In this article, Dr Maggie discusses for Alochonaa the failure of the current education system to educate students for life. It discusses what this failure means for students lives and their futures. Dr Maggie argues for ‘life education’ to become a permanent feature of every curriculum in all schools and universities globally.
Liberalization of the global economy has lead to the increased size of the economy, but also the worsening of income equality. Nevertheless, Bangladesh has made major strides in improving public health and gender equality. This has allowed Bangladesh to become the World Bank’s favorite success story in recent times, as opposed to being relegated to a “basket case” in her early years.
The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed the Decade 2013-2022 as the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures building on the efforts in the UNESCO General Conference which had called for “the development of a universal global consciousness” based on dialogue and cooperation in a climate of trust and mutual understanding and for a “new humanism for the twenty-first century”. For Alochonaa’s new series on “Rapprochement of Cultures” Dr. Rene Wadlow looks at the creative efforts of individuals who built bridges of understanding over the divides of cultures, social classes, and ethnicity and created a foundation for the New Humanism. In this piece Dr. Wadlow reviews the life of Leopold Sedar Senghor, the former President of Senegal who in Wadlow’s word, “was a poet, a cultural bridge-builder between Africa and Europe, an active world citizen and world federalist.”
Contrary to the popular perception, Shafiqur Rahman argues that the Monroe Doctrine, a foreign policy framework pursued by the US president James Monroe, was not an imperialistic proclamation asserting dominance in the near neighbourhood. In his view, it was an anti-colonial and pro-liberty declaration by a newly independent and sympathetic America. A brief look at the doctrine’s history and motivation will be interesting to all international affairs enthusiasts.
The tragic Bali Bombing of 2002 caused the death of more than 200 people, injured many more and brought fear and economic hardship to the island paradise. Dr. Ahmedullah finds that the response of the Balinese people to this tragedy was very unusual, perhaps unique when compared to other places that have suffered from terrorism. Rather than adopting an attitude of revenge they chose to celebrate life, a choice which can only be explained by looking at their particular Hindu belief systems which are built on the philosophy of ‘Tri Hita Karana’. This philosophy encourages harmony between different people, between people and nature, and between people and God. How these ideas were applied in dealing with the challenges caused by the Bali Bombing is an imporant lesson for everyone.
Dr. Murray Hill, in this two part article considers the motivation and experiences of first generation Muslims in Europe and examines a range of sociopolitical and identity challenges faced by subsequent generations.
Alochonaa (Dialogue) 