The possibility of legally terminating a pregnancy is one of the issues for which women, particularly the feminist movement, have fought hard over the years. These struggles have meant that today in Europe almost all countries have legalized abortion. There are only 6 countries where the laws are highly restrictive: Andorra, Malta, San Marino, Liechtenstein, … Continue reading The Evolution of Attitudes Toward Abortion in Post-Communist Croatia
Articles
On Socially Acceptable Activism and the Deradicalisation of Taking the Knee
One of the main talking points of the belated 2020 UEFA European Football Championship was the involvement of footballers in coordinated anti-racist protests by taking the knee before the beginning of each match. Notably, the English football team’s decision to protest racism was met with disapproval by a fraction of their own supporters, who decided … Continue reading On Socially Acceptable Activism and the Deradicalisation of Taking the Knee
Police Brutality Italian Style
The spring of 2020 was the barycenter of the first major COVID-19 wave for most countries around the world. It was also a global intersection of social upheaval and unrest, the most representative being the protests in Minneapolis against systemic racism in the US, spurred by the murder of civilian George Floyd at the hands … Continue reading Police Brutality Italian Style
A Glass of Shampanskoye- Don’t You Forget About the Tsar
As a new Russian law changing the labelling of French bubblies went into effect last month, one must not forget the real message sent by the Kremlin: Putin is still able to get into Western leaders’ heads. Figure 1:Photograph: Itar-Tass/Alamy To the dismay of oenologists and oenophiles around the world, the Russian government decided to … Continue reading A Glass of Shampanskoye- Don’t You Forget About the Tsar
The Planet is Running out of Time and Greenland Reminds us of This
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has left no doubts on the fatal outcome of climate change if there is no decisive change of course to the current situation. Little progress has been made with regard to CO2 emissions and air quality, but unfortunately improvements will be slow, and it will take decades to … Continue reading The Planet is Running out of Time and Greenland Reminds us of This
Liberticidal Media Law Shakes Poland
Poland’s political scenario has recently been shaken by the ruling party's, Law and Justice (PiS), controversial new law on media funding and ownership. In mid-July, Law and Justice MPs submitted to the parliament (Sejm) a bill aimed at amending the existing Broadcasting Act in order to forbid entities from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) … Continue reading Liberticidal Media Law Shakes Poland
EU Digital Green Certificate Implementation and Privacy Concerns in the Italian Context
This 1st of July saw the adoption of the EU Digital Green Certificate, introducing Europe-wide rules relating to the freedom of movement of both EU and non-EU citizens in the European area during the current pandemic crisis. The EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate Framework legislation is specifically comprised of Regulation EU 2021/953 and Regulation EU 2021/954. … Continue reading EU Digital Green Certificate Implementation and Privacy Concerns in the Italian Context
The Spread of Atheism and Irreligiosity in the Middle East
The Middle East, in the collective imagination, represents an area of the world characterized by great religious fervor. It does not only govern the individual, but influences every aspect of public life. The Muslim countries of the MENA region are characterized mostly by religiously repressive states and secularly repressive states in comparison to other parts … Continue reading The Spread of Atheism and Irreligiosity in the Middle East
How Much MSP Does A Farmer Need?
When Rihanna tweeted, "Why aren't we talking about this?!" with the hashtag #FarmersProtest - the world was introduced to the biggest farmers' protest in recent history, and possibly all history.
The Effects of the Pandemic on Women in Croatia
The pandemic in Croatia had very important negative effects, both on the economic level, where it caused one of the biggest GDP contractions in Europe, and on the social level. Complicating the situation further, during the two major waves of the virus, were the earthquakes of April 2020 and December 2020. However, the pandemic had … Continue reading The Effects of the Pandemic on Women in Croatia
Reassessing US Grand Strategy – Part 1: The Current State of US Grand Strategy
This is part one of a mini-series attempting to grapple with US grand strategy and the potential need for its re-assessment. The goal of this series is to introduce readers to grand strategy, ideally prompting more to grapple with US grand strategy and grand strategy more broadly. The author is fleshing out their own ideas, … Continue reading Reassessing US Grand Strategy – Part 1: The Current State of US Grand Strategy
The Declaration of Matera: A Call to Action on Food Systems in the Pandemic
On 29th June 2021, the Italian city of Matera, famous for its Sassi named UNESCO World Heritage site, has hosted the meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers of G20, the international forum that brings together the world’s major economies since 1999. In addition to this meeting, for the first time in G20 history, a joint session … Continue reading The Declaration of Matera: A Call to Action on Food Systems in the Pandemic
A Jesuit Priest’s Travails Under ‘Democracy’ in India
This article deals with the travails of an octogenarian political prisoner in India under the draconian UAPA. It describes how the UAPA and other such laws have degraded the state of democracy in India
Manipulation of Public Consciousness as a Strategy in Information Wars
Scientia potentia est (knowledge is power), so goes the famous Latin saying. This is particularly true in the 21st century, where knowledge and information are currencies with ever-appreciating value. But like any other instrument of power, knowledge can be manipulated as either a force for good or a dangerous weapon. Exploiting information and psychological manipulation … Continue reading Manipulation of Public Consciousness as a Strategy in Information Wars
What Climate Neutrality Expects by 2050 in the EU
The G7 summit in Cornwall, United Kingdom has just ended and has laid the groundwork for the most important environmental objectives, although the transition towards a greener world may be a slow process. Among the many topics on the table, world leaders gathered to discuss the loss of biodiversity resulting from environmental and human related … Continue reading What Climate Neutrality Expects by 2050 in the EU
Breaking Away from Environmental Classism: A Case for Vehement Eco-Socialism
Although the conversation on the imminent threat of climate catastrophe has been gradually intensifying and expanding across diverse public and private sectors, one collective voice remains missing from the public debate — that of the poor. Often being portrayed as uninterested and/or undereducated in relation to environmental matters, those at the lowest ends of the … Continue reading Breaking Away from Environmental Classism: A Case for Vehement Eco-Socialism
The 11th Commandment – Thou Shalt Not Know
RTI empowers people to ask questions, fight corruption, and hold the government accountable. The current establishment is stopping us from asking for information, deciding for ourselves, or advocating our choices. The Supreme Leader is strangling the voice of the nation, and we are letting him.
Wartime Rape in Bosnian War
After Tito's death in 1980 and the subsequent dissolution of Yugoslavia, the region was shaken by a bloody civil war, which began in 1992 and ended in 1996. The conflict, which heavily involved the civilian population, highlighted the pre-existing tensions between the newly formed republics (Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian) which were led by strong nationalist … Continue reading Wartime Rape in Bosnian War
Main Agreements Reached at The G20 in Rome Point by Point
Saturday the 30th of October 2021 marked the start of the G20 Summit in Rome. Key issues on the agenda included climate change, global tax, vaccines, and tariffs —all complex and decisive questions that the Groupe des Vingt had to negotiate on a tight deadline. Let us take a look at the G20 Rome Leaders' … Continue reading Main Agreements Reached at The G20 in Rome Point by Point
Environmental Issues and Society: How Environmental and Societal Issues Affect Human Life
Without self-understanding, we cannot hope for enduring solutions to environmental problems, which are fundamentally human problems.- Yi-Fu Tuan Environmental issues are at par with social issues since social disparity connects both. This is because social position decides to what degree an individual can cope with environmental-related issues. For instance, in the State of Gujarat in … Continue reading Environmental Issues and Society: How Environmental and Societal Issues Affect Human Life
‘Pardon Impossible to Execute’: Death Penalty Debates
October 2021 marked the 40th anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in France. It was a significant milestone in the country’s history that transformed the legal justice system and generated a lot of public interest and debate in France and elsewhere in the world. This topic continues to attract significant attention, as most … Continue reading ‘Pardon Impossible to Execute’: Death Penalty Debates
There’s Something about Karen
The popularity of names comes and goes. Some stand the test of time and remain firm favourites, while, as tastes and influences change, many are confined to a few generations. Celebrities, royals, sports stars, religious figures, and the rest often provide sparks of creativity for the greater population in naming their children. Commonly gestures of … Continue reading There’s Something about Karen
What We Expect From Cop26
The UN Climate Change Conference will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, from October 31st to November 12th 2021, following its postponement in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This conference is expected to inspire climate action and to translate their words into meaningful change for future generations. In an effort to further push states … Continue reading What We Expect From Cop26
Pandora Leak
Last week the ICIJ released the largest data leak known to date, exposing some of the most lucrative deals and covert assets in the world. This has been the largest-known collection of leaked offshore data in history and it targets the world's richest and most powerful people. Known as the Pandora papers, the leak includes … Continue reading Pandora Leak
Why Biden’s New Southeast Asia Foreign Policy is Easier Said Than Done?
The high-profile visit of the U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to Southeast Asia came to an end. Harris concluded her trip to Singapore and Vietnam with what seemed empty promises and left the international audience somehow bewildered regarding the U.S. administration’s foreign policy for Southeast Asia. Security and defense have traditionally been the main objectives … Continue reading Why Biden’s New Southeast Asia Foreign Policy is Easier Said Than Done?
EU Digital Covid Certificate Implementation in the European Context
On July 1st, the EU Digital Covid-19 Certificate came into force, introducing Europe-wide rules concerning the freedom of movement of both EU and non-EU citizens in the European area in the context of the current pandemic. This certification, also called the 'Green Pass' or 'Vaccine Passport', has the joint aim of facilitating free movement within … Continue reading EU Digital Covid Certificate Implementation in the European Context