Civil Society: the New Superpower - INTER PRESS SERVICE

‘Arms Easier to Trade Than Bananas'

Mon, 9 Feb 2012 11:56 GMT

The lack of international regulation in the trade of conventional arms is a "scandal" that must be brought to an end, said a coalition of non-governmental organisations as they heightened their campaign this week for a comprehensive United Nations treaty.

PHILIPPINES: LGBT Radio Switches to Podcasting

Sun, 8 Feb 2012 22:11 GMT

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues have generally been ignored in the Philippines, or worse, negatively portrayed to spice up mainstream media programmes.

Sierra Leone Drafts a Development Plan for the Next 50 Years

Sun, 8 Feb 2012 07:32 GMT

Fifty years ago when Sierra Leone gained independence after 150 years of colonial rule, with it came a feeling of optimism that along with a newfound control of its governance, the country would profit from its ample endowment of natural resources, like timber, fish, minerals and oil. Instead, in the last 50 years, the country has had 13 military coups and an 11-year civil war that left the economy in ruins and the country heavily reliant on foreign donor funding.

NGO Prosecution Puts U.S.-Egyptian Ties at Risk

Sat, 7 Feb 2012 20:49 GMT

The ongoing controversy over the activities of U.S. and other foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Egypt appears to be bringing ties between the two countries to their lowest point in nearly 40 years.

Bahrain Braces for More Shia Protests

Sat, 7 Feb 2012 13:33 GMT

It is far from Pearl Roundabout, the scene of last year's crackdown on pro-democracy protestors, but for now Mughsha, a village in the northern district of Bahrain, serves as the centre of the country's ‘Arab Spring' movement.

Burma in the Throes of Change - Part 1

Sat, 7 Feb 2012 01:12 GMT

Moves by the Burmese government to settle ethnic conflicts in the country, notably with the Karen in the mountainous eastern part of the country, have caught most observers by surprise.

Mines Test Colombia's Commitment to Sustainable Development

Fri, 6 Feb 2012 11:31 GMT

"In the Andes, and all over the world, mining on mountains should be banned. Distinguished scientists and papers in the most prestigious journals are saying this," a regional planning expert in Colombia told IPS.

EUROPE-DEVELOPMENT: The "Indignados" Still Have Wind in Their Sails

Fri, 6 Feb 2012 10:28 GMT

Months of protest across the European Union, sparked by ‘indignant' youth demanding an end to the brand of free market capitalism that has blighted the continent with an unemployment epidemic, finally bore fruit on Jan. 30 when Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, proposed an ambitious jobs scheme.

Israel and Iran Agreed on Nuclear Ambiguity

Fri, 6 Feb 2012 02:30 GMT

Will Israel attack Iran's nuclear facilities this spring? That is a question dominating the international agenda. Meanwhile, the grand project of a nuclear weapon-free Middle East is relegated to the utopian "day after" a solution is found to the Islamic republic's atomic programme.

Senegalese Students Call for President to Step Down

Fri, 6 Feb 2012 01:14 GMT

The friends of slain Senegalese student protester, Mamadou Diop, say that the 32-year-old master's student was against injustice and that is why he was protesting against President Abdoulaye Wade's bid for a third term of office.

LAOS-CULTURE: ASEAN Attempts to Build on a Shared Language: Music

Mon, 2 Feb 2012 10:00 GMT

A landmark concert featuring artistes from eight of the ten South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) took place here on Jan. 21, in an effort to build a regional community through the common language of music.

"Occupy" is the Watchword at Thematic Social Forum

Mon, 2 Feb 2012 08:04 GMT

Traditional social movements of homeless and landless people have for years been organising occupations as a pressure tactic. Now "occupying" is a key element for fighting the capitalist system in its hour of crisis, and also in the realm of virtual reality.

BANGLADESH: Coup Bid Reveals Extremism Within Army

Mon, 2 Feb 2012 04:57 GMT

Bangladesh's army has won paludits as leading United Nations peacekeepers, but the January coup attempt against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has exposed lurking religious extremism within its ranks.

Kenyan Chief Tweets His Way to Reducing Crime

Mon, 2 Feb 2012 00:22 GMT

Using 140 characters or less, Chief Francis Kariuki in Kenya, has tweeted his way to reducing crime in his and surrounding villages.

POLITICS-SENEGAL: Violence After Validation of Wade Candidacy

Sun, 1 Feb 2012 13:02 GMT

It was stones against tear gas in the Senegalese capital this morning as students protested the killing of one of their own on Tuesday evening. At least four people have died since Jan. 27, in wider demonstrations against the controversial validation of President Abdoulaye Wade's candidacy for re-election for a third term.

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