Posts
2021
Seven Ways to Create a Healthy Economy with Kate Raworth - Podcast
Economist Kate Raworth's 'Doughnut' model provides a visual framework for a healthy economy, outlining a safe and just space for humanity to thrive between its social and planetary boundaries.
Funding and Fiscal Responsibility of the United Nations
The following is an extract from UN-aligned’s new publication that highlights the shortcomings of the United Nations with details that cover its foundation, structure and monumental failures. You may be surprised at the murky facts that this book will bring to your attention.
GDP is an impostor, so why are we still using it to measure happiness?
GDP is not a suitable measurement for happiness or welfare. It sucks.
The Doughnut Economy: "humanity to thrive sandwiched between its inner and outer limits"
Over the last few centuries, economics has been dominated by a doctrine of perpetual growth. The prevailing idea was that there were no limits to how much we could exploit the earth and its resources.
Easter doughnuts: reshaping the global economy
Over the last few centuries, economics has been dominated by a doctrine of perpetual growth. The prevailing idea was that there were no limits to how much we could exploit the earth and its resources. Today we know better, but sadly, we still behave as though we did not. In this issue of The Gordian, we present to you the basics of modern economic theory including topics like, the Doughnut Economy, the dilemma of growth and the relationship between GDP and happiness. This issue contains exclusive reports by our literary editor, Alex Liberto and other contributors namely, Carla Pietrobattista and Ruby Goldenberg.
John Donne's No Man is an Island: Feeling a Oneness With Humanity
In today’s world besieged by isolationism, America First, Britain First, white supremacy, cyber bullying, homophobia, racism, vaccine tug-of-war, colonialist withdrawal symptoms (… shall I go on?) and the like, never before have the words of John Donne been more relevant; “No man is an island…”. In the age of Brexit, the very notion that every man is part of a greater humanity is a powerful assertion.
Taming The Governing Strategies of Ongoing Socio-Economic Development by Way of G-Localization
Ultimate goal and Foregrounding The aim of this reflection is to create favourable conditions for progress by mobilizing the intellectual, spiritual and material forces with a sense of belonging to one and the same human community. This requires finding new ways of living in society and of facing the future together.
A Powerful Panacea? The Sanctions Dilemma
“Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there! He wasn’t there again today, Oh how I wish he’d go away!” The above quote from Hughes Mearns’ poem, Antigonish, could so easily allude to sanctions. They are full of sound and fury, and yet, they signify nothing concrete, but rather an absence of something.
What is The United Nations General Assembly?
The following is an extract from UN-aligned’s new publication that highlights the shortcomings of the United Nations with details that cover its foundation, structure and monumental failures. You may be surprised at the murky facts that this book will bring to your attention.
News in February 2021 You May Have Missed
AFRICA 01.02.21: Somalia. Al-Shabab militants stormed the Afrik Hotel in the capital Mogadishu and started shooting at guests.
Photographer Anwar Sadat: “If you listen, people are always willing to talk”
On the 15th of February 2021, the 2020 UN-aligned photo competition winner, Anwar Sadat, tells us about the story behind his prize-winning photos and his love for photography. Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your love for photography? Well, my name is Anwar Sadat and I am a photographer based in Nairobi Kenya.
The 40th day of winter: Kurdistan Celebrates Pir Shaliar - in pictures
In the Kurdish city of Uraman Takht, the ancient Pir Shalyar festival marks a legendary wedding with roots in pre-Islamic Zoroastrian tradition.
To Sanction or Not to Sanction?
"Yesterday, upon the stair; I met a man who wasn't there! He wasn't there again today; Oh how I wish he'd go away!" The following quote from Hughes Mearns’ poem, Antigonish, could so easily allude to sanctions. They are full of sound and fury, and yet, they signify nothing concrete, but rather an absence of something. In this issue of The Gordian we talk about sanctions, what they aim to achieve and whether they are successful or not. This issue contains exclusive reports by Alex Liberto, Anahita Ahmadi and Ayten Aydin. To read this issue free of charge, click on the link below.
Religion that unites...
People with bigotted or selfish agendas have always tried to hijack religion, but there have always been spiritual adherents who have understood that kindness is paramount and they have highlighted the essence that unites us rather than the dross that divides us. Here are some inspirational quotes from a range of religious thinkers.
So You Have Been Called 'Laowai'? Here's What it Means
In Chinese, foreigners are often referred to as ’laowai’, a term that carries different meanings depending on context and perception. In this article, we shed light on the social and cultural aspects of language use.
"The Greatest Metaphysical Poet": Your Full Guide to John Donne’s Life, Career & Poems
Family background John Donne was born in London in 1572 to a relatively wealthy family. His father, who died when Donne was only four, was a successful tradesman and his mother, Elizabeth, was the daughter of the writer John Heywood. Both parents were Roman Catholics and were in obvious difficulty to come to terms with the newly established Church of England. Donne’s family, especially on his mother’s side, were persecuted for being Roman Catholics and for refusing to swear the Oath of Supremacy which acknowledged the English monarch as the Head of the Church of England. This is the general atmosphere in which John Donne was brought up. As a child he was educated privately by Catholic tutors and at the age of twelve he was sent to Oxford University. The reason for attending Oxford at such a young age was due to the fact that all students had to pledge allegiance to the Queen and therefore to the Church of England by the age of sixteen. Donne’s mother was naturally hoping that her son would obtain a degree before that age. However this did not happen and the young student was eventually compelled to leave Oxford without a degree.
"No, it's not just a snip": Why Circumcision is Legalised Child Abuse
Mutilating the sexual organs of a child (circumcision) in the name of culture, religion or dubious preventative medical claims is outrageous and a blatant breach of the child’s human rights. Female genital mutilation is thankfully on the decline and relatively rare in developed countries.
Understanding conspiracy theories and its victims in the golden age of nonsense
Guarded by some 25 000 troops, Joe Biden successfully took the oath of office. Earlier Mr Ex-President had taken off for Mar-a-Lago.
5 Times the Russian Orthodox Church Flouted Norms of Decency
Under the former communist regime, the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) was suppressed, its properties confiscated and its followers harassed and imprisoned. This was until a Messiah came along.
The Lingering Sins of Religion: When books weigh us down
Written in stone There are thousands of religions in the world today and many thousands more have come and gone. Many of these claim or have claimed a monopoly on truth relating to the divine and the moral, as well as to the rituals necessary to accompany a devout life.
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