Reflection: Connection between religion and violence
The latest killings of Palestinian and Israeli civilians in the asymmetric war between Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Israel raises questions about the connection between religion and violence. Hamas emerged from the 1987 intifada as a religiously motivated break-away from Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organisation. Israel is the Jewish State. How much of what is […]
The Central African Republic: “Let’s start again together”
To recreate the social and interreligious fabric of a society torn by war, it is necessary to provide opportunities for people to meet, especially the youth, by means of formative and cultural activities. The young people try to mend what politics has divided since they feel part of a single people. “The most important thing […]
The Global South is in Debt Pandemic
Without a doubt, the Covid-19 pandemic represents the most severe developmental setback in recent history. But while the virus is still ravaging across the Global South, it’s not the only pandemic currently engulfing developing countries. In fact, a debt pandemic threatens to prevent them from achieving a meaningful – let alone sustainable – recovery. Between […]
The neighbourhood of the ‘witches’
In the north of Ghana, at Tamale, there are places where people who are victims of violence and superstition live. They are mostly women, usually elderly and widowed. Rather than rights or dignity, what counts for them is their ancient beliefs. The witch camps are far from the cities and communities, places where women accused […]
The Energy Charter Treaty: A New Threat to Africa
The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is an international treaty that came into force in the last decade of the last century. The ECT is a multilateral investment agreement signed by more than 50 countries and its main objective is to ensure the protection of investors in the energy sector, especially transnational companies operating in coal, […]
The European Union and the COVID-19 crisis in the poorest countries
Since April 2020, the European Commission has defined the EU strategy to support the fight against COVID-19 globally through an action plan called Team Europe, which combines and coordinates resources from the EU, its Member countries, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other EU financial institutions, in synergy with […]
Comboni Missionaries: “Africa is our home”
A total of one hundred and thirty years those three Comboni missionaries spent in Africa. Three devoted people of great faith and love for the people. Their motto was: ‘This is our home and here we will remain as long as there is life in our bodies.’ Comboni Father David Ferraboschi is originally from Italy […]
Mexico: Weaving Culture
Within the priceless cultural heritage that is preserved among the Indian peoples of Mexico and includes such important areas as language, rites and world views, pride of place goes to the production of textiles. Textile traditions characteristically reflect extraordinary cultural diversity. A journey among the indigenous peoples of some regions to learn about their rich […]
Africa’s New Debit Crisis
One of the most successful campaigns in the year 2000 led to debt relief for 37 of the world’s poorest countries. 20 years later, Africa is once again in a debt crisis, exacerbated by the pandemic. This new debt crisis has become a burning political issue. How did the crisis come about? How to deal […]
Protecting nature can lower risk of armed conflict, says conservation body
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), protecting and restoring nature can reduce the risk of armed conflict around the world. Over the last 30 years, countries have been more prone to conflict when natural resources like agricultural land and water become scarce or degraded, such as in areas where droughts are […]