Weekly roundup, April 3rd 2006
RELIGION AND POSTMODERNISM: French philosopher Andre Glucksmann writes: “Civilised discourse analyses and defines scientific truths, historic truths and matters of fact relating to knowledge, not to faith. And it does this irrespective of race or confession. We may believe these facts are profane or undignified, yet they remain distinct from religious truths. Our planet is not in the grips of a clash of civilisations or cultures. It is the battleground of a decisive struggle between two ways of thinking."
Glucksmann critises those who claim that there are no facts, but only interpretations: "These either tend toward fanaticism (‘I am the truth’) or they fall into nihilism (‘nothing is true, nothing is false’). Opposing them are those who advocate free discussion with a view to distinguishing between true and false, those for whom political and scientific matters – or simple judgement – can be settled on the basis of worldly facts, independently of arbitrary pre-established opinions."
BRAZIL-INDIA-SOUTH AFRICA: The cooperation between these three, democratic giants seeks access to - and more influence in - globalisation. The countries share the same social problems and the same aspirations. This article from The Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) examines trade agreements, labour movement cooperation and the work done to bring together the global, political ambitions of the three. Although the concrete achievements are lacking so far, the group has initiated research into the benefits of a single economic market. These types of south-south alliances between likeminded, democratic counterparts point to new ways of securing their interests, something that will create a more fair world market and a more “socially just” globalisation.
MIDDLE EAST: David Remnick wrote a nice piece on Hamas’ rise to power in a February issue of the New Yorker. In this interview Remnick discusses the situation in the Middle East. Also, read about the the brave Basra students’ initiative to stop the sectarian violence in Iraq.
NORWEGIAN LINKS: Unge Venstre, the youth organisation of the Norwegian political party Venstre deserves credit for their work to expose the unfair Belarus election. A group of Unge Venstre activists under cover in Belarus have been vigorous in their efforts to deliver media reports from the demonstrations and the crack down on the opposition. The youth organisation did the same thing when it did an excellent job supporting the democratic movements in the Baltic a few years back. Also, Sten Inge Jørgensen at Morgenbladet has had done a good job at covering the Belarus election.
