Rebecca Sargent's Blog (88)

This Week in the World of Conflict... February 20th-27th, 2012.

I ask readers interested in peace and conflict to join the Peace and Collaborative Development Network and donate to help keep them alive, if possible. The network is a great place to meet others working in the field, browse job openings, read great blog entries and learn where to find other conflict resources.
The International Centre on Nonviolent Conflict is…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 27, 2012 at 5:58pm — No Comments

This Week in European Conflict... February 18th-25th, 2012.

The former foreign secretary of the EU Jack Straw announced that the European Parliament should be abolished after failing to achieve its purpose of bridging the divide between the European people and EU. Straw argued that the body has a “major democratic deficit” as a poll shows 78% believe their voice doesn’t count in the EU.
Tens of…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 26, 2012 at 11:38am — No Comments

This Week in Middle Eastern Conflict... February 17th-24th, 2012.

China announced on Friday that it had yet to receive a formal invitation to a meeting of international powers in Tunis next week to discuss the crisis in Syria; the government reportedly blocked a premiere live stream website, Bambuser, that has been used by dissidents to…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 26, 2012 at 10:25am — No Comments

This Week in Conflict in the Americas... February 16th-23rd, 2012.

President Caledron of Mexico reportedly unveiled a large advertising board near the American border calling on the US to stop the flow of weapons into the country on Friday. On Sunday, a fight between prison inmates inside a jail near Monterrey reportedly killed some 44 people. On…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 23, 2012 at 7:08pm — No Comments

This Week in Asian Conflict... February 15th-22nd, 2012.

President Karzai of Afghanistan confronted the Pakistani leadership on Thursday during a visit to Islamabad, accusing Pakistani officials of harbouring the Taliban; he also was quoted as saying there were secret contacts between the US, Afghan governments and the Taliban, and that the…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 22, 2012 at 7:01pm — No Comments

This Week in African Conflict... February 14th-21st, 2012.

The West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) has just launched a new book on election management in West Africa.
The African Union Chairman announced on Saturday he will visit some of the continent’s conflict areas including Sudan, South Sudan, Mali and Libya for…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 21, 2012 at 6:57pm — No Comments

This Week in the World of Conflict... February 13th-20th, 2012.

TRANSCEND Peace University has opened its online courses in peace and conflict studies for the upcoming spring semester. TRANSCEND was founded by Dr. Johan Galtung, widely known as the father of peace studies.
NATO announced on Wednesday that it will buy five US-made unmanned drone aircraft capable of…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 20, 2012 at 10:40am — No Comments

This Week in European Conflict... February 11th-18th, 2012.

On Friday, France and Britainagreed to jointly work to develop next-generation unmanned drones as part of their military cooperation.
The Guardian ran a set of interesting articles detailing Scotland Yard’s…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 19, 2012 at 3:32pm — No Comments

This Week in Middle Eastern Conflict... February 10th-17th, 2012.

A new report in the Atlantic this week suggests that a barely perceptible shift occurred in recent months that make the possibility of Israel attacking Iran’s nuclear sites more possible, as the benefits outweigh the costs. NBC reported last week…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 18, 2012 at 5:31pm — No Comments

This Week in Conflict in the Americas... February 9th-16th, 2012.

The Pentagon in the United States announced their plans on Thursday to change rules in the armed forces to open up more than 14,000 positions for women to serve as frontline medics, helicopter pilots and intelligence analysts, bringing them closer…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 16, 2012 at 8:17pm — No Comments

This Week in Asian Conflict... February 8th-15th, 2012.

A criminal court on the island nation of the Maldives issued an arrest warrant for the first democratically-elected President, Mohammed Nasheed, who awaited arrest in his home on Thursday, following last week’s alleged coup attempt. The ousted President…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 15, 2012 at 8:16pm — No Comments

This Week in African Conflict... February 7th-14th, 2012.

The UN and Interpol discussedtransnational organized crime in West Africa, including illicit drug trafficking and the proliferation of illegal arms, as well maritime piracy in Lyon, France on Monday.
An anti-homosexuality bill is being once again resurrected by the Parliament in Uganda with…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 14, 2012 at 7:20pm — No Comments

This Week in the World of Conflict... February 6th-13th, 2012.

The UN conference on trade and development (UNCTAD) secretary-general published a report on Tuesday that called for fundamental reform of the global financial system that would be of benefit to the global poor. The report will act as the theme for the UNCTAD XIII conference in Doha, Qatar in April.
An Online Dispute Resolution…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 13, 2012 at 7:48pm — No Comments

This Week in European Conflict... February 4th-11th, 2012.

Tens of thousands of people took part in rallies across Europe on Saturday to protest against an international anti-piracy agreement they fear will curb their freedom to download movies and music for free and encourage internet surveillance.
Pro-Europe politician Sauli…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 12, 2012 at 6:43pm — No Comments

This Week in Middle Eastern Conflict... February 2nd-10th, 2012.

Human Rights Watch alleged that authorities in Iran are intimidating and arresting relatives and friends of Persian-language journalists working abroad on Friday; while American spy chiefs told Congress that they believed Iran’s leaders are now more willing to attack the US in…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 12, 2012 at 12:49pm — No Comments

This Week in Conflict in the Americas... February 2nd-9th, 2012.

A Pentagon legal official refused to extend an important deadline to file motions for defense lawyers of the five Guantanamo Bay prisoners charged in the September 11^th attack on Friday. Dozens of riot police cleared the last remaining Occupy encampments in the…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 9, 2012 at 8:57pm — No Comments

This Week in Asian Conflict... February 1st-8th, 2012.

Officials in China clamed separatist plots to attack police and public buildings for clashes that recently led to Tibetan deaths on Wednesday; while residents of a small southern village held a symbolic election that…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 8, 2012 at 11:56pm — No Comments

This Week in African Conflict... January 31st-February 7th, 2012.

The West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) will be launching its new book, “Election Dispute Management Practice Guide for West Africa” on February 14^th, 2012 at the Grand Mensvic Hotel, in East Legon, Accra, Ghana at 9am. The keynote speech at the launch will be delivered by Sierra Leone’s Chair of the Electoral…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 7, 2012 at 9:13pm — No Comments

This Week in the World of Conflict... January 30th-February 6th, 2012.

The University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies is running its 4^thAnnual Summer Institute for Faculty in Peace Studies Program Development from June 10-15, 2012.
Twitter defended its recently announced…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 6, 2012 at 6:31pm — No Comments

This Week in European Conflict... January 25th-February 4th, 2012.

The Council of Europe Commission for Human Rights warned this week of rising racism and xenophobia in Europe amid the current economic crisis, with austerity budgets undermining social rights and putting vulnerable groups at greater risk. On Wednesday, British PM Cameron…

Continue

Added by Rebecca Sargent on February 5, 2012 at 2:32pm — No Comments