Archive for the ‘World current affairs’ Category
The shame of Iran (4)
June 26th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Four international trade union organisations (ITUC, ITF, IUF and EI) have declared today as the international day of solidarity with Iranian workers to support their struggle for their basic rights. Members of these confederations around the world will organize practical support towards workers in Iran today. Further details of the day of action here. This […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
The shame of Iran (3)
June 20th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Is Iran on the verge of another revolution? The complete rejection of the protesters’ concerns by the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggests that either the demonstrations will collapse or they will be put down forcibly or they will ignite a revolutionary movement. Where does the reformist leader Mir Hossein Mousavi stand in all this? […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
One billion hungry
June 19th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Around one billion people – a record – are now going hungry which represents almost one in six of the world population – further information here.
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
The shame of Iran (2)
June 17th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Thanks to my web site and blogs, I have contact with people all around the world – including Iran. In the last few days, it has been very difficult for me to contact my friend in Tehran who voted in the presidential election for the challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi. My contact (no identifying details for […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
The shame of Iran (1)
June 14th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
The Shah of Iran was a brutal dictator whose secret police were outrageously cruel. But the Islamic Republic is failing to deliver the economic prosperity and political freedoms which so many Iranians desire. The presidential election was an extraordinary event with vigorous campaigning, huge rallies and a dramatic television debate between the two main candidates. […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
How strong is al-Qaida?
May 22nd, 2009 by Roger Darlington
“In the final analysis, al-Qaida is more of a security nuisance than a strategic threat. Al-Qaida has shown itself to be its own worst enemy and is in a process of self-decomposition.” This is the conclusion of a thoughtful and evidence-based piece by Fawaz A Gerges, author of “The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global”. […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
Forgotten World (175): Thailand
May 22nd, 2009 by Roger Darlington
What was then called Siam was the only south-east Asian country not to be occupied by a European power and in 1932 the nation became Thailand after a bloodless revolution created a constitutional monarchy. Since then, there have been 18 military coups, the last in 2006 which deposed the then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
Forgotten World (174): Samoa
May 21st, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Samoa is a group of nine South Pacific islands – two large and seven very small – with one of the smallest national populations in the world (just 180,000). The islands became independent of New Zealand in 1982 and the Human Rights Protection Party has been in power ever since. Samoa has seen substantial economic, […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
Forgotten World (173): Greece
May 20th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
Greece is a mainly mountainous country with over 1400 islands (the largest Crete) that returned to democracy – after seven years of the colonels – in 1974 and entered the European Union in 1981. It remains locked in dispute with Turkey over the future of Cyprus and aspects of the Aegean. Greece also has been […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
Forgotten World (172): El Salvador
May 19th, 2009 by Roger Darlington
The smallest and most densely populated country in Central America, El Salvador suffered a bitter civil war from 1980 until 1992. The war left around 70,000 people dead and caused damage worth $2 billion, but it also brought about important political reforms. After the civil war, presidential power remained in the hands of the Right […]
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (1)