Opinions

A United Nations human rights expert on freedom of religion or belief has welcomed the United States’ legislative amendments aimed at protecting non-believers and atheists. “This is an important development, as believers, atheists and non-believers must all be equally protected,”…

President-elect Donald Trump exploded a half-century of U.S. nuclear-arms policy in a single tweet last week: “The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.” With…

By Oliver Stone As 2016 draws to a close, we find ourselves a deeply unsettled nation. We’re unable to draw the lines of our national interest. Is it jobs and economy, is it national security, or is it now in…

By Johan Galtung To understand something we often compare it with something else. A recent Harvard study found 26.7% of world car production in China and 13.3% in USA; US economy bigger but China leading in export with 8 of…

By Juan Francisco Lobo During the last days of December, Russia will host a round of diplomatic talks with Iran and Turkey. A hundred years ago, Ernst Jünger described a peculiar encounter with a frightened British officer in his account of…

Israel’s suspension of relations with the UN Security Council member nations that voted for the resolution—powerful countries including the U.K. and France—has effectively realized a goal of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. By Ken Klippenstein / AlterNet December 28,…

You might be forgiven for imagining that laws are serious things. When you violate them, you can be locked in a cage for decades. That’s not true for big-time weapons dealers like the U.S. government. Two years after the creation…

The rights to freedom of expression and religion are both essential components of a vibrant and pluralistic democracy. There are long-held laws that guarantee these freedoms in Asia. However, the way they are interpreted and used, is causing life-threatening situations…

By Pamela Sexton* Dili, Timor-Leste – Recently, thousands of U.S. military veterans travelled to North Dakota to support the peaceful struggle of the Standing Rock Sioux to defend their sovereignty and protect their land and water. I watched the veterans…

Jeroen Dijsselbloem’s salary as the Netherlands’ Finance Minister is over €170,000 p.a. This is more than 212 times as much as the best off of those Greek pensioners whom he is determined to deprive of their Christmas bonuses.  by Steve McGiffen…