Pandemic-related lockdowns have had devastating effects on education systems around the globe. Overnight, everyone was required to go digital, exposing the gap between our fast-changing and increasingly digital world and the infrastructure under which education is delivered. While this issue is not new, the pandemic has emphasized its urgency. The need to transform educational systems…
By Richard Kinley, Georgios Kostakos and Harris Gleckman* With Joe Biden set to assume office on 20 January, there is great expectation at the return of the US to the multilateral fold, to reclaim its leadership position with active engagement on global challenges, notably climate change. All is well, then, and the world no…
Winter, as the coldest of seasons, where it exists, may be in danger because of climate change and resulting higher temperatures. But the winter that our souls have experienced over the past year has been powerful and chilling for the most part of humanity, the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere alike. In the magic forest…
Great sadness at the loss of a giant who touched my life in a unique way. In his long life, M. Cardin was met and fêted by countless celebrities, political leaders, royalty, and just about every “important” person. However, what always floored me was his belief that the Artist had the most important role of…
COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns worldwide have exacerbated one major societal issue, a pandemic hidden in the intimate sphere: domestic violence. Incidents of psychological and physical abuse are more frequent, more severe and more dangerous when people are obliged to stay at home, as the NGO helplines dedicated to combating violence against women and other emergency…
Political scenarios – negative and positive* Back in May, Georgios Kostakos and I published two articles (see them here and here) on the global and national responses to Covid-19, and its implications for global governance. The biggest impact, we said, will be determined by the responses of China and the US. In this article…
by Richard Kinley, Georgios Kostakos and Harris Gleckman* On 21 September 2020 world leaders will observe the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, mainly through the delivery of pre-recorded speeches and not physical presence in New York because of Covid-19. Is the UN going hybrid/virtual and transitioning to the next phase of its existence, or…
On this International Day of Democracy, we at Katoikos and FOGGS wanted to take this opportunity to discuss the Hexalogue and its connection to global democracy. While all six components of our moral framework are important to creating a new global narrative, two stand out as being particularly relevant to the day’s festivities. In order…
An Open Letter to Friends of the United Nations The only head of state so far committed to physically addressing the opening of the new UN General Assembly session is US President Trump. As the rules for COVID-19 allow only one of the six seats of each country’s delegation in the General Assembly Hall to…
This is the year of the UN’s 75th anniversary (“UN75”), basically 75 years since the end of World War II. It has been a turbulent 75 years. No new world war but a serious Cold War and many regional confrontations costing the lives of millions. When the UN was created in 1945 it had only…
