Happy Sunday and happy World Book and Copyright Day! Isn’t this a great occasion for some Sunday reading? I hope you can take some time for that. This has been a busy and interesting week with winter returning to Central Europe (that may or may not be blamed on climate change), ongoing protests in Hungary and elsewhere and of course today’s elections in France. Now let’s do some reading! Referendum Results Risk Further Polarization in Turkey Last week’s referendum is the latest sign that Turkey is moving towards a dangerous direction. ‘Terrorism’ at the World Court: Ukraine v Russia as…
united-nations: Climate action is unstoppable and will benefit ALL of us. On Saturday’s International Mother Earth Day, see how the United Nations is tackling climate change – and what you can do help: http://j.mp/23TJ0LH
Happy Easter, Everybody! I hope you are having a peaceful and relaxing holiday weekend, whether you celebrate Easter or not. As you might have heard, President János Áder signed the legislation making Central European University’s operations in Hungary impossible into law this week. Demonstrations in Hungary keep going on, now the aim is to get MPs to refer the law to revision to the Constitutional Court (and the whole regime to leave, while we’re at it). The demonstrators are mostly university students, protesting peacefully against this irrational, outrageous and outright stupid act of the government. Meanwhile, on Easter Monday, there will…
united-nations: It’s been 3 years since the world was shocked by what happened to the Chibok girls. It provoked global outrage at Boko Haram’s practice of abducting children. The reality is that thousands of boys and girls have been abducted in the crisis in the Lake Chad basin. They’ve been subjected to violence and loss that no child should ever know. – There is a 300% increase in suicide attacks using children in NE Nigeria compared to this time last year.– Girls who’ve been abducted by Boko Haram have endured unimaginable sexual violence.– Boko Haram have used 117 children in…
Happy Sunday! Destpite the very eventful week in world affairs, I would start again with something I (and many others) believe is an international issue, being an attack against democracy. You might have heard the law undercutting Central European University in Hungary has been adopted in spite of wide international protests. The protests continue, now the aim is to get President Áder not to sign the legislation. You can sign the petition clicking here. I am not sure whether any of this helps, but please do sign if you haven’t already and share with others! Now, let’s get to all…
united-nations: Friday is the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, marking 23 years since the start date of the genocide in which more than 800,000 people were systematically murdered over a period of just 100 days. The vast majority of victims were Tutsi, but moderate Hutu, Twa and others were also targeted. Hear from survivors and find out about efforts to raise awareness and prevent genocide here: http://j.mp/IRUtQ8 And most important of all: let’s not let Rwanda happen again!
Happy April, Everybody! There is wonderful spring weather in Hungary these days, I hope you are also somewhere enjoying spring. There was also wonderful spring weather in London during the short time I have spent there this week, the highlight of which I already shared in a previous post. It was my first time there since the Brexit referendum (las time I visited just a week before that), so I was curious whether anything has changed. I have to say I haven’t noticed anything. The media of course was full of Brexit reports on March 29, but other than that,…
On Wednesday, 29 March I had the great pleasure to attend the event Accountibility: International crimes in Syria and Iraq organized by Chatham House in London. The event was held in memory of the late John Jones QC, with the co-organization of Doughty Street Chambers, and the chair of the event, Elizabeth Wilmshurst revealed plans to make this an annual gathering with worthy topics. First up to speak a few words about Mr. Jones was one of his former colleagues, head of Doughty Street International, Steven Powles. Then the floor was taken by the panelists to talk about what can…
united-nations: Here’s a list of 10 ways the United Nations makes a difference in the lives of millions of people every day. Find out more: http://bit.ly/1PMffVk
Happy Spring, Everybody! This week was yet another sad reminder of the times we live in now. I am leaving for London just this coming week for a short trip (more on this later), and what happened on Westminster Bridge made me think about a lot of things. It is easy to say that we are not going to be frightened (we are not!), but harder not to think I could have been there on the bridge at that very moment. Or not to think whether it is just statistics, like there are so many people in a city like…
