After all the delays and rescheduling of the Syria visit, most of my fellow delegates have now returned to their home countries, and are compiling their thoughts, film and photos. Further to the sniper firing at the car transporting Mother Agnes, it apparently happened twice, both coming and going, and as far as she knows, the attack was not directed specifically at her, but rather towards all vehicles, wit ...

The Robin Hood Tax, aka Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) or Tobin Tax was first proposed by John Maynard Keynes among others around 1936. Its purpose was to develop fairer taxation and curb speculation (today particularly relevant to rapid short-term currency speculation). The EU is in the process of implementing it also as a way of raising capital to soften austerity measures that followed the banks bail ou ...

The systemic changes to Hungary’s legal framework introduced by the government since 2010 weaken legal checks on its authority, interfere with media freedom, and undermine human rights protections, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The continuing failure of the Hungarian government to comply with recommendations by European institutions should result in concrete European Union (EU) action, ...

WELL DONE, PAKISTAN! Pritam K. Rohila, Ph.D. For quite a while the media has been flooded with dire predictions by various analysts, commentators, and experts, about the future of Pakistan. But the May 11, 2013 elections have proved them wrong. Even though terribly malnourished, bloodied and tormented, the Spirit of Pakistan is still alive and kicking! In one of the most transparent, well-organized, and abl ...

"I call you to remain the same  for those who are in exile and those who stayed.  If time passed by and I return to my home I will henna the house for my beloved ones" (Palestinian song) By Mjriam Abu Samra The return of the refugees has been a prerogative of the Palestinian struggle since the Nakba. Yet, the approach to this fundamental issue has radically changed over the years as a consequence of the sev ...

Further to the Pressenza report on Mohammed Yunus call to the West to help make the clothes industry safer after nearly 1200 died in the collapse of a factory building, an international agreement has been signed by several companies to ensure fire regulations, health and safety monitoring, better salaries and working conditions as well as unionisation. Labour groups have drawn up an industry-wide agreement ...

Dipu Moni, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister, appeared on Al Jazeera May 15, 2013. While it is understandable that the minister defends her government’s actions, just as Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina defends same, there was no trace of accountability nor transparency in their statements. Ms Moni saying protesters were just pretending to be dead and off camera stood up and walked away...(Al Jazeera May 15)! Wh ...

The death of Indian scholar and reformist Mr. Asghar Ali Engineer comes as something of a surprise to those who continue to read his lively writings on the problems of the Indian day... Mr. Engineer dedicated his life to tolerance and peaceful religious co-existence, for which he accepted the Right Livelihood Award in 2004 - "for promoting over many years in South Asia the values of religious and communal c ...

A collaborative effort between people of the 15M, OWS, Occupy, Indignados, and YoSoy 132 movements. These notes are an attempt to summarise some of the common points between what are known as emerging movements, that is, the various social movements that have appeared in different parts of the world since 2011. They have been compiled with the input from members of these movements. (15M, OWS, Occupy, Indign ...

Syria Dispatch #3: prisoner release; attack on M. Agnes; Homs project In my previous dispatches I withheld some information from you. Over the last four months I have been in touch with Dr. Mohja Kahf, who is active in the Syrian Nonviolence Movement. Dr. Kahf has produced some excellent background material. It is not unbiased, in my opinion, but very informative nonetheless, and I have great respect for he ...