The internal pacification process in much-troubled Colombia has taken an important step forward. The recently concluded agreement between the Government of Colombia and the so-called United Self Defense Forces (AUC – often described as Colombia’s paramilitaries) for the gradual demobilization of the latter has come as a relief to many.

The author argues that if more and more communities in Colombia followed the path of protesting peacefully against the brutal and aggravating conflict, the Comunidades de Paz could well constitute a bottom-up way to peace in a political setting where top-down approaches such as leadership declarations and negotiations have continuously

This article traces the rise of Al-Jazeera and discusses some of the controversy that surrounds it.

Sabria Jawhar is an outspoken and influential Saudi journalist perhaps best known for her passionate contention that human rights for Muslim women should be sought within the Islamic tradition. In this interview, Sabria speaks with Rob Wagner about her life and work, the friction and cohesion of cultural values, and

Victoria Fontan and Adolphe Kilomba discuss the context and motivations behind France's intervention in Mali, as well as some of the legal arguments used to justify it.

Camilo Acero discusses the massive, peaceful protests in Colombia which were organized by Oscar Morales through a Facebook group called "One Million Voices Against the FARC." Approximately four million answered the call.

Media freedom is virtually non-existent in the Arab World where freedom in the conventional sense is itself a mirage. But media freedom is now worth a story as things are changing, albeit slowly. The snail-paced changes being witnessed in the media scene, especially in the Arabian Gulf states where Sheikhdoms

A new order is taking shape from North Africa to the Middle East; but as the dust settles down, will the quest for human dignity and democracy continue? Patrick Mugo Mugo analyzes what kind of governance system will win the hearts and minds of millions of the Arabic people: a

Costa Rica has always emphasized environmental standards, however in the capital city of San Jose, this respect for the environment is hard to find. However, Fabrice Gernigon found one Costa Rican woman who didn't wait for new Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla to initiate cleaner policies for San Jose.

Women's World is a global free speech network founded in 1994 to develop programmes to enable women to have a stronger public voice. They recently ran an essay contest "Women's Voices in War Zones" co-sponsored by the Nation Institute and supported by the Puffin Foundation. The essays were judged by