Opinions

If mindfulness is to become a force for social and political change it needs to radically expand its scope beyond individual therapy. Ronald Purser for openDemocracy Mindfulness provides important psychological and emotional benefits for individuals, but caring for our own…

I have previously written many articles describing one or more aspects of the dysfunctional nature of the typical human mind, together with an explanation of how this came about and what we can do about it. See, for example, many…

“Axis of Evil” first appeared in former President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address in January 2002, describing Iraq, Iran and North Korea months after the Sept. 11 attacks. Fourteen months after the speech, the United States invaded…

By Jerome Irwin Typically, like most Canadians, I’m deeply concerned about a lot of pressing issues in Canada and the world at large: the course and direction of the upcoming federal election; what some meekly call climate change while others,…

By Jerome Irwin A question oft raised by journalists, writers and social scientists world-wide asks, “Is Democracy in the United States, as well as every other country in the world, dying a slow, barely visible death?” Military coups, openly fascist…

By Father John Jeffrey I am a child of God, a follower of Christ Jesus, and a priest in the Episcopal Church. I am also a middle age, queer, white cis man who carries his own share of baggage from…

In 1976 René Goscinny wrote a script for his instalment of Asterix “Obelix and Co.” which turned out to be one of the best studies of neoliberal capitalism and the reasons for its failure. In short, tired of getting defeated…

While I write, the dramatic developments regarding the migrants that were rescued by Sea Watch and have been stuck in open see for almost two weeks have not yet reached a conclusion. Having followed this story with passion, I want…

Don’t buy the greenwash. Shell’s initiatives, which have won over many conservation groups, are dwarfed by its investment in oil and gas. By George Monbiot for The Guardian It is hard to believe it needs stating, but it does. The…

By Juan Gómez* We have witnessed over the past decades that humanity and its environment seem to be on the wrong track leading to their imminent destruction. The alarm signal was triggered by the depletion of some non-renewable natural resources,…