Viewpoint by Dr Sam Ben-Meir Dr Sam Ben-Meir is a professor of philosophy and world religions at Mercy College in New York City. NEW YORK (IDN) – The Supreme Court decided on June 15 that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination. Discrimination ‘because of sex’ is unlawful. […]
A Warrior for Nuclear Peace Dies But His Message Reverberates
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) – Bruce Blair, one of the great unsung heroes of the nuclear bomb age, died on July 19 at the age of 72. In his twenties he had been an intercontinental nuclear rocket launch officer, spending his days or nights deep down in a below-ground bunker waiting for […]
Indigenous Communities of Guyana and Women in Togo Fight Forest Degradation
Viewpoint by P.I. Gomes* The writer, Dr Patrick I Gomes, was Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States for five years until February 29, 2020. The 79-nation inter-regional body officially became the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) on April 5, 2020. Dr Gomes was previously Ambassador of the […]
Former President Mkapa Embodied Tanzanians’ Humility, Commitment to Peace
Viewpoint by Salim Lone The writer is former Director of Communications under Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Spokesman for Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga for more than a decade and currently working on a book on Kenya in the Global Context with a focus on the UN. PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY (IDN) – Former President Ben Mkapa was […]
India Confronted with ‘Infodemic’
Viewpoint by Usha M Rodrigues, Deakin University VICTORIA, Australia (IDN) – India is now the third most impacted country by COVID-19, with cases nearing 900,000 and deaths surpassing 23,000 as of July 13. India is also one of the leading nations when it comes to the sharing of ‘fake news’. By all accounts, India has […]
Apollo to Apple Store: The American Dream
Viewpoint by Jayasri Priyalal * SINGAPORE (IDN) – On July 24, 1969, Apollo 11 lunar mission completed landing on the moon and the safe return of the three astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. The famous Neil Armstrong’s words after landing on the moon, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap […]
The Choices We Make Will Determine the Future of The Maldives
Viewpoint by Kanni Wignaraja and Akiko Fujii Ms Kanni Wignaraja is UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. Ms Akiko Fujii is Resident Representative, UNDP Maldives MALÉ (IDN) – With 70 percent of its GDP linked to tourism, the COVID-19 wrecking ball has crashed hard into the Maldives economy. UNDP’s […]
Two Deaths, Many Life Lessons
Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview magazine based in Abuja, Nigeria. ABUJA (IDN) – The news mid-July of the deaths of two young people, Tolulope Arotile and Fahim Saleh (fondly called Nigeria’s ‘Elon Musk’) whose paths may never have crossed but who nevertheless shared the same kindred spirit […]
Time Is Not on Our Side in Libya
A “Demilitarization Zone” Would Divide the War-Torn Country into Two Parts Viewpoint by Vijay Prashad* This article was originally produced by Globetrotter, a project of the Independent Media Institute. NORTHAMPTON, Massachusetts (IDN) – Ahmed, who lives in Tripoli, Libya, texts me that the city is quieter than before. The army of General Khalifa Haftar—who controls […]
EU & The Other Developed Countries Should Spend Some Of The ‘Magic Money’ To Help Africa
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) – There is “Magic Money” around in case you didn’t know. Not quite made out of thin air, but getting on that way. This is a phrase invented by the economic writer, Sebastian Mallaby, in the new issue of Foreign Affairs, America’s leading foreign policy bi-monthly journal. It […]