President Bush's trip to Africa poses many questions, including the nature of US influence there and elsewhere, the extent to which African states can play off the US against the EU, and the effect on weapons research. Matt Norton in this guest editorial takes a journey through some of the

Mari Fitzduff, Beyond Violence: Conflict Resolution Process in Northern Ireland, United Nations University Press & INCORE 2002, pp.233 ISBN 92-808-1078-2

A new report provides clear and graphic estimates of the gains from peace and the losses that accrue from violent conflict.

On a hot weekday morning about 100 people were meeting in a church in Kainuk, Kenya, a remote rural town on the border between the areas of Turkana and Pokot. Suddenly all the children sitting on the porch of the church took off like a startled flock of birds, running

Protests in Cancun, Mexico overshadowed the 144 arrests at London's huge arms fair.

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is considered by governments around the world – most notably the United States – to be a terrorist organization associated with al-Qaeda. But a close look at the group and its declared goals paints, instead, a picture of political struggle against a truly oppressive regime.

Myths live and die by their own logic. One of the reasons that myths, especially living myths, become mythic in the first place is that they seem to live outside the rules that govern the rest of us. They are bigger than life, mightier than circumstance, and awesome

The hysteria surrounding SARS has abated, but has it left a legacy by recasting infectious disease as a more central security concern?

This Opinion is an edited version of the keynote speech delivered by Ambassador Van Haren to the Environment UK 2002 Conference hosted by the Environment Agency in October 2002. Further details of the conference at http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk

Human Rights Law remains an essential tool in the effort to minimize suffering in war, and stand up for justice in the face of overwhelming injustice. Still, as Theckanath points out, we should not lose sight of the larger struggle: to eradicate war completely.