By Ramu Damodaran The writer is Chief, United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) hosted in the Department of Global Communications. This OpEd was first published in #WhyWeCare on April 8. NEW YORK (IDN | UNAI) — We left last week with Bob Marley in our ear, his quest to consummate the end of physical slavery with […]
IMF and World Bank Decision to Tackle COVID-Related Debt Crisis Greeted
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) — The UN Secretary-General has welcomed steps announced by the International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMFC) and the World Bank Group Development Committee, to address debt crises and other financial anguish to economies arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, “as a sign of hope and renewed multilateralism”. In a statement […]
Two Years On, Sudan’s Political Transition Remains Extremely Volatile
By Philipp Jahn and Gerrit Kurtz* This article was first published in the Journal of the International Politics and Society, issued by the German Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s Brussels office. KHARTOUM (IDN) — April 11, 2019 was a day of great emotion in Khartoum. At noon, the then-Vice President Ibn Auf announced the arrest of President Omar al-Bashir. […]
The Need for Better Accessibility in A Digital Age
By J W Jackie RENO, Nevada, USA (IDN) — Thirty years after the Americans With Disabilities Act was passed in the U.S. to make the country and the internet more accessible, the glaring problems with digital accessibility can no longer be ignored. Whether it’s access to healthcare, work and education, or even state government websites, […]
The Audacity of Anarchy in President Buhari’s Nigeria
Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Interview magazine based in Abuja, Nigeria. ABUJA (IDN) — There was a BBC News story in February that caught me between laughter and bemusement. The news channel reported, in very strong language matched only by the alarming reactions of the persons interviewed, a […]
The Destruction of the World Heritage Sinharaja Forest
An OPEN LETTER to UNESCO, IUCN and WCPA By Somar Wijayadasa* NEW YORK (IDN) — As a former staff member of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) from 1978 to 1995, and as a Sri Lankan, I write this OPEN LETTER to UNESCO, to the International Union for the Conservation of Forests […]
Taking Lessons from LTTE New Narco-Terrorism Network Takes Shape in South Asia
By Sugeeswara Senadhira The writer is Director (International Media), Presidential Secretariat, Colombo. COLOMBO (IDN) — Indian security officials believe the interception of a Sri Lankan boat carrying 300 kilograms of heroin, five AK-47 guns and ammunition off the coast of Vizhinjam in Kerala in South India on March 25 points to a network of narco-terrorism […]
Nepal Is Closely Following the Fourth Industrial Revolution Under Way
Viewpoint by Manish Uprety F.R.A.S. and Jainendra Karn* KATHMANDU (IDN) — In December 2020, Dr. Leonel Fernández Reyna, former president of the Dominican Republic and President of Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo, presented his vision about “The global and regional challenges of the 4.0 world,” where he highlighted the need to facilitate access to technology […]
The Menace of Human Trafficking—A Canadian Perspective
Viewpoint by Anusha Jaura-Sindhwani* Human trafficking is one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 targets endorsed by the international community in 2015. Goal 8.7 aims at “immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms […]
ECOLOGY & ECONOMICS: Humanity Has Reached A Critical Decade
Viewpoint by John Scales Avery* COPENHAGEN (IDN) — A new report, published on March 14, 2021 in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences’ journal Ambio [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13280-021-01544-8] points out that humanity is hurtling towards destruction unless we have the collective wisdom to change course quickly. The article was written as part of the preparation of a […]