Read all posts for ‘democracy’

In the old days Globalization was usually by means of mounted warriors, ships or explorers who roamed continents. At first they were driven by need, afterwards they did it out of greed and to some degree, out of curiosity. Settlers, travelers on mules and camel caravans, followed the warriors. Today we have […]

Urban revolution appears to be an appropriate term for the growing number of new social phenomena, from the recession to the Arab Spring. The protest actions of the ‘snow revolution’ seem to be far from being the only example in Russia.

In January 2011, after weeks of rain, I was filled with dread upon hearing that the biggest flood in over 35 years was expected to hit my hometown of Brisbane. On January 13 my fears were realised, as the Brisbane River peaked at 4.46m above sea level, flooding more than […]

One week before the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires the state of Victoria cooked like never before.  On three consecutive days in late January the temperature exceeded 43 °C / 109 °F, scorching an already desiccated land and laying the foundations for the worst bushfires in Australian history.  On the fateful day […]

Bombs, blood, broken lives – for decades such have been the headlines from  Mindanao, the southern region of the Philippines. This resource-rich area – now improverished by armed conflict, terrorism and corruption – has been presented in the media as a region in crisis. In December 2011 Mindanao hit the headlines […]