Viewpoint by Matthew Flinders and David Blunkett* SHEFFIELD (IDN) – If crises bring with them new opportunities to think afresh, then the combined impact of Brexit and COVID has been to focus attention on the capacity and structure of the British state. This rethinking is increasingly framed in terms of smart government. Dominic Cummings, the British […]
India’s Farmers Fight for Their Rights and Existence
Viewpoint by Sonali Kolhatkar This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute. Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder, host and executive producer of “Rising Up With Sonali,” a television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations. LOS ANGELES (IDN) – India’s farmers are revolting […]
Welcome to the Anthropocene
Human Constructions Have the Same Mass as All Living Organisms Viewpoint by Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Williams* LEICESTER, United Kingdom (IDN) – Our deficiencies have always driven us, even among our distant ancestors, back in the last Ice Age. Having neither the speed and strength to hunt large prey nor sharp teeth and claws to […]
Breaking the Culture of Violence to Advance SDG 16 On Peace & Security
Viewpoint by P. I. Gomes* PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (IDN) – In the Preamble of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, reference is made to what is called the 5P’s of People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership. They capture with such lucid precision what is referred to as “all areas of critical importance […]
‘If We Are Serious About Peace, We Must Take Women Seriously’
By Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury in New York The following is the full text of the address by Ambassador Chowdhury at the Knesset of Israel on November 17, 2020, at 14:30 Israel Standard Time. He is former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations and initiator of the precursor decision leading to the UNSCR […]
The Story of Giscard D’Estaing’s Fascination for ‘Emperor’ Bokassa’s Diamonds
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) – Early December the former president of France Valery Giscard D’Estaing died. The Guardian in its obituary described him as “the grand old man of French politics”. President Emanuel Macron said, “his presidency had transformed France and his direction still guides its way”. The New York Times said […]
Supporting Small Island Developing States to Build Back Better in the face of COVID-19
Viewpoint by Angélica Maria Jácome Daza The writer is FAO Director, Office for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). BRUSSELS (IDN) – The possible food crisis that could be triggered by the effects of COVID-19 differs significantly from traditional food crises brought on by conflict or natural […]
Great Expectations! The Non-Proliferation Treaty and The Coming of The Messiah!
Viewpoint by Tariq Rauf* from Vienna for IDN Great Expectations is a novel published in July 1861 by the renowned British writer, Charles Dickens. It depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip who has a stroke of good luck and great expectations but then loses both his luck and his expectations. Against that backdrop, […]
Pacific SIDS Champion Oceans and Blue Economy Preparing for COP 26
Viewpoint by P.I. Gomes* PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (IDN) – On December 10, 2020, marking five years since adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Heads of Government and Leaders of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) deemed it fit to convene a High-Level […]
Trump Paves Highway to Hell
Viewpoint by Bill Dahl* QUERETARO, Mexico (IDN) – Donald Trump lost the U.S. Presidential election. Trump garnered 73.9 million votes to Joe Biden’s 80 million (47.2% to 51.1%). Yet, Trump refuses to formally concede his loss. His attempts to win legal challenges based upon assertions of widespread voter fraud have been unanimously rejected by U.S. […]