Where to begin with a man like Ken Livingstone? Yet again, in trying to help out his fellow Labour party member Naz Shah, Ken has conspired to put his foot in his mouth - and then proceeded to violently shove it as far down his throat as possible, like a vain attempt at a tactical vomit on an ill-advised night out. Read more...
In an environment where everyone knows but no one speaks, volume is a measure of courage.
Berta Cáceres had a loud voice, and even louder actions.
The all too familiar arc of prominent activists in Central America sadly mirrors that of Icarus; too much ambition, or worse, success, in making your society a better one will likely result in the proverbial sun cutting short your journey. Read more...
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are locked in a tighter-than-expected battle to gain the Democratic nomination for President. Nevertheless, while Sanders holds the momentum with seven wins in the last eight contests including a 13 point victory in Wisconsin yesterday, Clinton is still 249 pledged delegates ahead in the race to reach a majority, and Sanders will have to produce one of the biggest comebacks in political history to gain the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in July. Read more...
Over 250,000 people have died in the Syrian civil war, and 9 of the country’s 22 million people are displaced. This winter millions of Syrians face misery as temperatures plummet, surviving on scraps of welfare from resistant donor nations.
This article is an introduction to the historical context of the Syrian civil war and a demonstration that there is room for peace in Syria. Read more...
The news broke recently that the EU was close to making David Cameron an offer regarding his demands for a reformed EU. Cameron has always worn his attitudes towards Europe on his sleeve, last week in a speech to the world economic forum he referred to Britain’s relationship with the EU as being “bound up in the European continent, of which we are an important part.” At times it seems like those who use language of British patriotism can’t talk about the EU without reminding ourselves of our own importance. Read more...
“Welcome to America!” Ben from San Francisco (who I had just met in a hostel) says to me on my first day in Puerto Rico, “I mean, not that I live here or anything”. As friendly and well intentioned Ben’s greeting was it was clear that, despite not sharing a language or culture with the local population, he felt sufficiently entitled enough to welcome me to a country that he had only just arrived in.
Forgive my scepticism at what has been labelled an historic achievement by many in Paris. Ever since the first reports on what has been agreed were published, a sense of optimism pervaded most mainstream media outlets. An ambitious, unanimously agreed upon, legally binding treaty aiming to prevent global temperatures from rising above 2°C (or even 1.5°C) sounds truly revolutionary. Read more...
I was very impressed by the COP21 ads in the Parisian metro last week. In big bold white letters the placards proclaimed:
THE PLANET IS IN OUR HANDS
WE CANNOT TELL OUR CHILDREN THAT WE DIDN’T KNOW
WELCOME TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO DEFEND OUR PLANET
Since wrapping up the climate talks last weekend, the COP21 agreements have been hailed a historical success by politicians from around the globe. Read more...
“We need to build a wall. And it has to be built quickly” murmurs Donald Trump through his frowny brow and flat, republican lips at the GOP debate on the 6th of August. They’re saying, (whoever they are) that Donald Trump is the candidate who has dared to broach the touchy subject of immigration in America. Read more...
Last weekend in Paris, the barbarism of insurgent terrorists led to a horrifying - but all too familiar - conclusion. There is no doubt that the saddest part of this recurring nightmare is the loss of innocent life, and it would be inhumane to lack sympathy for the families of those who unexpectedly lost their loved ones. Read more...
