December 2016 – The Global Communique

07DecDecember 7, 2016

LESSON FROM INDIA’S DEMONETIZATION: RUSHING FOR “CHANGE”

Part I: The Rise of a “Radicalized” Citizenry It is at the least tricky and at worst dangerous writing such a piece when it is plausible that between now and publication, much of what the reader will read herein might change dramatically. Yet, this seems too important a phenomenon to be missed owing to what one may call ‘writer’s risk aversion’. By means of this word of caution, I, hereby, insure myself against this piece’s possible obsolescence in the days...

By Kartikeya BatraAsia1 Comment

07DecDecember 7, 2016

“I Am at the Bottom of the Pile … But Everybody Is Equal”: In Conversation with one of Oxford’s Street Artists

Interview by Mary-Jean Nleya This is the first article of this section referred to as ‘Grassroots Reporting’. In an effort to dismantle the silos and bubbles that plague society’s civil discourse; this section aims to gain insights from, and be in conversation with, those at the grassroots level. On the evening of Sunday, December 4, 2016, The Global Communiqué sat down with Ms. Carol – a woman who sits daily on one of Oxford’s streets – to discuss politics and politicians,...

By Mary-Jean NleyaAmericas, Europe, Grassroots Reporting0 Comments

07DecDecember 7, 2016

Africa’s Indecision on Female Presidents

The world had its first elected female leader in 1960 – Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike. Africa’s chance of an elected female president only came in 2006 when Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf contested in the presidential election and won. In 2015, Mauritius had its first elected female president, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, who was elected through a parliamentary vote. Out of nine female heads of state and government that Africa has had, only these two secured an actual vote to...

By Teresa Chirwa-NdangaAfrica0 Comments

07DecDecember 7, 2016

Open Letter to Those Who Live in Western Liberal Democracies & What 2016 Taught Us

Dear friends, How have we undertaken our democratic duties in 2016? In my opinion, some of our choices are questionable and will continue to be until generations in the future will have the benefit of hindsight to judge our decisions. I start by noting the Syrian humanitarian crisis where we have been mere bystanders witnessing, in our lifetime, the destruction of a country by an ongoing civil war. As a result of this war, the media releases images of dead and...

By Julian RodenbeckAmericas, Europe0 Comments

07DecDecember 7, 2016

Voting Bible

It was November 2008. Election season in the U.S. I was a sophomore at the University of Alabama – a public, state university in a region known as “The Deep South.” The South is often characterized by its religious devotion, so as a devout Christian it was not difficult for me to find a church to call home during my Alabama stay. One of the churches I frequented was contemporary in its architecture and culture. For instance, in the...

By Angel EverettAmericas0 Comments

Monthly Archives - December 2016