Senior forensic anthropologist Dragana Vucetic of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) works to identify the remains of a victim of the Srebrenica massacre [Dado Ruvic/Reuters] Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina – The violent breakup of Yugoslavia at the end of the Cold War left a painful legacy. It is estimated the conflict claimed over 100,000 […]
Austerity fight threatens Northern Ireland stability
Belfast’s Shankill Road is among the most deprived in the whole of the United Kingdom [Peter Geoghegen/Al Jazeera] Belfast, Northern Ireland – Political allegiances are hard to miss on the Shankill Road, a short drive from Belfast’s city centre. Red, white, and blue bunting and union flags line the street. Shoppers pass a peeling mural […]
UK elections and the shift from ‘tribal’ politics
The historic multi-party debates in the UK have rekindled political diversity [Reuters] Glasgow, UK – Some seven million viewers across Britain tuned into the first, and only, televised multi-party debate ahead of May’s general election. What they saw on April 2 was a stark illustration of how much UK politics has changed in recent years. Conservative […]
Britain’s Green Party surge
Once a marginal political player, the UK Green Party has growing popularity amid dissatisfaction with the majors. The Green Party is expecting to make gains at the United Kingdom general election in May [Getty Images] As 2005 turned into 2006 in London, journalist Natalie Bennett did what many of us do at New Year’s. She […]
UK communists and the fall of the Berlin Wall
Once a hotbed of left-wing agitation, socialists in Cowdenbeath still mourn the beginning of the end of communism. A November 1989 image shows people celebrating the opening of the border between East and West Germany [EPA] Cowdenbeath, Scotland – Twenty-five years ago the heavy thud of the Berlin Wall falling resonated around the world. The […]
Spain’s Catalans set to vote on independence
Catalans expected to turn out in droves on Sunday for what is now a ‘symbolic’ independence referendum. Support for independence has risen dramatically in what is seen as an attempt to curb Catalan power [Reuters] Barcelona, Spain – Sleep has been hard to come by in Barcelona this week – but not on account of […]
Rape allegations and IRA paramilitary justice
Group’s culture of summary justice is back in Northern Ireland’s spotlight after new sexual assault accusations. Mairia Cahill claims republicans tried to cover up her rape allegations against an IRA figure [Getty Images] Maintaining law and order in Belfast during the violent days of the Troubles – the 30-year-long conflict in Northern Ireland – was […]
Scotland’s new SNP leader takes the reins
Since she was 16-years-old, Scottish Nationalist Party’s Sturgeon has strove for independence from the UK. Nicola Sturgeon poses with supporters of the ‘yes’ campaign in Perth, Scotland in September [EPA] Glasgow, Scotland – When the Scottish National Party meets for its annual conference next month, members will have plenty to celebrate. Defeat in September’s referendum […]
Scotland’s ‘Borderers’ steadfast for ‘No’
Coldstream, Scotland – Jock Law is in no doubt about which way he is going to vote in Scotland’s independence referendum on September 18. “I’m against, definitely against,” the septuagenarian former soldier says, taking off his thick-rimmed glasses and shaking his head. Few are as passionate in their support for the union with England as […]
Scots rally ahead of independence referendum
Scotland’s Alex Salmond (L) and Alistair Darling (R) engage in a TV debate over independence [Getty Images] Coatbridge, Scotland – “Independence is forever. You can’t take it back if you don’t like it,” the lean, wiry-framed Jim Murphy proclaims on Main Street. About 60 people are congregated in a semi-circle in front of the Labour MP, who […]