On 29 of May, relatives of some of the people killed or missing in Mexico have met the four candidates in July's presidential poll demanding more commitment to end drug violence. Since the crackdown on cartels, figures show that around 50,000 people have been killed and 5,000 are missing. Ahead of the elections protests are intensifying against the ...

A controversial environmental policy has created serious concerns that a non-committal attitude of the U.S. to RIO+20 will prevent any meaningful outcomes. In times of presidential elections with two candidates – Obama and Romney- having different approaches to ‘green economy’, what are the chances that a position will be defined for the summit? ...

The global youth unemployment rate for 2012 shows an entire generation mummified by a lack of prospects. Phenomenon defined as “youth paradox”; a blooming generation - more educated than ever – but with 75 million unemployed young people scouring the labour market. Employment is not only the main source of financial independence but it is also a cr ...

A bomb targeting an unbending former interior minister killed 2 and injured at least 54 people in Bogotá. Rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are being accused by many. The guerrilla group recently manifested interest in ending the country's civil war, so why murder Fernando Londoño? Just how likely are negotiations with the ...

The deep economic crisis which is slapping the European Union has evolved into a social crisis with growing resistance to EU economic policies. The "European Spring" is rapidly paving its way across the continent. Social movements such as the Indignados with “slow impatience” are fighting for a drastic change, as the social activist Esther Vivas to ...

Colombia's main rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), is suspected of holding French journalist Roméo Langlois. The rebel group announced in February that they would no longer kidnap civilians for purposes of extortion, a pillar for the stability of Colombia that now seems to stagger.

On the occasion of the May day, Bolivian president Evo Morales announced the nationalization of the Spanish-owned Transportadora de Electricidad (TDE). A déjà vu; similar to the declaration of nationalizing Bolivia’s oil and gas reserves in 2006 to celebrate the international day of workers. If in that occasion banners called Morales the Bolivian ‘ ...

The world is a pretty unsafe place for citizens; and that’s more often because of economic uncertainty than terrorism or political extremism, according to Louise Arbour. Can the West do anything about that? Is it good that we are concerned about democracy? And how do we assess international interventions in regional conflicts? MO* put these qu ...

In April 2009, the European Commission promised to give priority to culture in development. Today, the Commission does not even mention culture anymore in its recent communication An Agenda for Change. What happened?

Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) saw their role in development finance increase significantly in recent years. However, their contribution to sustainable development is far from clear. A thorough assessment of their past operations is vital before governments decide to increase their role any further. This is especially the case ...

Tempting as it may be, it would be wrong to write off Europe as yesterday’s power. Europe still matters even though this is not the message some EU policymakers have been sending out to a watching world.

In spite of the efforts made by NGOs and the distribution of EU funds, Europe’s main minority is no better off than it was 10 years ago. A lack of appropriate supervision in Brussels, the corruption of local leaders and the indifference of national governments are at the root of the problem.