Well, the Irish voted NO in their referendum on the Lisbon treaty. That will prove to be a pain for the EU Commission and has already initiated some unsavoury feudal voices from those that promoted the treaty. Ireland is the only country that had a democratic vote on the treaty. It was required by its …
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Category:2 Geopolitics
Australia ends Iraq combat
Australia, one of the first countries to commit troops to the war in Iraq five years ago, has ended its combat operations there. About 300 Australians will remain inside Iraq on logistical and air surveillance duties. This withdrawal is in line with a promise by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who won the election in November. …
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Still a primitive world – AI report on human rights 2008
Amnesty International released their annual report on human rights. It continues to paint a stark picture of humanity. Violence is the culture of too many places, and of too many rich countries. With the richest countries still failing to respect human life, despite teh intellect and wealth available to nurture, it remains a dream that …
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A chance for peace between Syria and Israel
There are reports that Israel is considering returning the Golan Heights to Syria in return for peace. The occupation of teh Golan Heights by Israel is the principal reason that peace talks broke down. It would be a milestone in Middle East diplomacy if Israel were to follow through on this idea and would raise …
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Remember the Killing Fields
News of the death of Dith Pran caught my eye. Dith’s passing was premature and probably painful as he died from pancreatic cancer. His talent and determination brought the horror of humanity’s Killing Fields to our notice. It follows the shameful murder of Haing S. Ngor, the actor who played Dith in the movie. Ngor’s …
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What peace process in the middle east?
How can anyone be deluded about the unwillingness to compromise in the Middle East. The Annapolis meeting of last year has proven to be worthless (as expected). Poisoning water (of soldiers as well as civilians) is tantamount to chemical warfare and unethical. The bombing raids just exacerbate the problem. Israels belligerents need to grow up …
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Art illuminates diplomacy in N.Korea
As usual, it has been art that shows the way social and cultural dynamics must evolve. The New York Philharmonic Orchestra has performed a concert in North Korea, playing western and Korean pieces. It was an un-political event, but will most certainly enlighten hearts and minds in North Korea.
Amnesty reports decline in Russian liberty
Amnesty International released Freedom Limited, a report detailing declining freedom of speech in Putin’s Russia. Unsurprising, but sad news. A backlash is inevitable, but probably later rather than sooner. Intelligent systems naturally tend to open systems; Russia’s wealth is fuelling its intellectual capacities which will demand openness in governance. BBC report
Don’t waste energy on the US presidential race
As the year begins so the media coverage of the US presidential race rises. So much so that it seems almost like time filler already. But coverage is mostly irrelevant and a distraction to most people, not just outside the US but also within. It is irrelevant to those outside the US because they can …
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The world says NO to the death penalty
The United Nations General Assembly has at last voted for a global moratorium on the death penalty. While the resolution is nonbinding and its symbolic weight was hardly mentioned in US media, for those who have been trying to move the world away from lethal revenge as government policy, this was a milestone. The resolution …
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