Democracy in Nepal?

The King of Nepal recently axed the country’s democratically elected government. He blames the government’s failure to deal with a growing Maoist insurgency, while international observers fear a cynical power grab. Nepali Kamala Sarup gives an overview of the situation.

Nigeria: Fuel subsidy removal and the national crisis

Nigerians were taken by surprise earlier this year when the government dropped fuel subsidies, a move which effectively double the cost of living for many, and prompted massive protests. Labour organizations, #OccupyNigeria groups, unemployed youth, and many other Nigerian citizens have since begun to cross religious, geographic, age, and class divides to seize this historic opportunity and participate more effectively in the political process. In this article, Fatima Kyari Mohammed shares her insights, and some of her photos.

Peace movements

February 15 2003 saw the biggest public demonstration worldwide against the war on Iraq. Since then a large number of the organizations involved have continued to voice their concerns over the occupation of Iraq, although interests have broadened to embrace less high-profile conflict situations The following details a selection of the hundreds of organizations and their plans for helping to bring peace.

Aftershocks of Honduras’ Political Earthquake

Is the coup d’état in Honduras a mirror that the FMLN government of Mauricio Funes, El Salvador’s armed forces, grassroots movement and political parties ought to be looking into? If they do so, what will it show them?

From suffering to liberation: Mindfulness meditation in critical pedagogy

This article explores the problems and possibilities of implementing Buddhist mindfulness meditation in critical pedagogy. Buddhism and critical pedagogy are compared, particularly their conceptions of suffering, liberation, and self. Challenges to the adaptation of critical pedagogy in Buddhist cultural contexts are addressed. Mindfulness meditation is proposed to enrich critical pedagogy and expand its cultural applicability.

From Conflict to Coexistence – An Intervention Model

Ssentongo and Raalten propose a Conflict Intervention Model to diagram conflict in its general sense. While the model is based on the idea that structural and psycho-cultural approaches are foundational to resolution, it simplifies the process by utilizing John Paul Lederach’s pyramid on leadership.

Barriers to Peace: Assessing Separation Barriers’ Legality and their Implications for Peace Processes

Barriers to Peace: Assessing Separation Barriers’ Legality and their Implications for Peace Processes Author: Sean Khalepari Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 11/01/2007 Governments in multiple countries have turned to the construction of Separation Barriers as a security measure in response to protracted ethno-national violence. It is argued herein that Separation Barriers constructed […]

A Tale of Nationalism and Dissidence

Cultural disconnect is at the heart of Cameroon’s political incongruity. Split in two, the government falls in the hands of the Francophones, natural resources in the hands of the Anglophones.

Trans-national Organized Crime: Identifying and Tackling a Growing Threat

Organized crime transcends state boundaries and finds its niche in transnational markets. Despite international sponsored programmes to better quell the expansion of illicit trade, small arms, narcotics, as well as people continue being trafficked. Hugh Griffiths provides an inside look at the flow of illegal trafficking.