the late, great Gavin MacFadyen who encouraged us to be ambitious, troublemaking journos and to see beyond the stories that power tells #BeAJournalistLikeGavin
. is a unique occupation in #Italy’s capital city: it is one of #Rome’s few domestic violence shelters. Now, it is under threat because the building’s owner wants to sell it.
opendemocracy.net/5050/annalisa- by
Mining firm's #ISDS case vs #ElSalvador is dismissed, and company told to pay $8m towards country's legal costs
Brexit donor Arron Banks likes to boast about his money. He reportedly spent more than £8m on the referendum to leave the EU. But where did this money come from? ask & : opendemocracy.net/uk/brexitinc/p #darkmoney
So lucky to be part of this badass feminist investigative journo team. Follow
@FrancescaVisser #WomensRightsAreHumanRights #TransRightsAreHumanRights
I went inside the recent World Congress of Families ultra-conservative jamboree in Verona, Italy, where far-right and religious right leaders mingled over juice & cookies. Thx at The Face magazine for supporting this: theface.com/society/inside #trackingthebacklash
'Women are still socialised into making sure men’s feelings aren’t hurt, trying to smooth over difficult social situations. And not wanting to be seen as ‘difficult’ makes it harder for women to stand up against harassment,' opendemocracy.net/5050/nina-powe
Setting up this fellowship programme for women & LGBTIQ journalists may be the coolest thing I've ever done or been a part of
What does justice mean for Indigenous survivors of genocide – from colonial violence to the 'residential schools' now in the news – in Canada? Read this by : opendemocracy.net/en/5050/justic
Looking forward to going back to next week with ! We'll be talking about some of the investigations that we began at the CIJ years ago, and that culminated in our new book Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy
Social media platforms have policies against ‘hateful content’ targeting people based on their gender identity. But they’re not working. fellow reports: opendemocracy.net/5050/sophie-he #TransAwarenessWeek #trackingthebacklash
#transrights
My colleagues wanted to know what it's like in northern Italy under the #coronavirus lockdown. So I wrote this piece for them, and for you. The view from abroad (or from inside our flats, glued to the news) isn't quite the same as life on the streets:
It is really amazing how much I have learned (and am still learning) from feminist journalists like (Uganda) (Uruguay) (Georgia) (UK) & the #trackingthebacklash team (global!) that I have had the huge privilege of building
Restricting women's access to safe abortion during #coronavirus is cruel + unnecessary. Instead, it's time to cut bureaucratic red tape that has limited access even in 'normal times'. England, Ireland, France etc show it's possible... aljazeera.com/indepth/opinio #trackingthebacklash
We won't have to turn out the lights because there ain't anything sexier than body positivity #SextLikeAFeminist
A group of MPs in Croatia -- from *nine different parties* -- are the latest to call for action following openDemocracy’s special investigation into anti-abortion misinformation. opendemocracy.net/en/5050/croati #trackingthebacklash on cc
Sweden has now also told us that: "On 28 April [Friday] the Embassy requested UNDP to ensure that no Swedish funds [... are] disbursed to IRCU or activities involving IRCU. On the same day UNFPA was instructed to halt all further support to IRCU".
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Denmark has now also told us: "With regards to the ongoing election programme with UNDP, Denmark has requested that no Danish funds under the programme are used for funding IRCU activities going forward." twitter.com/ClaireProvost/…
Well-chosen books are the BEST presents! (Right? Hours/days/lifetimes of fun & inspiration... ) I just got this beautiful box set as a surprise gift in the mail from some very special friends 😍🥰😭 (happy tears)
Want to support feminist investigative journalism tracking the backlash against our sexual and reproductive rights? opendemocracy.net/5050/claire-pr
So great to see sessions on dealing with burnout & stress, and leadership tips for women in investigative journalism, on the schedule this week at #GIJC21. Thanks !
gijc21.us2.pathable.com #wellbeing #womeninjournalism
Ordo luris is an extreme anti-choice group in Poland whose founders were ‘inspired’ by a controversial Catholic fundamentalist network. How has it gained so much political power? opendemocracy.net/5050/lidia-kur by on #trackingthebacklash #rightsatrisk
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I’m so proud of the #trackingthebacklash *feminist investigative journalism* project, and the fellowship programme for young women & LGBTIQ reporters, that I started at oD + so grateful for the many friends and allies made along the way!
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I was 21. And I've just published some retrospective analysis that is probably very different from most of the twentieth-anniversary commentary you'll be inundated with tomorrow
opendemocracy.net/en/5050/911-ch
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US democrats also called for intervention on behalf of Honduras which is facing a $11 billion claim through the ISDS system from a US company that ran a Special Economic Zone in the country – until these zones were ruled unconstitutional last year
Denmark has now also told us: "With regards to the ongoing election programme with UNDP, Denmark has requested that no Danish funds under the programme are used for funding IRCU activities going forward."
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Norway has now confirmed that "on 24 April, as a result of your report" the UNDP was "informed that no further payments with Norwegian funds should be made to cover activities carried out by, or including participation from IRCU" (one of the anti-LGBTQI groups in this research) twitter.com/ClaireProvost/…
#Uruguay has been widely praised internationally for being a 'progressive country' - but it's got a gender-based violence crisis that is out of control - including during #COVID19 opendemocracy.net/en/5050/urugua by #womensrightsarehumanrights
Wow!
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At the Shell shareholders meeting right now. Incredible scenes. The entire meeting is being shutdown. Shell go to hell #shutdownshell
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A huge thank you to @rociorosreb for all her work this summer with . She'll continue writing for 50.50 from Spain. Check out her pieces: opendemocracy.net/author/roc-o-r #womeninjournalism
Another milestone in 's transformation into a stronger & more impactful independent media outlet:
Did angry 'men's rights activists', radicalised online, help propel Trump to victory? & look at new academic research asking this question: opendemocracy.net/en/5050/how-an on
Why did the UK Equalities Minister meet a controversial anti-trans group? Other politicians say it's "deeply concerning" and "completely inappropriate". New from me & & #trackingthebacklash cc
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Breaking: UK Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch met with a controversial “transphobic” group that campaigns against gender being discussed in schools, government disclosures reveal.
opendemocracy.net/en/5050/uk-equ
Our team #trackingthebacklash at is AMAZING. Led by women & LGBTIQ journalists worldwide investigating organised threats agains our rights. Please contact our new Network Coordinator if you'd like to collaborate with us!
Women in Europe face a heart-breaking 'postcode lottery' when it comes to accessing safe abortion. Research by , piece by opendemocracy.net/en/5050/europe #SafeAbortionDay
I recently joined an in-person (!) book club and just finished reading my first novel in probably many years... what an incredible pleasure. Long live fiction!
Today revealed anti-gay 'conversion therapy' offered at health clinics across East Africa run by aid-funded groups. & are among the organisations that have pledged to take action in response. Hear from one of our undercover reporters here:
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During a six-month investigation, our undercover reporters spoke to staff at 12 health centres who, between them, said that being gay is “evil”, “for whites” and a mental health problem.
Read more: opendemocracy.net/en/5050/conver
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"An increasingly successful right-wing tactic in Brazilian politics has been to mobilise people around patriarchal, heteronormative ideas of the family, and to refer to gender as ‘gender ideology.’" opendemocracy.net/5050/ani-hao/f
This is feminist investigative journalism with impact! -> YouTube closes channel promoting African televangelist’s violent 'conversion therapy' after inquiries from opendemocracy.net/en/5050/youtub #LGBTIQ #trackingthebacklash