In order to change something in my country, I need to change myself
Irene Munz writes: “I have the great pleasure to be with Tahmina in the same program, Gender and Peace Building, here at UPEACE. Although we detected very soon, that our motivations and interests are similar, each of us student is bringing a different background and different visions, enriching our daily course here at UPEACE. Tahmina, as the only representative from Central Asia in our group, brings us valuable insight into her culture, her individual way of thinking and her struggle for her religion, the Islam, and women rights in her country, Tajikistan.”
I have been to Nyamata
The author wrote this poem on her return from Nyamata, Rwanda where 2,500 people had been slaughtered in 1994 to her home in Zimbabwe(June 2000).
Pictured above is the church where the genocide was perpetrated.
Human Rights in Afghanistan
Joe Schumacher quizzes Elizabeth Griffin of Essex University on her Amnesty International sponsored inquiry into Human Rights and the Justice system in Afghanistan. She argues for a bigger role for the UN and greater emphasis on security first.
Helping Out
Helping Out Author: Sabrina Sideris Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 09/16/2005 Category: Interview The earthquake on December 26, 2004 that measured at least 9.0 in magnitude and the catastrophic tsunami that followed fifteen minutes later affected nine countries bordering the Indian Ocean and took at least 22,000 lives across south Asia. Approximately […]
Iraq and the “Benefits” of Liberalism
Corporate America is now mobilizing itself to do its part for operation Iraqi freedom, having been assured by the US government that its role in Iraq is as vital to the Bush administration’s vision for Iraq as the military’s.
George Bush has said that he envisions a ‘US-Middle East free trade area’ within 10 years, ‘replacing corruption and self dealing with free markets’.
Dispatch from Tanzania
Regina Eddleman has spent the last six months in Africa working with youth programs that include HIV/AIDS peer education in Zimbabwe and peacebuilding and conflict prevention in Tanzania.
In Zimbabwe she worked closely with the youth to facilitate discussions on HIV/AIDS related issues in local schools, assisted in training camps and communications. Zimbabwe has one of the highest HIV/AIDS infection rates in Africa and the world. There are no words to express how the pandemic has affected every fabric of the society in a country already suffering from an economic and political crisis that is said to be the worst since they won their independence. In Tanzania, Regina also works closely with the youth, developing workshops, mentoring and assisting them in their own proposal writing and projects.
Doing What Has to be Done
A young Israeli writing at the time of the Jewish New Year points out vividly how the Palestinians of today are behaving like the Israeli’s of the pre-1948 generation. They are doing what has to be done.
Drawing a veil over bad habits
Piervincenzo Canale and Joseph Schumacher consider some of the seemingly intractable problems of religious symbolism and is thankful for the European Court in Strasbourg that may well have to adjudicate.
Europe’s recent conniption fit over reconciling the demands of secularity, what it means to be a good ‘European’ and the aspirations of its fast growing Muslim community continues…
Driving Deterioration
The author asks the reader to consider how the car in the last 100 years has been responsible for turning an area of natural landscape in the U.S. the size of Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania into concrete or asphalt. To consider that it has been directly responsible for injuring 250 million, nearly equivalent to the current population of the U.S., and killing more than have died in all the wars in which the country has fought. To consider that the widespread use of this same contraption burns 8 million barrels of oil daily, making the U.S. increasingly dependent on and entangled with a severely unstable world region. To consider that it kills one million wild animals every week. The automobile continues to be responsible for myriad negative effects that, when assessed rationally, far outweigh the benefits.
And the rest of the world is close behind…..
Earth Charter Kickboxing: new moves
Bangkok was the site for the 3rd World Conservation Union Congress – an event that occurs with Olympic frequency, the last one taking place in Jordan in the year 2000. Mohit Mukherjee records a success story.