Viewpoint by P.I. Gomes* PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (IDN) – The High-level Meeting to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations was held on September 21, 2020, with a view to adopting a political declaration on the theme: “The Future We Want, the United Nations We Need: reaffirming our collective commitment to […]
Actions Needed to Protect Wild Species and Natural Habitats
UN Summit on Biodiversity Provides an Opportunity Viewpoint by Amy Fraenkel The writer is Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). BONN (IDN) – The UN Summit on Biodiversity was meant to galvanize commitments to stop the impending biodiversity crisis, and to underscore the need for effective […]
Fiji’s Tourism Workers Turn to Farming and Fishing As COVID-19 Ravages the Industry
By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) – The COVID-19 crisis has hit tourism-dependent Pacific Island countries severely. Fiji, the largest of these states, is feeling the impact badly, with laid-off workers of tourism-related industries, such as hotels and travel companies, turning to farming and fishing for survival. Because of its larger land mass and fishing grounds […]
Europe Pivots Towards Indo-Pacific Amid Row with China
By Atul Aneja The writer is a veteran Indian journalist who reported conflicts from Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Benghazi, Kabul, Tehran, and Dushanbe. He is an expert on the Middle East and China political affairs. He was Strategic Affairs Editor of an eminent Indian newspaper, The Hindu. CHENNAI (IDN) – Enticed for decades by China, which […]
Whether Trump Wins or Not, Europe Must Move Towards Russia
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) – If Donald Trump wins re-election as president, is Europe going to bellyache about him for another four years without, as now, having any firm, cohesive, strategy for dealing with him and his foreign policies? There is a chance that Trump will surprise the political establishment, as he […]
Beijing +25: Overcoming 21st Century Challenges to Deliver for Africa’s Women
Beyond legislation, countries must tackle negative social norms and rising bias. Viewpoint by Angela Lusigi* NEW YORK (IDN) – The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action signed in 1995 committed the world to end discrimination, promoting women’s rights and advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. This Platform for Action remains a guiding framework for realizing […]
Call For “Another ‘Paris’ Moment to Mobilise Action on Biodiversity for Sustainable Development”
Viewpoint by Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti The writer is Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) BRUSSELS (IDN) – 2020 marks the end of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011 – 2020) and the 20 global biodiversity targets (Aichi targets). The mission of the Strategic Plan was to “take effective and […]
UN Chief Concerned About Standstill in Arms Control Talks
By Jamshed Baruah GENEVA (IDN) – “We need a strengthened, inclusive and renewed multilateralism built on trust and based on international law that can guide us to our shared goal of a world free of nuclear weapons,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, commemorating the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on September […]
A Tilt to Far-Right Looming Over the U.S. Supreme Court
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) – In the hours after […]
Colonialism Is Not Dead, it has Acquired A New Face
Sri Lankan Author of a New Book Warns By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) – In the 19th century, European powers came to Asia and used gunboats and gunpowder along with doublespeak to intimidate and coerce local rulers to accede their land for the European mercantile elites to establish plantations. Sri Lankan born American sociology professor […]