Chinese money sows European disunionApril 27, 2018Source: Nikkei Asian Review / www.asia.nikkei.com / Hiroyuki Akita / TOKYO — The roots of democracy once looked destined to spread worldwide. Yet now they are withering as one country after another veers toward authoritarianism. This is especially noticeable in Eastern Europe. And lest anyone in Asia consider it a distant …
Sudhakar Solomonraj: The last of the MohicansApril 27, 2018Source: Mumbai Mirror / www.mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com / By Ramu Ramanathan / His Wilson College colleagues, who share the staff room (not that he is oft-spotted in the staff room), say there is a mystique about Sudhakar Solomonraj. I noticed him for the first time at the Mumbai University when I used …
Lithuania, a new democracy, a new friendApril 27, 2018Source: The Columbia Star / www.thecolumbiastar.com / By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. / According to Lithuanian government figures, unemployment in Uzupio is 13 percent, 80 percent of the people are ethnic Lithuanian, the average age of the citizens is 65, 75 percent of the homes are privately owned, and …
An Armenian rhapsodyApril 27, 2018Source:The Christian Science Monitor / www.csmonitor.com / Spontaneous mass protests in the former Soviet state of Armenia have ended a deceitful power play by a longtime ruler to stay in office. In throwing off their fears, Armenians showed others in repressive countries how to ‘live in the truth.’ April 24, …
How To Make a Leader Step DownApril 3, 2018Source: Jstor Daily / www.daily.jstor.org / Farah Mohammed / President Xi Jinping has recently managed to abolish term limits, sounding alarm bells that China is about to return to strongman rule. What compels some leaders to discard the rules of the very systems that led them to power? Scholar Alexander …
Prague Spring 50 event to bring ‘world-class’ artists to Lincoln for commemoration of Czech historyApril 3, 2018Source: Lincoln Journal Star / www.journalstar.com / By Hana Muslic / For several months in 1968, before the Soviet-ordered Warsaw Pact invasion, Czechoslovakia experienced a short, sweet time of political liberalization under an authoritarian regime. This period was called the Prague Spring and, though the attempt was ill-fated, it instilled a …
Curtain rises on World Theater DayMarch 29, 2018Source: DW / www.dw.com / By Suzanne Cords / All the world’s a stage, and the world has stages all over. On March 27th, activities across more than 100 countries celebrate the importance and the power of the dramatic arts. 2018 is also a special anniversary year. The idea came …
What the Soviet bloc and the American South have in commonMarch 23, 2018Source: The Washington Post / www.washingtonpost.com / By Charles Lane / While he was still a dissident playwright living under a Communist system, Vaclav Havel produced possibly the most brilliant essay ever written on political oppression in Eastern Europe: “The Power of the Powerless.” This year marks the 40th anniversary …
How Modi government has trampled over ParliamentMarch 20, 2018Source: Daily O / www.dailyo.in / By Anshuman Tiwari / On March 13, in just 30 minutes, the Lok Sabha marked its stamp on the expenditure of 99 ministries and departments, passed two bills, including the Finance Bill, and approved 218 amendments without any debate. This is the height of …
City of VelvetMarch 15, 2018Source: The Nation / www.nationmultimedia.com / By Carleton Cole / A surreal smoothness infuses the history and heart of Prague with the power to delight, like a fairytale come true ONCE UPON a time – exactly half a century, to be precise – the audacity of hope bloomed in the …
Keeping Dissidents BusyMarch 15, 2018Source: Canada Free Press / www.canadafreepress.com / By Joanna Rosamond / Latif Yahia, Uday Hussein’s former body double reminisced that his imposed “employer” promised him and other torture victims to make them “happy”. No matter the continent or regime, political dissidents remember (and still hear…) an equally sickening threat: “We …
Joan Baez on her paintings of “Mischief Makers”March 13, 2018Source: CBS News / www.cbsnews.com / By Joan Blackstone / Joan Baez has long been recognized for her soulful voice. But at 77, she is also being recognized for another talent: painting. Last fall acrylic portraits by her were shown in an exhibition at the in Mill Valley, Calif. Titled …
Anti-immigration Czech President Milos Zeman attacks press in swearing in speechMarch 12, 2018Source: Deutsche Welle / dw.com / The pro-Russian, pro-Chinese and anti-immigration leader criticized journalists and opponents as he was sworn in for a second and final term. The 73-year-old Zeman may become even more outspoken as his career closes. Czech President Milos Zeman was sworn in at a ceremony …
Vaclav Benda and The Long Night of the WatchmanMarch 9, 2018Source: Ricochet / www.ricochet.com / By Flagg Taylor / I’m the editor of a recently published edition of the essays of Vaclav Benda called The Long Night of the Watchman. Benda, who died in 1999, was a central figure in the Charter 77 movement in the former Czechoslovakia. I met …
Opposition Cuban Graffiti Artist El Sexto Finds Ex-Wife, Daughter in HavanaMarch 8, 2018Source: Latine American Herald Tribune / www.laht.com / HAVANA – Dissident Cuban graffiti artist Danilo Maldonado, known as “El Sexto,” who arrived on Monday in Havana, has found his ex-wife and daughter there after three months of receiving no news from them, he told EFE. El Sexto traveled to the …
Chinese money sows European disunion April 27, 2018 Source: Nikkei Asian Review / www.asia.nikkei.com / Hiroyuki Akita / TOKYO — The roots of democracy once looked destined to spread worldwide. Yet now they are withering as one country after another veers toward authoritarianism. This is especially noticeable in Eastern Europe. And lest anyone in Asia consider it a distant …
Sudhakar Solomonraj: The last of the Mohicans April 27, 2018 Source: Mumbai Mirror / www.mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com / By Ramu Ramanathan / His Wilson College colleagues, who share the staff room (not that he is oft-spotted in the staff room), say there is a mystique about Sudhakar Solomonraj. I noticed him for the first time at the Mumbai University when I used …
Lithuania, a new democracy, a new friend April 27, 2018 Source: The Columbia Star / www.thecolumbiastar.com / By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. / According to Lithuanian government figures, unemployment in Uzupio is 13 percent, 80 percent of the people are ethnic Lithuanian, the average age of the citizens is 65, 75 percent of the homes are privately owned, and …
An Armenian rhapsody April 27, 2018 Source:The Christian Science Monitor / www.csmonitor.com / Spontaneous mass protests in the former Soviet state of Armenia have ended a deceitful power play by a longtime ruler to stay in office. In throwing off their fears, Armenians showed others in repressive countries how to ‘live in the truth.’ April 24, …
How To Make a Leader Step Down April 3, 2018 Source: Jstor Daily / www.daily.jstor.org / Farah Mohammed / President Xi Jinping has recently managed to abolish term limits, sounding alarm bells that China is about to return to strongman rule. What compels some leaders to discard the rules of the very systems that led them to power? Scholar Alexander …
Prague Spring 50 event to bring ‘world-class’ artists to Lincoln for commemoration of Czech history April 3, 2018 Source: Lincoln Journal Star / www.journalstar.com / By Hana Muslic / For several months in 1968, before the Soviet-ordered Warsaw Pact invasion, Czechoslovakia experienced a short, sweet time of political liberalization under an authoritarian regime. This period was called the Prague Spring and, though the attempt was ill-fated, it instilled a …
Curtain rises on World Theater Day March 29, 2018 Source: DW / www.dw.com / By Suzanne Cords / All the world’s a stage, and the world has stages all over. On March 27th, activities across more than 100 countries celebrate the importance and the power of the dramatic arts. 2018 is also a special anniversary year. The idea came …
What the Soviet bloc and the American South have in common March 23, 2018 Source: The Washington Post / www.washingtonpost.com / By Charles Lane / While he was still a dissident playwright living under a Communist system, Vaclav Havel produced possibly the most brilliant essay ever written on political oppression in Eastern Europe: “The Power of the Powerless.” This year marks the 40th anniversary …
How Modi government has trampled over Parliament March 20, 2018 Source: Daily O / www.dailyo.in / By Anshuman Tiwari / On March 13, in just 30 minutes, the Lok Sabha marked its stamp on the expenditure of 99 ministries and departments, passed two bills, including the Finance Bill, and approved 218 amendments without any debate. This is the height of …
City of Velvet March 15, 2018 Source: The Nation / www.nationmultimedia.com / By Carleton Cole / A surreal smoothness infuses the history and heart of Prague with the power to delight, like a fairytale come true ONCE UPON a time – exactly half a century, to be precise – the audacity of hope bloomed in the …
Keeping Dissidents Busy March 15, 2018 Source: Canada Free Press / www.canadafreepress.com / By Joanna Rosamond / Latif Yahia, Uday Hussein’s former body double reminisced that his imposed “employer” promised him and other torture victims to make them “happy”. No matter the continent or regime, political dissidents remember (and still hear…) an equally sickening threat: “We …
Joan Baez on her paintings of “Mischief Makers” March 13, 2018 Source: CBS News / www.cbsnews.com / By Joan Blackstone / Joan Baez has long been recognized for her soulful voice. But at 77, she is also being recognized for another talent: painting. Last fall acrylic portraits by her were shown in an exhibition at the in Mill Valley, Calif. Titled …
Anti-immigration Czech President Milos Zeman attacks press in swearing in speech March 12, 2018 Source: Deutsche Welle / dw.com / The pro-Russian, pro-Chinese and anti-immigration leader criticized journalists and opponents as he was sworn in for a second and final term. The 73-year-old Zeman may become even more outspoken as his career closes. Czech President Milos Zeman was sworn in at a ceremony …
Vaclav Benda and The Long Night of the Watchman March 9, 2018 Source: Ricochet / www.ricochet.com / By Flagg Taylor / I’m the editor of a recently published edition of the essays of Vaclav Benda called The Long Night of the Watchman. Benda, who died in 1999, was a central figure in the Charter 77 movement in the former Czechoslovakia. I met …
Opposition Cuban Graffiti Artist El Sexto Finds Ex-Wife, Daughter in Havana March 8, 2018 Source: Latine American Herald Tribune / www.laht.com / HAVANA – Dissident Cuban graffiti artist Danilo Maldonado, known as “El Sexto,” who arrived on Monday in Havana, has found his ex-wife and daughter there after three months of receiving no news from them, he told EFE. El Sexto traveled to the …