All The Monitor's View
Britain’s audit of injusticeA society’s first step to reduce inequality is to make sure government provides services without bigotry. Britain’s new prime minister is trying a novel approach: an audit of government injustice.
How humility won Colombia’s peace dealAs Colombians prepare to vote on a carefully crafted peace proposal that would end a long war, they must remember how each side in the talks had to learn humility, helped along by a focus on those who suffered most in the war.
Muslims and Europe, swimming chic by chicBans in France on wearing ‘burkini’ swimwear only alienates Muslims. Europe must find better ways to encourage integration, not feed into Islamic State’s playbook.
A jihadist’s cultural redemptionA former leader in an Al Qaeda affiliate admits guilt – and regret – in a world court for destroying ancient artifacts in Timbuktu, Mali. His advice to jihadists: Save all of humanity’s cherished culture rather than destroy it.
Pulling kids from war’s rubbleGlobal reaction to children in conflicts – as soldiers, refugees, or among the injured – has improved as more nations presume innocence for the youngest and most vulnerable.
A new approach to ending terrorismIn a TV speech, Morocco’s king appeals to the millions of Moroccans living in the West to counter the false arguments of Islamic State that might appeal to disaffected young Muslims and lead them to violent acts.
Fishing for peace in Asian watersA court ruling against China’s claims on islands has helped fuel military tensions in Asia. To get off the path to conflict, the region must pursue its common interests, starting with fisheries.
Kids today, what do they know? Turns out, a lotFewer young people are engaging in risky behavior than only a quarter century ago. Why this moral shift in the next generation?
Who says voters are ‘polarized’?A study of voters who read news articles about political polarization finds they tend to soften their views. Democracy relies less on division than a respect among fellow citizens.
Refugee team adds luster to the Olympic idealTen athletes forced to flee their homelands have sent an inspiring message to the world
Feeding and clothing ourselves wiselyHuge amounts of water, chemicals, and fuel are used to produce food and clothing. Finding new ways to make better use of what has already been grown or manufactured conserves these precious resources.
Stepping up against religious intoleranceA State Department report says governments are tightening laws on religious observance. But it also notes encouraging cases where members of one religion have protected those of another.
Muslim-American women step forwardA rising Minnesota politician and a fencer at the Rio Olympics are changing public perceptions.
The National Parks at 100Americans agree that these special places hold immense value. But how to pay to preserve them remains a challenge.
Music can soothe a sultry summerJoining others in song or dance may lift one’s sense of well-being, a recent study suggests. So sing (or dance) on.
For Africa, a lesson about identity politicsVoters in South Africa gave the ruling African National Congress a sharp rebuke for presuming it can be reelected as the natural leader of the black majority. The ANC must return to Nelson Mandela’s goal of a nonracial society with equal opportunities.
What’s not a game in Rio OlympicsAs host to the 2016 Games, Brazil hopes to both rebrand itself abroad and improve its own society. The Games remain a force for good, and each Olympics leaves its own legacy.
A leap for Japan’s women – and its economyTokyo elected its first female governor, another sign of Japan’s slow progress to revive the economy by encouraging more women in the workplace.
Alabama can lead by rejecting a lotteryAs one of the few states without a lottery, Alabama may soon vote to start one as a revenue fix for a fiscal fiasco. Yet national data show lotteries are a tax on the poor. States can’t rely on faith in luck when they must invest in talent.
Britain’s answer to angry votersAs in the US election campaign, British voters showed their dislike of globalization in opting out of the European Union. Now a new prime minister seeks to restore trust in globalization’s prime agents: corporations.
