OPINION

Photo: Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa (left) meets with the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan during the special session of the General Assembly for the overall review and appraisal of the implementation of Agenda 21 since the 1992 Earth Summit. Credit: UN Photo/Milton Grant.

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 at the ceremony where Tanzanian President John Magufuli presented nomination papers for his candidacy in October’s presidential election; the two other former presidents Hassan Ali Mwinyi and Jakaya Kikwete were there too.

: UN Bureau; OPINION; 27 July 2020

Photo: Collage of images of ESCAP Executive Secretary, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana; UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau's Director, Kanni Wignaraja; and ADB Vice-President Bambang Susantono.

ESCAP, UNDP and ADB Determined to Achieve SDGs in 2030 Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic

Viewpoint by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana (ESCAP), Kanni Wignaraja (UNDP) and Bambang Susantono (ADB)*

BANGKOK (IDN) – As lockdowns ease in countries across Asia and the Pacific in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing is clear—a return to business as usual is unimaginable in a region that was already off track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The virtual High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development recently convened governments and stakeholders across the globe to focus on the imperative to build back better while keeping an eye on the Global Goals.

: Opinion Editor; UN INSIDER; 26 July 2020

Photo: India reported a record daily jump in the number of novel coronavirus cases on June 19 as Chennai locked down following fresh outbreaks there. Source: bdnews24.com

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 not yet seen the peak of coronavirus causalities. Nor has India reached the peak of mis- and disinformation circulation on various media platforms.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 26 July 2020

Photo: Apollo 11 backup crew members Fred Haise (left) and Jim Lovell prepare to enter the Lunar Module for an altitude test. Credit: NASA.

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 for mankind" echoed around the world. The whole world was thrilled over the great achievement that happened nearly fifty years ago.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 25 July 2020

Photo: Collage of a model of the Alternative-Participatory Development social system by Yossef Ben-Meir (2009) on the left.Photo: Collage of a model of the Alternative-Participatory Development social system by Yossef Ben-Meir (2009) on the left.

Building a Definition of Development

Viewpoint by Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir

The writer is a sociologist and President of the High Atlas Foundation, a U.S.-Moroccan non-for-profit organization dedicated to sustainable development in Morocco.

MARRAKECH (IDN) – The idea of development itself, its definition, and even the method we use for defining it, would be a good place to begin toward discovering its potential in our lives. We cannot rely on any single, or even ten, definitions. We need to look at the full range of literature that arose following the end of World War II, decolonization, and reconstruction from when international development spawned in our era. How has development been defined across the decades?

: Africa & ME Editor; THE WORLD; Africa; 24 July 2020

Photo: Beach erosion, flooding, increased groundwater salination of groundwater, and unpredictable weather is already causing both floods and droughts. Photo: UNDP Maldives

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 latest Assessment on Livelihoods published this month revealed a precipitous fall in the number of tourists. As a result hotels are closing, service industries are shedding jobs, and the national budget is haemorrhaging money. The border closure and travel ban during the tourist season will have a dramatic impact on the industry, as well as a ripple effect on the country’s economy.

: UN Bureau; OPINION; 23 July 2020

Photo: Collage of pictures of Tolulope Arotile and Fahim Saleh.

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 of adventure, left me in a daze.

Both died in different places and under different circumstances, but you only need to look a bit closer to see the dots connecting the tragedies. Like candles in the wind, as Elton John would say, they burned out before their legend ever did.

: Africa & ME Editor; OPINION; 22 July 2020

Photo: Protests in Tripoli, opposing foreign support of General Haftar. (Photo: YouTube Screenshot)

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 large parts of eastern Libya—has withdrawn from the southern part of the capital and is now holding fast in the city of Sirte and at the airbase of Jufra. Most of Libya’s population lives along the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, which is where the cities of Tripoli, Sirte, Benghazi, and Tobruk are located.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 22 July 2020

Collage of Magic Money and Sebastian Mallaby (Twitter), inventor of magic money.

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 is a usually important and well-researched article. All policymakers should read it.

: Jonathan Power; OPINION; 21 July 2020

Collage of the images of Van Guard, BlackRock and State Street Global Advisors.

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 "fresh" money from an immense and varied number of investors and savers. With this "fresh money" they buy securities in the various stock exchanges of the planet and redistribute profits (when things go well) to those who have entrusted them with the surplus of their capital and/or savings. Investors can be of a commercial or institutional nature, but also simple private individuals who access the various investment plans attributable to and controlled by the Big 3.