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August 3, 2014: Yazidis remember that black day
Today, August 3rd, marks the 6th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide (“Ezidi” in Kurdish) in 2014. August 3rd is the black day that destroyed many hopes, many lives, and an entire town. As a result of the genocide, almost 36,000 people had to flee their hometown of Sinjar (“Shingal” in Kurdish) and look for shelter, while others stayed on... Read more -
“Next Generation” EU Recovery Fund: Success!
On the 21st of July, European leaders finally reached an agreement on a €750 billion plan to rebuild the economies of member states most affected by the pandemic. Basically, the “Next Generation EU” fund authorises the European Commission to borrow in the capital markets on behalf of the European Union. This was achieved after four... Read more -
Are Turkish airstrikes on Sinjar just part of the Yazidi genocide, or is this Turkey’s new political tactic?
Last night was a tough night for Sinjar City and the Yazidi community that lives there. Turkish warplanes bombed the area with 40 airstrikes that caused injuries to 3 civilians who were working in their fields near the Sinjar Mountain. According to the local people, four points were targeted, including Chilmeran where one of the Yazidi temples is... Read more -
Buen Vivir: indigenous alternative to neoliberalism
What follows is a synthesis of the thought and tradition of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and particularly the indigenous communities of South America — that is, the Andean indigenous peoples. It is also drawn from a a talk given by Javier Badilla. The indigenous concept of Good Living takes precedence over the western idea of “living... Read more -
Understanding the US/Iran relationship
For the last couple of years, the Trump administration has been edging closer to war with Iran. This was especially true during the first few weeks of January 2020. On January 3rd, Donald Trump ordered the assassination of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Iran’s top commander at the helm of Iran’s elite Quds Force. Although the general had been labeled a... Read more -
Super Tuesday: Joe Biden’s Stunning Comeback
“We are very much alive!” exclaimed Joe Biden after his stunning victory that dominated the South Carolina primaries. Held just a couple of days before Super Tuesday, Biden desperately needed that victory in South Carolina, after his terrible showing in both New Hampshire and Iowa, and having finished a distant second in Nevada. Winning in dramatic... Read more -
Ukraine: Facebook replaces parliament
When it comes to political discourse, the rise of social media has created an interesting phenomenon. In more liberal countries where freedom of opinion and press are allowed, Facebook is used primarily to socialise. In more oppressive countries, the social platform has become an important tool for citizens to exchange news and organise... Read more -
Proxy Warfare in the Middle East
As was the case with the Cold War between the US and the former Soviet Union, the cold war between Iran and Saudi Arabia has been waged through proxy conflicts. The late General Qasem Soleimani played a huge role in Iran’s support of Shia militants in Iraq, Hebollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen (who are located predominantly in the north of... Read more -
Fair Finance Guide:
Holding Banks AccountableInternational banks use the money from their clients for various purposes. While there are some banks that commit to ethical values when it comes to investments, others use their capital to support arms trade, the clearing of rainforests, the violation of human rights, the production and use of fossil fuels, and other now-controversial practices. The Fair... Read more -
Why the Iraqi protests are more important than ever
Iraqi protests seem to be overshadowed by Qasem Soleimani's assassination which has left tensions between Iran and the US high.... Read more -
Chilean democracy in question as repression grows
Anti-government protests are still ongoing in Chile, having started in mid-October after an increase in subway fares. Despite human rights abuses by the security forces, Chileans continue to pour into the streets to denounce social inequalities. Sparked by high school students jumping subway turnstiles after the second fare increase of 2019, the... Read more