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Monthly Archives: May 2018

Europe. The Tension of Being Young. Between Uncertainty and Responsibility.

The lives of many young Europeans are characterized by uncertainty. Sarah Prenger, president of the International Young Christian Workers movement, points out the personal and social consequences. Young people are more often employed with precarious working conditions than older workers.On average, a third of young workers in the EU in 2015 did not have a…

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Africa and ‘Gaudete et Exsultate’. In search for holiness.

Pope Francis has written a new Apostolic Exhortation on “the call to holiness in Today’s World”.  The Latin title “Gaudete et Exsultate” which translated into English means “Rejoice and Be Glad.” The words are taken from the Gospel of Matthew (5:12) at the end of the discourse on the Beatitudes. Father Laurenti Magesa, a Tanzanian…

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Indigenous Peoples’ Cosmo-Vision Advocacies For Nature.

Indigenous peoples’ views of nature are incompatible with the extractive model, which is based on excess and limitless profit-seeking that drives to prey on natural resources and threatens the future of all human kind. There is a real philosophical conflict between the western worldview and the cosmo-vision of indigenous peoples. Their cosmo-vision is often based…

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Kyrgyzstan. A Geopolitical Pivot.

Kyrgyzstan merits to be called a ‘geopolitical pivot’. It is a territory that, due to its geographic characteristics, occupies a central position in super-power rivalry. A landlocked country, it is prevalently mountainous and Tian Shan Range occupies 65% of its territory. To the east it borders on the Chinese province of Xinjiang, a highly strategic…

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Burundi. The May referendum: a “death warrant” for the Peace Agreement.

According to the opposition, the referendum would be a “death warrant” for the 2000 Arusha Peace Agreement and increase the risk of a civil war. The constitutional referendum scheduled for the next 17 May could prolong President Pierre Nkurunziza’s rule until 2034. If accepted by the electorate, those constitutional changes would enable the head of…

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People Power and Political Transitions in Africa.

The phenomenon of people power and political transition, and how it happened in Zimbabwe and South Africa of recent. Which lessons we draw from these cases. Political pundits are amazed at the strength of citizens’ influence and people power in framing the future political landscapes in many countries across Africa these past few years. This…

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DR Congo. The Commitment of the Church to the People.

A sound formation, pastoral competence, a political vision and single-mindedness are the distinctive traits of Mons. Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, the new coadjutor bishop of Kinshasa.   The appointment of Mons. Fridolin Ambongo Besungu as coadjutor Archbishop of Kinshasa alongside Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo, resulted from the desre of Pope Francis to lend them his support in…

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Tortoise and the Baboon.

0ne evening when the tortoise was crawling slowly home, he met the baboon on his path. “Hello, old fellow – said the baboon heartily – Have you found much to eat today?” “No – replied Tortoise  -. Very little indeed.” The baboon danced up and down, chortling with laughter at an idea which had just…

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Tajikistan. Great Power Interests.

Tajikistan, situated at the heart of central Asia, was a transit area crossed by caravan trails between Europe and China. The country borders Afghanistan to the south; China to the east (the Xinjiang region); Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to the north and again Uzbekistan to the west. The territory is mostly mountainous, closed between the Turkestan…

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FIFA World Cup/Africa. The Road to Russia.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia will be the greatest sporting show on earth this year. Between 14 June to 15 July, 32 team will make billions of people dream, enjoy and weep. Africa will be represented by five nations.   Because of the political and military involvement in different areas around…

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Central Asia. A Great New Game.

The region of Central Asia, because of its geographic location, has always been considered a historical place of interest for, and of confrontation between, the great powers, as well as the stage for the famous ‘Great Game’ between the British and Russian Empires. Following the implosion of the Soviet Union that led to the independence…

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Advocacy

Rajagopal. Towards a dignified life.

As Gandhi's heir, he brought the method of non-violence to the conflicts of youth gangs and peasant marches for land rights. In May he was…

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Baobab

Aborigine Myth. The creation of the world.

A long time ago, Yhi, the goddess of the Sun, created the animals. She brought them to life by removing them from the icy depths of…

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Youth & Mission

Pope to WYD participants: Lisbon 2023 a chance to grow…

Pope Francis has sent a video message to young people registered for World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, on 1-6 August, and urges them to prepare…

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