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Photo: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the General Debate of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly stressing the need to abide by the UN Charter. Source: The Astana Times.

Kazakhstan Could Become “The Switzerland of the 21st Century"

Viewpoint by Dmitry Babich*

This article was issued by The Astana Times.

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (IDN) — The 77th General Assembly of the United Nations was characterized by a general feeling of anxiety and alarmism. Some speakers limited themselves to accusations, blaming other members of the “community of nations” for the generally accepted fact that the world’s security situation and economic perspectives are visibly worsening.

A balanced assessment of the situation with a clear statement of the common goals for humanity became especially valuable at this hour. The approach, suggested by Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, stated his preference for coming together in these difficult times.

: Ramesh Jaura; OPINION; 28 September 2022

Photo: Former President Lula at a campaign rally in Nova Iguaçu on September 8,2022. Ricardo Stuckert/Reproduction, Lula campaign website. Source: Americas Quarterly.

Brazil Has the Potential to Moving to the First World

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power

LUND, Sweden (IDN) — Brazil has long lived out its personal fantasy as the archetypal relaxed, tolerant and gregarious country with Copacabana beach, the samba, the carnival and a great deal of sexual freedom. But, as it was often said when Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva came to power in 2003, it had yet to live its societal dream, an economic-cum-social revolution.

: Jonathan Power; OPINION; 27 September 2022

Photo: The church of St. Mary’s in Nchang burned on 16.09.2022. Source: YouTube

Pope Appeals for Release of Catholics Kidnapped in Cameroon

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — Pope Francis has added his voice to calls by the bishops of Cameroon for the release of five priests, a religious sister, a cook, a catechist and a 15-year-old girl kidnapped in southwest Cameroon, where a civil war has been raging between the French and English-speaking communities for years.

on September 25, the pope said he was praying for peace in Cameroon. “I join in the appeal of the bishops of Cameroon for the liberation of people kidnapped in the diocese of Mamfe,” reported the Catholic News Agency.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 27 September 2022

Possible Deployment of North Korea's Nuclear Weapons: "Automatically and Immediately"

Viewpoint by Herbert Wulf

This article was issued by the Toda Peace Institute and is being republished with their permission.

BONN (IDN) — In the shadow of the Ukraine war and the extraordinary media attention, the conflict over North Korea's nuclear ambitions is currently receding into the background. For years, the government in Pyongyang has been continuously advancing its program. After numerous missile tests earlier this year, according to the English-language state news agency KCNA, the Supreme People's Assembly passed a law on September 8, "On Policy of the Nuclear Force of DPRK".

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 27 September 2022

Photo: Kenyan youth protest against Global North's failure to reduce CO2 emissions.

Kenyan Youth Seek Compensation from Rich Countries Responsible for Climate Change

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Nairobi on September 24 to demand that wealthy countries pay more in the fight against climate change.

"We need the Global North to pay for the damages they are causing," said Duncan Omwami, an activist who joined the protest.

: Global Information Network; SUSTAINABILITY; Climate Action; 26 September 2022

Photo: Rev. Mpho Tutu van Furth, an Anglican priest in the Diocese of Washington, DC, married with the Dutch academic Marceline.

Late Archbishop Tutu's Daughter Barred from Godfather's Funeral

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — The daughter of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu said she was “stunned” by the Church of England when they denied her the right to officiate at her godfather’s funeral because she is married to a woman.

According to the Rev. Mpho Tutu van Furth, an Anglican priest in the Diocese of Washington, DC, the Church barred her from officiating despite her late godfather’s personal wish that she lead the ceremony at his funeral.

: Global Information Network; SUSTAINABILITY; Peace & Justice; 26 September 2022

Image credit: Global Call to Action Against Poverty.

UN Development Goals Can be Best Achieved with Civil Society Participation

By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — A coalition of over 1,000 civil society organizations (CSOs) from 127 countries, under the umbrella of the Global People’s Assembly (GPA), has declared that the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be best achieved—and on its 2030 deadline—only with the active participation of civil society.

“Seven years after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals—almost halfway to the 2030 deadline—the visionary promise of social justice and a rights-based, equitable and ecologically just world for all appears to be a distant dream,” warns the coalition.

: Thalif Deen; UN INSIDER; 26 September 2022

Photo: Late Dr. Mohamed Jameel of Sainthamaruthu

In Memoriam: Dr. M.I.M Jameel

By A. L. A. Azeez

COLOMBO (IDN) — Much-loved and respected Dr Mohamed Jameel of Sainthamaruthu passed away on September 24.

The last time I visited him in 2020, he received me with open arms, shared with me his anxiety over what was then going on in the country and within the community, and discussed his ideas for how healing and reconciliation should be advanced at every level of Sri Lankan society and asked me about my future plans.

: A. L. A. Azeez; OPINION; 25 September 2022

Photo: SGI Director General for Peace and Global Issues Hirotsugu Terasaki (left) opening the exhibition. Credit: Katsuhiro Asagiri | INPS-IDN Multimedia Director.

Exhibition Educates Youth on Dangers of Nuclear Weapons

By Kalinga Seneviratne

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (IDN) — An exhibition that opened at Keruen Mall, an upmarket shopping centre here on September 16 and continues until the end of the month, uses a novel method to reach out to young people with the message of the dangers of nuclear weapons.

The exhibition depicts over 70 years of nuclear history from the Hiroshima explosion through to today, using photographs, illustrations, and graphs that show the devastating effects of nuclear weaponry on communities.

: Kalinga Seneviratne; ARMAMENTS; Nuclear Weapons; 25 September 2022

Act Now to Transform Education into 21st Century Learning

Viewpoint by Dr Randa Grob-Zakhary

The author is the Founder and CEO of Education.org

ZURICH (IDN) — At the recent Transforming Education Summit in New York, 130 countries pledged to reboot their education systems and accelerate action to tackle the global learning crisis. Fifty foundations pledged to support those ambitions.

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres outlined, COVID-19 has “dealt a hammer blow” to education systems worldwide. But this has come on top of a much longer term crisis. Too often, education systems “don’t make the grade,” the Secretary-General said, as they are “dependent upon outdated and narrow curricula, under-trained and underpaid teachers, and rote learning”.