By Kalinga Seneviratne* | IDN-InDepthNews Feature
SINGAPORE (IDN) – The death of popular Sri Lankan Buddhist monk 73-year old Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera due to heart failure at a hospital in Singapore on November 8 has drawn attention to the waning “good governance” revolution that he helped to launch at the end of 2014.
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage | IDN-InDepthNews Analysis
UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – Since its inception, the United Nations has highlighted people-centred development. This is echoed in the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to leave no one behind. But how can this be achieved?
This question was posed at an event on November 10 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the UN Academic Impact (UNAI) that focused on ‘The Next Generation of Global Citizens’.
By Jayantha Dhanapala* | IDN-InDepthNews Viewpoint
This article was originally published as Foreword to ‘Don’t Bank on the Bomb – A Global Report on the Financing of Nuclear Weapons Producers’, a joint publication of PAX and ICAN.
KANDY, Sri Lanka (IDN) – In a world of unconscionably high military expenditures which feed the conflicts that cause death, destruction and displacement of millions, we need to be constantly reminded of the wise words of President Dwight Eisenhower – a military man, who distinguished himself in World War II and then went on to be the U.S. President for two terms. Addressing his nation in a farewell address on January 17, 1961 Eisenhower – who I was privileged to meet as a student visitor to the US in 1957 – said:
”This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence – economic, political, even spiritual – is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
By James Rodriguez | IDN-InDepthNews Analysis
RIO DE JANEIRO (IDN) – While praising Brazil for the remarkable social and economic progress achieved in the past two decades, two new reports have faulted this largest country in both South America and the Latin American region for losing its macroeconomic credibility.
By Martin Khor* | IDN-InDepthNews Analysis
GENEVA (IDN) – China gave a big boost to South-South cooperation when its President, Xi Jinping, made two unprecedented mega pledges totalling US$5.1 billion to assist other developing countries, during his visit to the United States in September.
Firstly, he announced that China would set up a China South-South Climate Cooperation Fund to provide RMB 20 billion or US$3.1 billion to help developing countries tackle climate change. This announcement was made at the White House at a media conference with U.S. President Barrack Obama.
By Jacques Trouvilliez* | IDN-InDepthNews Viewpoint
BONN (IDN) – One lesson that has been well and truly learned in nature conservation is that for policies to be really effective countries have to collaborate to address common problems.
Within the UN system it is also recognized that this applies to the different Programmes, Conventions and Agreements set up over the years. That each of these bodies has a distinct niche and a clear role does not justify a bunker mentality. By synergizing, cooperating and collaborating they can find common cause with natural allies and seek compromises with those whose agendas do not necessarily match their own.
By Ramesh Jaura | IDN-InDepthNews Analysis
BERLIN | GENEVA (IDN) – Ahead of a landmark United Nations climate conference beginning on November 30 in Paris, two international organizations are warning that unless appropriate steps are taken, the planet would become “more dangerous and inhospitable for future generations” and poverty stretch its wings further by 2030.
By Rodney Reynolds | IDN-InDepthNews Analysis
UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – When the world’s major nuclear powers express their support for nuclear disarmament, their political rhetoric usually fails to match their actions – even as they continue to modernize their arsenals. Undeterred, the UN’s Committee on Disarmament and International Security (also known as the First Committee) traditionally adopts a cluster of over 15-20 resolutions every year – mostly on arms control and nuclear disarmament.
This year there was one significant exception: the U.S., Britain and France, three of the world’s major nuclear powers, opted to abstain on a resolution, spearheaded by Japan every year, on united action towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons. All three countries voted in favour of the resolution last year, with U.S. and Britain as co-sponsors. But this year both countries were missing in action – much to the disappointment of Japan, a key Western ally.
By Jayantha Dhanapala* | IDN-InDepthNews Analysis
NAGASAKI (IDN) – The recent Nagasaki Pugwash Conference coincided with many significant anniversaries in the history of global peace and security – on this occasion with strong links to the host country, Japan.
– It was the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Organization, which underpins the prevailing global system of peace and security with its Charter and the framework of norms and values it upholds;
– It was the 60th anniversary of the Pugwash bedrock document and surely one of the earliest formulations of the “Humanitarian Pledge” of today – the 1955 London Manifesto of the Pugwash founding fathers Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell – one of whose co-signatories was Professor Hideki Yukawa, the Nobel Physics Laureate from Kyoto University, Japan;
– And it was the 20th anniversary of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize jointly to Pugwash and to one of its founders Sir Joseph Rotblat three months after the Pugwash Conference was held in Hiroshima in that year.
By Suresh Jaura* | IDN-InDepthNews Analysis
TORONTO (IDN | INPS) – ‘Real Change’ as promised in the election campaign has come to Canada with Justin Pierre James Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party, taking over as 23rd Prime Minister of Canada.
Justin is the eldest son of the 15th Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau, prompting observers to describe him as the first in Canada’s political destiny. Born December 25, 1971, he is the second youngest Prime Minister in Canadian history after Joe Clark who headed the government from June 1979 to March 1980.
The Liberal Party bagged majority mandate winning 184 seats in the 42nd Federal election on October 19. This was an impressive win for the party under Justin Trudeau, who was elected in April 2013 as leader of the third party in Canada. In 2011 election, the Liberals had the worst showing in its history with 19 percent of the popular vote and 34 seats.
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