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Monthly Archives: November 2018

India, Playing A Very Active Role.

In the context of the changes in power relations on the Asian continent, the movements of another power, India, merit particular attention to anticipate future scenarios. Often under-exposed by the media, New Delhi is showing itself to be playing an active role in the area, backed by its 1.3 billion inhabitants. Like China, India desperately…

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Oman, Small But Strategic.

The new centrality and strategic importance assumed by the Indian Ocean have unquestionably created competition based upon economic development and investment in infrastructure. This challenge, launched by the major powers of the area, has also been taken up by much smaller actors such as Oman, favoured by its geographic position that aims at increasing, in…

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Geo-Political and Geo-Economic Scenarios of the Indian Ocean.

The collapse of the Soviet Union has characterized the birth of new and important geopolitical actors establishing themselves both on the global scenario and in various regional contexts. The decline of American monopolism and the on-going crisis in European construction are, in fact, accompanying the progressive redefinition of new geopolitical balances with their centre of…

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The Shadow of Riyadh over Africa.

Saudi Arabian interests have an anti-Iran role in the war in Yemen;   “peace” between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the flourishing Jihadist militias on the African continent. Saudi Arabia is spreading its dangerous geo-political web also over Ethiopia and Eritrea. These two countries, after twenty years of conflict, reached an agreement on 9 July described as…

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Angola. ‘Terminator’ Lourenço Pushes For More Reforms.

More than one year after he was sworn in, the new Angolan head of state, João Lourenço has made sure that the men suspected to be corrupt do face trial. The list includes the son of his predecessor. But reforms go much further beyond. On the 24 September, the arrest of the former President José…

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Music. A marvel called Oud. The Joubran Trio.

A pre-Islamic instrument. Three brothers. Music that is a poetry, the heart and the patrimony of a people. Last October they launched their sixth album. The Long March At first sight it looks like a mandolin with a crooked neck. The oud is the chief musical instrument of Arabic music. It is a chordophone instrument…

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Oasis in all places or the happy sobriety.

An Amerindian legend says that one day, there was a huge wildfire. All the animals gazed at the disaster terrified, distressed and helpless. Only the little hummingbird was hurrying, going to find a few drops of water with his beak to extinguish the fire. After a moment, the armadillo, flustered with all the agitation, said,…

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Sticking with the ICC.

As the International Criminal Court (ICC) has marked the 20th anniversary of its foundation, the member countries are called upon to step up efforts to support the Court in the face of increasing challenges to delivering justice. But some African countries are currently threatening to leave the ICC. The Court’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute,…

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China, The Protagonist.

China may certainly be described as the more relevant protagonist in this change, finding itself having to try to contain America for the purpose of halting (or slowing) the progress of the Empire of the Centre. The economic power developed in recent years by the Chinese colossus is supported by a series of strategic infrastructure…

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The Synod on Young People: “Walking Together “.

The final document of the synod on young people has been just released. The document consists of 3 parts, 12 chapters, 167 paragraphs and 60 pages. The Rapporteur General, Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha, said that it is “the result of real teamwork” on the part of the Synod Fathers, together with other Synod participants and…

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Kenya’s LAPSSET Oil Corridor : Not Yet Born But Already Old.

The largest infrastructure project in East Africa is likely to become obsolete long before it is completed, but in the meantime those populations and territories involved pay the price because of it. The LAPSSET(Lamu Port-South Sudan-EthiopiaTransport) Corridor Program is Eastern Africa’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure project, which when complete, will link Kenya’s Lamu Port…

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Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky.

Along time ago the sun and the water both lived on the earth and were very friendly. The sun often paid a visit to the house where the water lived and they would sit talking together for many hours. But the water never came to the sun’s house, and one day the sun asked his…

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Advocacy

Samela Sateré Mawé. “Nothing for us without us”.

She is a leading voice among Brazil’s Indigenous youth. Her message is simple: Indigenous people must be involved in decision-making processes relating to the measures…

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Baobab

Unbreakable jars.

Once upon a time, there was a potter, honest and diligent, who made jars of excellent quality and many sizes. He was also a very religious…

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Youth & Mission

World Youth Day. “There's a Rush in the Air!”

The official anthem of World Youth Day is entitled “There's a Rush in the Air!”. We talk about it with Father João Paulo Vaz, author of the…

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