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F&O Weekend

Weekend reading on F&O includes a thoughtful essay on human security, a note on an American state’s dalliance with discrimination, and a disturbing allegation that criminal gangs are behind suppression of democratic reform in Hong Kong.     The Decline in Global Violence.  Expert Witness essay, by Andrew Mack (Public access) In the new Human Security Report, The Decline in Global Violence: Evidence Explanation and Contestation, global security specialist Andrew Mack examines the question: Has the long-term threat of violence — war, terrorism, and homicide —  been decreasing or increasing worldwide? For some, the answer seems clear. Many in the strategic community concur

Triads suspected in brutal attack on Hong Kong journalist

Today’s brutal attack on Kevin Lau Chun-to, a prominent journalist in Hong Kong, raises the specter of Chinese criminal gangs — triads — being called in to suppress campaigners for democratic reforms. An excerpt of international affairs analyst Jonathan Manthorpe’s  new column: There is renewed suspicion in Hong Kong that Beijing is using hit men from triad criminal gangs to attack outspoken advocates of freedom in its truculent territory, and to intimidate other campaigners for democratic reforms. The latest example of the Communist Party’s apparent use of triad thugs against troublesome opponents came this morning when Kevin Lau Chun-to, the

Dark North Korea

The dramatic photograph below, taken January 30 from the International Space Station, illustrates the stark difference between North and South Korea. NASA’s Earth Observatory site explains the dark zone on the image: Flying over East Asia, astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) took this night image of the Korean Peninsula. Unlike daylight images, city lights at night illustrate dramatically the relative economic importance of cities, as gauged by relative size. In this north-looking view, it is immediately obvious that greater Seoul is a major city and that the port of Gunsan is minor by comparison. There are 25.6 million

Monday

Launch a new week with a roundup of F&O‘s fresh work, and a visual snack for your break: Jim McNiven’s new column on the old economy: it’s gone, and there’s No Going Back. (Subscription) Research shows Wild Bees Catch Infections from domestic bees, jeopardizing food systems. (Subscription) In Roads paved with good intentions Chris Wood looks at standards in sustainability claims. (Subscription) Europe carries blame for Ukraine’s violence, contends Jonathan Manthorpe. (Subscription) The UN report on North Korea will land flat because of China’s role, predicts Jonathan Manthorpe. (Subscription) E. Kaye Fulton’s photo-and-word essay on a cold death, Winter Swan, is

F&O Weekend

This F&O weekend ranges widely: bringing wolves back from the dead to the role of 3D printers in killing industries;  greenwashing to Europe’s role in Ukraine’s mayhem; a eulogy for a Canadian swan to a macabre American hospital mystery. No Going Back. Column, By Jim McNiven (Subscription) When we read about the Great Recession of 2007-11, there seems to be an assumption on the part of commentators that as soon as the economy ‘turned around,’ we could get back to normal. That’s not how it is turning out — and that should not be surprising. There is no going back.

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