Viewpoint by Kalinga Seneviratne BANGKOK (IDN) — The recently concluded 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva exposed once again the double standards of the global human rights agenda. West’s failure to get a resolution adopted at the UNHRC on October 6 on further investigation into the violation of human […]
Warmongering Biggest Threat to Achieving SDGs
By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Welcome to our 13th issue of Sustainable Development Observer, which focuses on warmongering and sustainable development goals, prompted by an event I covered for IDN-InDepthNews from Kazakhstan—the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions—a gathering of over 300 religious leaders representing the Islamic, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and […]
Putin’s War in Ukraine Even More Senseless Than World War I
Viewpoint by Paul Goble Eurasia Review issued this article. OREGON, USA (IDN) — There is nearly universal consensus that World War I was the most senseless conflict in modern times, Yury Yarym-Agayev says; but in fact, Putin’s war in Ukraine is even more senseless than that war of a century ago in that none of […]
Ukrainian Organization Does Not Deserve a Nobel Peace Prize
Viewpoint by Ariel Gold and Medea Benjamin* COUNTERCURRENTS issued this article on October 7, 2022. NEW YORK (IDN) — In what was described as a harsh rebuke of Russia, the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Ukrainian human rights organization ‘Center for Civil Liberties’, along with Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski and […]
Iran Overwhelmed by “Women-Life-Liberty!” Cries
Viewpoint by René Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens GENEVA (IDN) — The cry “Women-Life-Liberty!” is going up in many different parts of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is not possible to know in advance how strong the protests will be and what will be specific reforms demanded. However, the Government is worried. On […]
Sri Lanka: Muslim Women to Take Up 50% Quota Demand in Political Bodies
By Sugeeswara Senadhira COLOMBO (IDN) — Though Muslim women have been considered a group that shunned politics for generations, in recent months, there has been a remarkable change in their awareness of political rights. Reflecting this new awareness, a group of Muslim women displayed their desire to take up the cause of Sri Lankan women […]
Zimbabwe: Growing Lettuce in Empty Plastic Bottles
By Farai Shawn Matiashe MUTARE, Zimbabwe (IDN) — Ruth Rugeje, 38, monitors plants of cabbages, a pale green leafy vegetable, grown in empty two-litre bottles in the backyard of her home in Mutapa, a high-density suburb in the central Zimbabwean city of Gweru. This innovative farmer picked these plastic bottles from the illegal dumping sites […]
Pacific Leaders Urge Re-Focus on Climate Emergency
Viewpoint by Volker Boege Toda Peace Institute issued this article, and it is being republished with their permission. BRISBANE, Australia (IDN) — At the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2022, the leaders of the small island—or ‘big ocean’—countries in the Pacific called for a re-focus on the global climate emergency. […]
Africa Would Do Well to Stop Playing with Fire
Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP newspaper based in Abuja, Nigeria. ABUJA (IDN) — There is a fire in Ouagadougou. And who’s to say where it’s catching next? For the second time in eight months, the military in Burkina Faso struck in a palace coup that removed military leader […]
What If Russia Unleashes a Less Deadly Weapon on Ukraine?
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — Russia’s military setbacks in Ukraine have triggered widespread speculation in the US that Russian President Vladimir Putin may unleash his stockpile of “tactical nuclear weapons”, which may be less devastating than the deadly US weapons that destroyed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki back in August 1945. […]