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America's Christian Right, Republicans and Donald Trump – 1

Viewpoint by John Newsinger*

This is the first of a six-part article originally published in International Socialism under the title The Christian right, the Republican Party and Donald Trump. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of IDN-InDepth News.

LONDON (IDN) – Donald Trump was elected to the United States presidency in 2016 by the votes of the Christian right. Some 81 percent of evangelical Christians, who made up a third of the total electorate, voted for him.

: Phil Harris; THE WORLD; USA and Canada; 19 February 2020

Photo: People march against pipelines in Smithers, British Columbia, in May 2014. Credit: Office of the Wet'suwet'en/Francois Depey. Source: indianz.com

Canada's Colonial Settler Policies Alive and Well

Viewpoint by Jim Miles*

MONTREAL (IDN) – There is a lot of obfuscation and sloganeering about the Canada wide protests in support of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation of British Columbia and their resistance to corporate and governmental greed in pushing a natural gas pipeline through their traditional territory. On February 17, 2020 a CBC reporter cited – and probably paraphrased closely – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as saying his "most important relationship is with indigenous people".

: Suresh Jaura; THE WORLD; USA and Canada; 19 February 2020

Photo: Nikita Pearl Waligwa. Source: MyClallamCounty.com

Uganda's Queen of Katwe Star Dies of Brain Cancer

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – Nikita Pearl Waligwa, who starred as the friend of chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi in the 2016 Disney film "The Queen of Katwe", passed away on February 15 after a valiant struggle with cancer. She was 15 years of age.

The film, which starred David Oyelowo as the chess teacher, Lupita Nyong'o as Phiona’s mother, and Madina Nmwanta as Phiona, was based on a true story about the young Mutesi. She learns to play chess and becomes a Woman Candidate Master after her victories at World Chess Olympiads.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 19 February 2020

Photo: U.S. President Nixon shakes hands with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Incredible Obsession With China's Supposed Malevolence

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power

LUND, Sweden (IDN) – In Munich at the Security Conference from February 14-16 the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, nailed her anti-Chinese colours to the mast. Despite being a liberal on many issues and the leader of the fight to impeach President Donald Trump, she has joined forces with Trump in preaching that the West must not allow itself to be penetrated by Huawei’s 5G phone technology (which is cheaper than any Western counterpart).

: Jonathan Power; OPINION; 18 February 2020

Photo: Marega against Lokomotiv Moscow in October 2018. CC BY-SA 3.0

Ed Card for Portugal Over Racist Abuse of Malian Soccer Star

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – Racism is rife in international soccer, with fans taking physical and verbal aim at players of the opposing team.

After the routine apologies of the coaches and local officials, what has really been done to end the frequent racist outbursts, often accompanied by flying chairs or banana peels? This week, star striker Moussa Marega of Mali brought the unpleasant behaviour to world attention as he stalked off the field when his successful play scoring the winning goal sparked an avalanche of ugly chants and racist taunts.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 18 February 2020

Photo: Serena the Duong. Credit: Donna Kwan

UN Agency Honours UAE for Protecting Migratory Species

By Devinder Kumar

GANDHINAGAR; India (IDN) – The United Nations Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) has recognized the United Arab Emirates' Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) as a Migratory Species Champion Plus because of its contributions to the conservation of medium-sized marine mammal Dugong and African-Eurasian birds of prey.

The Dugong is a large, slow-moving animal which feeds on seagrass. The calm, shallow waters along the Abu Dhabi coastline offer the perfect environment for this marine mammal and are home to an estimated 3,000 individuals, part of the second-largest Dugong population in the world, shared with three other Gulf countries.

: Devinder Kumar; SUSTAINABILITY; Oceans, seas and marine resources; 18 February 2020

Photo: Agba Jalingo, publisher of Cross River Watch, faces trial over a report written by the newspaper alleging that Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade diverted 500 million naira meant for the establishment of Cross River Microfinance Bank. Credit: Cross River Watch.

Nigeria Rounding Up Journalists for Exposing Corruption

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – Nigeria is rounding up journalists who investigate corruption – jailing them for indefinite periods of time and accusing them of treason.

Agba Jalingo, publisher of Cross River Watch, was arrested and jailed in August 2019 until this month when a Cross River court granted bail. He faces trial over a report written by the newspaper alleging that Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade diverted 500 million naira meant for the establishment of Cross River Microfinance Bank.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 18 February 2020

Photo: Mijikenda Cultural Village meeting, Rabai, coastal Kenya. Credit: © Krystyna Swiderska

Protecting Indigenous Cultures for Saving Global Biodiversity

Viewpoint by Krystyna Swiderska*

COVENTRY (IDN) – Species are being lost at about a thousand times the natural rate of extinction. This is faster than at any other period in human history. Ecosystems – the vital systems on which all life depends – are being degraded across the globe.

This crisis of biodiversity loss is finally receiving some attention. But its connection to another loss – that of indigenous cultures – is rarely mentioned. From animals to insects and plants, biodiversity loss cannot be effectively addressed without tackling the rapid disappearance of indigenous cultures. The two are inextricably linked.

: Phil Harris; OPINION; 17 February 2020

Photo: Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, Founder and President of Morocco's High Atlas Foundation. Credit: High Atlas Foundation.

Making Democratic Socialism Relatable

Viewpoint by Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir

The writer is an American sociologist who resides in Marrakech, Morocco.

MARRAKECH (IDN) – The phrase "Democratic Socialism" continues to find its way into current national and political discourse of the United States. Vermont Senator and Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders embraces the term, while his opponents, both from within his own party as well as on the Republican aisle, are using the label as a bit of an albatross.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 17 February 2020

Image credit: A march of 2,000 anti-conscription protesters in London,1939. © IWM

Why the Peace Movement Must Be Intersectional

Viewpoint by Tim Gee*

LONDON (IDN) – In 2011, after a racial slur was used on a women's rights march, writer Flavia Dzodan wrote a blog called, 'My feminism will be intersectional or it will be bullshit'. The framing was picked up by others, adapting the title to environmentalism and to activism more broadly but it was far less talked about in the peace movement.