Opinion and Analysis Archive

29.03.2005 Howard Flight, the Tory MP sacked for comments about his party's election promises, can doubtless console himself with his 11 company directorships. But George Monbiot feels that MPs in general should spend more time with their parliamentary duties.
From: Monbiot.com

24.03.2005 A valuable summary of the findings of the recent Madrid conference which examined ideas for fighting terrorism without compromising principles of democracy.

23.03.2005 This summary of the Africa Commission's recommendations for the role of the IMF and World Bank presents a very different vision for governance than that implied by the Bush "nomination" of Paul Wolfowitz as president of the Bank.

22.03.2005 The moving personal account of her captivity in Iraq and the tragic final taxi journey with Nicola Calipari, by the Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena.

18.03.2005 Voracious Chinese demand has forced up the price of oil, steel, timber and other commodities to the extent that western economic managers are forced to change strategies. But this is just the tip of the icebeg that will assuredly sink our unsustainable consumer society.

17.03.2005 St.Patrick's Day takes on a dramatic new complexion in the US as Sinn Fein's fortunes take a spectacular nosedive. How could five sisters from a poor Belfast community achieve in a few weeks what the British government and military have pursued unsuccessfully for nearly 40 years?

15.03.2005 Analysts from CAFOD provide a useful summary of the recommendations of the Commission for Africa report under each the key development topic headings, together with a CAFOD reaction.

11.03.2005 As the anti-terror bill nears the end of its tormented passage, a leading human rights lawyer traces the long history of habeas corpus, the protection of the individual against arbitrary detention.

09.03.2005 The secretary-general of the Club of Madrid and former prime minister of Canada, Kim Campbell, sets out the aims of the summit taking place this week.

08.03.2005 Air travel for government employees is headline news in the Sustainable Development Strategy announced yesterday. This clear analysis of the issues and policy options may assist civil servants in facing up to their new responsibilities.

07.03.2005 International dithering over the deteriorating situation in Darfur is in part caused by disagreement as to whether the Sudanese government's actions should be classed as genocide. This analysis examines how the intricacies of history and politics stand in the way of any clear-cut definition of the genocide word.

04.03.2005 It looks as though Argentina will be successful in its bold debt restructuring plan for private creditors. Now the country has to deal with the IMF and other International Financial Institutions - are they disposable?

03.03.2005 The tsunami has infested the vegetation and water of the Maldives with salt, with little prospect of short term remedy. Nevertheless, Abdul Gayoom, President of the Republic, writes that the vulnerability of small island states to global warming remains the overwhelming concern.
From: Our Planet

02.03.2005 Interesting times in Egypt. President Mubarak has granted concessions towards multi-party elections, apparently under pressure from his US paymasters. But democracy groups in Egypt feel tainted by US support and wish it would disappear.
From: Cairo magazine

01.03.2005 As FairTrade Fortnight gets under way today with its emphasis on fair deals for producers, new research provides a warning that massive world demand for coffee also creates serious environmental problems.