Could the Elections End Canada’s Carbon Capture? Published: 29 September 2015 Since taking office in 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has focused on turning Canada into an energy superpower. The strategy behind this is the proposed doubling of the extraction of oil from Canada’s bituminous tar sands, located primarily in the western province of Alberta.
The Dynamics of the Queer Movement in Turkey Published: 28 September 2015 The Gezi protests have energized the LGBTIQ movement in Turkey, giving it a sustainable boost. The history of the movement, however, began at the start of the last century at the latest.
Greek Elections 2015: Quo Vadis, Alexis? Published: 23 September 2015 Will the Greek crisis return? Will Tsipras be able to stave it off? The road to national dignity is paved with good intentions and even better proclamations.
International Working Group: Thinking about a Common European Future Published: 23 September 2015 Press-Statement: Over the last two days (21/22 September 2015), civil society actors and think tank experts from Poland, Ukraine, Russia and Germany have met to confer on the crisis of the European security order and on ways out of the current political-military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
In Favour of a Solidary EU Refugee Policy Published: 22 September 2015 A special EU summit of heads of state and government will take place on 23 September. After years of neglect, however, a solidary EU refugee policy cannot be elaborated in summary proceedings and under pressure. A commentary by Eva van de Rakt.
An Energy Superpower Heads to the Polls Published: 21 September 2015 In the nine years under the Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada has focused primarily on its oil industry without regard for the environment and local populations. However, that line of reasoning is now losing its force.
Greece before the elections: “The old political system is in turmoil” Published: 18 September 2015 This Sunday, September 20, Greek citizens will go the polls for the third time in just eight months. While the refugee crisis in Europe has ousted Greece from the international headlines, the country’s political landscape is undergoing some deep and significant shifts. We spoke with Olga Drossou, director of our regional office in Thessaloniki.
Europe Must be Strong on Climate Risk at COP21 Published: 18 September 2015 If the EU is serious about an ambitious agreement at the UN talks in Paris, it must prioritise adaptation and resilience to climate risk in the negotiations, write Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung's Presidents Barbara Unmüßig and Ralf Fücks and E3G's Chief Executive Nick Mabey.
The Race to Lead Canada Published: 16 September 2015 Ahead of the 19 October election, there is a tight, three-way race to run Canada. The embattled incumbent - conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper – is running neck-in-neck with two contenders: Tom Mulcair, Leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) and Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Liberals.
The Refugee Crisis – Europe’s Humanity and Ability for Political Action on Trial Published: 16 September 2015 For Europe, the current refugee crisis presents a two-fold challenge: Will we uphold our humanitarian values, that is, do we view the refugees as people in need and with a right to a safe haven? And will the EU act as one – or will national selfishness erode European togetherness?
The Refugee Policy of the Visegrád Countries: “No one invited you.” Published: 15 September 2015 After images of Budapest’s Keleti train station illustrating the need for a fast EU assistance programme for refugees: the governments of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia reaffirmed their vehement “no” to refugee quotas.
Lecture and Discussion: 800 Years of Commons Published: 15 September 2015 David Bollier and Michel Bauwens of the Commons Strategies Group/P2P Foundation discussed the role of the commons and peer to peer production in meeting people’s needs and the many enclosures of the commons that are abridging their fundamental rights.
Europe and Its Refugees Published: 8 September 2015 After Danish Jews fled to their neutral neighbours in 1943 and Sweden agreed to offer temporary refuge to some thirty thousand survivors of the Nazi concentration camps, a country deeply averse to foreigners transformed. So can Europe today. An article of the "Berlin Anthology".
A Europe of Refugees Published: 8 September 2015 Europe has always been a continent of refugees und migrations. The debate surrounding how to deal with these challenges has only just begun. An article of our "Berlin Anthology".
Engagement for Refugees in Budapest Published: 7 September 2015 From my hotel room in Budapest at the weekend, I followed the images of Germany’s Willkommenskultur, the country’s policy and manner of welcoming refugees and migrants. They have now been granted permission to travel via Austria to Germany.
Budapest - Keleti Published: 4 September 2015 For four days now I have been in Budapest, a witness to a drama that I would have considered impossible in an EU capital not long ago.
“Modernity means more than having several luxurious shopping malls” Published: 31 August 2015 Turkey is undergoing a period of turmoil. An interview with Kristian Brakel, office director of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Turkey, about the recently announced snap elections, chances for reviving the peace process with the Kurdish PKK, and U.S.-Turkish cooperation in fighting the Islamic State.
“Chances to re-negotiate the deal are absolutely zero” Published: 24 August 2015 In the aftermath of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action a heated debate has erupted in the United States. Our interview with Barbara Slavin sheds light on the pros and cons of the nuclear agreement.
Democraturas are flourishing in EU's yard Published: 13 August 2015 At the panel discussion "Media (un) freedom in South Eastern Europe" on July 9, 2015 journalists from Bulgaria, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia reported on the highly critical situation of the media system in their countries.
“Everyone involved has to be part of local development” Published: 13 August 2015 Empowerment for women and youth is one of the main aims of the Moroccan association "The Human Touch". In this interview Fatima Ahouli, general secretary of the NGO, explains why it is so important to involve local residents in the planning of projects in the field of renewable energies.
From Transition to Transformation - Women, Peace & Security Published: 24 July 2015 Afghan Women have had a long journey in terms of their rights and socio-political participation since the Taliban downfall in 2001. As Afghanistan has just entered into a new decade of transformation, the main questions related to women, peace and security remain: What has been built to ensure women’s protection and participation over the last decade? And what strategic approach could consolidate gender equality in the decade to come?
Announcement - Anne Klein Women’s Award 2016 Published: 22 July 2015 We invite you to nominate candidates for the 2016 Anne Klein Women’s award. It honours women who courageously and perseveringly advocate human rights, equality and sexual self-determination.
The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2015 Published: 20 July 2015 Four years after Fukushima, global nuclear power generation continues to slow. This year's World Nuclear Industry Status Report takes a look at the current empirical facts and figures of the nuclear industry worldwide.
The Iran deal: The view from Washington and Teheran Published: 17 July 2015 Last week, negotiators attempted a final push for a nuclear agreement with Iran. While points of disagreement remained, both sides haven’t walked away from the negotiations. But what happens once both sides agree to a deal?
Time to tone down the rhetoric Published: 14 July 2015 In the heated climate of the negotiations between the Eurogroup and Greece, it is not enough to be right or win the argument. The German government in particular should take seriously the inflammatory resurgence of resentment it faces.
The Green Peace Dividend- Why Green Technologies Matter for International Security Published: 13 July 2015 Violent conflicts and security crises around the world have many different causes and effects. The vast majority of them, however, are in one way or another related to energy policy. Yet making this link apparent to policy makers has been challenging. Experts from the foreign policy, security and energy communities have been reluctant to fully grasp the security implications of promising green energy technology and market developments.
Viktor Orbán and the building of a new iron curtain Published: 13 July 2015 In June, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that his government would build a fence along the Serbian-Hungarian border to keep illegal immigrants out of the country.
Embraces Published: 8 July 2015 Frau Meiser doesn't know much about her lodger. Herr Nazim is clean and is neat. He speaks pretty German and his wife is dead. An article of the "Berlin Anthology" about a secret love.
Charité Published: 8 July 2015 Malika and Fatima are waiting for me by the entrance to the women’s clinic at the Charité. The women are very quiet; I try to strike up a conversation. I ask them how they lived in Chechnya... An article of the "Berlin Anthology".
Heroes Published: 8 July 2015 The true heroes of our world choose to flee, instead of pushing automatic rifles into the hands of their sons. A poem from the "Berlin Anthology".