Category: GLOBAL ISSUES

By Julio Godoy | IDN-InDepthNews Analysis

BERLIN (IDN) – It happened at least twice in January and February 2014: U.S. senator John McCain expressly thanked “God for the Saudis and Prince Bandar and our Qatari friends” for supporting the Sunni Islamic opposition to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. The first time McCain said so to the U.S. television network CNN in January 2014, the second time one month later during a speech at the Munich Security conference.

McCain was simply referring to Saudi Arabian help to create the Islamic State guerrilla group terrorising its way to Damascus. Prince Bandar bin Sultan was once Saudi ambassador in Washington – curiously enough, during 2001, coinciding with the attacks against the World Trade Centre and Washington.

By Roberto Savio* | IDN-InDepthNews Viewpoint

ROME (IDN) – In the aftermath of the massacre in Paris on November 13, media throughout the world are calling for unity of the West and intensification of military action against the Islamic State (IS).

Of course, the Paris slaughter can only cause horror and mourning. But why can some very young people act so atrociously … and is it not also time to consider the responsibilities of the West in the rise of IS terrorism?

Among the many reflections that can be made on its roots, three stand out.

1. The first is that relations between the Arab world and the West carry with them the burden of an uneasy past.

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.