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 […]
The Spectre of the Big Three
Viewpoint by Glauco Benigni* This article was originally published by Other News and is reproduced with permission. ROME (IDN) – They are called Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street Global Advisors and they are the world’s 3 largest mutual funds. They are also known as asset managers or investment funds, operated by professional experts who collect […]
Human Nature Is a Central Theme of Philosophy
Viewpoint by John Scales Avery* COPENHAGEN (IDN) – What is human nature? Are we humans good or evil? To what extent is the character of a person produced by heredity, and to what extent by environment? Is competition more central to our existence than cooperation, or is it the other way around? How can a […]
Trump’s ‘Plan’ Is to Make the Virus and Its Casualties Disappear
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. America’s rightward march culminating in Trump‘s presidency has […]
Long Before COVID-19, Muslim Communities in India Built Solidarity Through Mutual Aid
Viewpoint by Z. Fareen Parvez* This article was originally published on Waging Nonviolence and is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. AMHERST, Massachusetts (IDN) – For generations, Muslims in India have drawn on mutual aid networks for solidarity and support amid government neglect and social discrimination. Now, as India faces a humanitarian […]
Africa’s Livestock Sector is Key to its Covid-19 Response & Recovery
Viewpoint by Rhoda Peace Tumusiime The writer is a member of the Malabo Montpellier Panel and former AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission (AUC). ENTEBBE, Uganda (IDN) – Livestock have long been the insurance policy of Africa’s poorest, with even a single goat or a chicken providing a buffer against […]
Kenya Having Another Go at Passing a Reproductive Rights Bill
Viewpoint by Anthony Ajayi and Meggie Mwoka* Kenya’s Senate is considering a reproductive healthcare bill, which seeks to address reproductive health gaps. This is the second time the bill has come before the senate. It has, once again, drawn fire from religious groups, some politicians and civil society lobbies opposed to its proposals. Anthony Ajayi […]
Not Western Meddling But A Russian Leader with the Power of a Moral Voice Will Replace Putin
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) – Change is absolutely necessary in Russia, but how to bring it about? One doesn’t have to be a prejudiced Western ideologue to point this out. As the weekend’s demonstrations in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk underline, there are a good number of people, mainly young, who […]
Trump and Senator Cotton Embrace Enhanced Testing & Face Kilotons of Surprises
Viewpoint by Robert Kelley VIENNA (IDN) – There are growing rumours that the United States is considering carrying out a nuclear test in the near future. Legislation introduced in the United States Senate suggests that this may not be an idle threat. The language in the recent amendment reads: “carry out projects related to reducing […]