Global Geopolitics

OPINION: Non-Violence and the Lost Message of Jesus

By Mairead Maguire
I recently visited Assisi, the home of St. Francis and St. Clare, two great spirits whose lives have inspired us and millions of people around the world.

After 53 Years, Obama to Normalise Ties with Cuba

By Jim Lobe
In perhaps his boldest foreign-policy move during his presidency, Barack Obama Wednesday announced that he intends to establish full diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Russian Arms Producers Move Ahead of Western Rivals

By Thalif Deen
The world's top 100 arms producing companies racked up 402 billion dollars in weapons sales and military services in 2013, according to the latest figures released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

OPINION: The Sad Future of Our Planet

By Roberto Savio
It is now official: the current inter-governmental system is not able to act in the interest of humankind.

OPINION: Europe Has Lost Its Compass

By Roberto Savio
The Swedish Social Democrat government, which took office only two months ago, has just resigned. The far-right anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats sided with the four-party centre-right opposition alliance, and new elections will be held in March next year.

What Future for the ACP-EU Partnership Post-2015?

By Valentina Gasbarri
“There are still prospects for a meaningful ACP-EU partnership, capable of contributing and responding concretely and effectively to the objectives of promoting and attaining peace, security, poverty eradication and sustainable development,” according to the top official of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).

Afghan Concern Over Western Disengagement

By Giuliano Battiston
The U.S./NATO International Security Assistance Force Joint Command lowered its flag for the last time in Afghanistan on Dec. 8, after 13 years. The ISAF mission officially ends on Dec. 31, and will be replaced on Jan. 1, 2015 by “Resolute Support”, a new, narrow-mandate mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces.

Faiths United Against Nuclear Weapons

By Julia Rainer
“Never was there a greater need than now for all the religions to combine, to pull their wisdom and to give the benefit of that combined, huge repository of wisdom to international law and to the world.”

Africa Sets Demands for Post-2015 Climate Agreement

By Wambi Michael
The post-2015 global climate change agreement should be flexible and fully resourced or else condemn Africa to another cycle of poverty resulting from the adverse effects of climate change.

Nuclear States Face Barrage of Criticism in Vienna

By Jamshed Baruah
Sarcastic laughter erupted when a civil society representative expressed his “admiration for the delegate of the United States, who with one insensitive, ill-timed, inappropriate and diplomatically inept intervention” had “managed to dispel the considerable goodwill the U.S. had garnered by its decision to participate” in Vienna Conference on Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons.

Release of Senate Torture Report Insufficient, Say Rights Groups

By Jim Lobe
Tuesday’s release by the Senate Intelligence Committee of its long-awaited report on the torture by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of detainees in the so-called “war on terror” does not go far enough, according to major U.S. human rights groups.

U.N. Urged to Ban Nuke Strikes Against Cities

By Roger Hamilton-Martin
Civil society groups are urging the U.N. General Assembly to pass a resolution declaring nuclear strikes on cities to be a clear-cut violation of international humanitarian law.

Civil Society Support for Marshall Islands Against Nuclear Weapons

By Julia Rainer
Ahead of the Dec. 8-9 Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, activists from all over the world came together in the Austrian capital to participate in a civil society forum organised by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) on Dec. 6 and 7.

Hiroshima, Nagasaki Cast Shadow Over Nuclear Conference in Vienna

By Thalif Deen
When Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was at Harvard University early this week to pick up the 'Humanitarian of the Year' award, his thoughts transcended the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the Austrian capital of Vienna which will be the venue of a key international conference on nuclear weapons next week.

War Knocks on Door of Youth Centre in Zwara

By Karlos Zurutuza
It could be a squat house anywhere: music is playing non-stop and there is also a radio station and an art exhibition. However, weapons are also on display among the instruments, and most here wear camouflage uniform.

Iraqi Kurds Seek Greater Balance between Ankara and Baghdad

By Mohammed A. Salih
After a period of frostiness, Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Turkey seem intent on mending ties, as each of the parties show signs of needing the other.

Q&A: Why Kyoto’s Clean Development Mechanism is at a Crossroads

By Wambi Michael
The U.N. mechanism for supporting carbon emissions projects in developing countries – the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) – is in crisis as a result of a dramatic slump in the prices being paid for carbon credits.

OPINION: The Suicide of Europe

By Roberto Savio
The fact that in a referendum Switzerland has taken a path that goes in the opposite direction from that of Europe is an unusual fact which calls for reflection, especially because Switzerland has taken a much more progressive path, while we all were accustomed to see it as a very conservative country.

Mubarak Acquitted as Egypt’s Counterrevolution Thrives

By Emile Nakhleh
The acquittal of former Egyptian President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak is not a legal or political surprise. Yet it carries serious ramifications for Arab autocrats who are leading the counterrevolutionary charge, as well as the United States.

OPINION: Improve North Korean Human Rights By Ending War

By Christine Ahn and Suzy Kim
On Nov. 18, a committee of the United Nations General Assembly voted 111 to 19, with 55 abstentions, in favour of drafting a non-binding resolution referring North Korea to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

As Wars Multiply, U.N. Takes a Hard Look at Peace Operations

By Lyndal Rowlands
Finding ways to better integrate the two arms of U.N. Peace Operations - Special Political Missions and Peacekeeping Operations - will be one of the priorities for a new review panel headed by Nobel Peace Laureate and former president of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta.
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