NATO turns 65 today! Watch this great video timeline: statedept: On April 4, 1949, #SecState Dean Acheson signed the most successful military-political treaty in the world. This treaty has been protecting citizens and keeping peace around the world ever since. Happy Birthday, #NATO! #throwbackthursday #NATOat65
thepoliticalnotebook: Spanish journalist Javier Espinosa and photojournalist Ricardo Garcia Vilanova returned home today after six months held captive by an Al Qaeda-linked group in Syria. Above, Espinosa greets his son Yerai on the Torrejon military airport in Madrid. Photo: AFP/Getty
Welcome to the 50th Sunday Smack! That’s right, the 50th! 🙂 How great that this one is the first Sunday Smack I get to write on my new laptop! Yes, that of course means I have no excuse anymore not to act on all my great ideas regarding this blog (and everything else). Minus two weeks, I have been doing this for a whole year. It is unbelievable, really, and I have to say I’ve really enjoyed every bit of it, it helps me keep my professional reading in order. I can only hope it’s also useful to at least…
It’s Earth Hour today! For about three years now I participate. Usually I take part in the official Earth Hour program somewhere, but this year I had a pre-scheduled program somewhere else. Still, I won’t be home at the time (20.30-21.30), so switching off will be no sacrifice. Will you participate? (Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
Happy Sunday Everybody! You may forgive me for citing various pieces on the very same topic again, but there are such exciting debates going on in international law circles these days that it’s hard to choose but a few. On Crimean Secession, Fairness and Self-Determination Great one about the numerous aspects and previous precedents to keep in mind when judging this case. The Precedential Value of the Kosovo Non-Precedent Precedent for Crimea I can see non-lawyers rolling their eyes right now, but this is actually well-explained in the post, worth checking out. Crimea’s Declaration of Independence This is another one…
united-nations: 22 March is World Water Day! Saving water saves energy; saving energy saves water — and both are crucial for reducing poverty. Find out what you can do to promote sustainable water and energy here.
halftheskymovement: Today is the International Day of Happiness! Find out more about this day and why it’s celebrated here.Â
Happy Sunday, People! With two days off of work I got my fine dose of sunshine and gardens this weekend, so I’ll be good with it, for a while at least. I also had a major computer malfunction in these recent days. Again. This time I really decided this dear to my heart, but more than 8 years old (!!) little thing has to go, and I will have to invest in a new and reliable for long term laptop. All that and I’ll leave you with what I thought were the must-reads of this week. Crimea and the Limits…
todayinhistory: March 15th 1848: Hungarian Revolution begins On this day in 1848, a revolution broke out in Hungary. There had been a growing reform movement which demanded change and provisions for those who had been most affected by the economic downturn after the Napoleonic Wars. Journalist Lajos Kossuth became leader of this movement, and pushed for democracy and civil equality in Hungary. As it stood, the Hungarian elites did not pay tax but only they had the vote – the system was in dire need of change. The Habsburg monarchs tried to suppress the movement by blocking its legislation and…
