All The Monitor's View
- A special Christmas in Bethlehem
Visits to the holy Christian site are down, a result of renewed violence, but the restoration of a medieval church in Bethlehem hints at the message of light and peace needed to end the violence.
- A lesson for Europe in Spain’s startling election
The Dec. 20 election shook up Spanish politics with a youthful vote for two new parties. With nearly half of young people unemployed, a new government must show the rest of Europe how to reduce a fear of economic innovation.
- The Christmas message at work everywhere
With 1 in 122 persons displaced by conflict, the giving spirit toward strangers is more needed than ever. This Christmas, Christians will again reflect the generous spirit found in the humble coming of Christ in a manger. As one global survey finds, humility often drives giving.
- Africa outshines UN in protecting civilians
While the UN Security Council allows Syria to slide further toward sectarian genocide, the African Union acts boldly to prevent mass atrocities in Burundi – under the UN's own doctrine of ‘responsibility to protect.’
- The UN's faith in Libyan peacemongers
To reach a deal signed Thursday, the UN focused on people in Libya most interested in peace, not just the most powerful that rule parts of the country. This bottom-up approach, if it works, is a model in diplomacy.
- Pakistan’s self-reflection, a year after its deadliest terror attack
On Dec. 16, Pakistan marked the first anniversary of a Taliban attack that killed more than 100 children. The nation has since stiffened against militants, while some question the quick labeling of terrorists as ‘not Muslim.’
- The integrity at the heart of Brazil’s anti-corruption sweep
A few youthful and often US-educated prosecutors have unearthed Brazil’s largest corruption scandal by challenging a deep culture of impunity. They are a model for other nations also in need of honest governance.
- What Saudi women voting says of the Mideast
Given their first chance to vote, more than 80 percent of Saudi women showed up at the polls Dec. 12. The social trends that were behind the Arab Spring are alive and well, pointing to a different future in the Middle East than one of war and Islamic caliphates.
- Paris pact on climate change: What’s fear got to do with it?
Fearmongering took a back seat to other tactics during the Paris negotiations. The result: a universal agreement with historic goals relying more on trust, humility, and compassion.
- Coming clean on corruption’s links to pollution
A common link lies in VW’s emissions cheating and the air-quality alerts in China, India, and Indonesia. Arrogant dishonesty can lead to pollution. As VW now admits, leaders must learn to act with humility.
- Does Islamic State have a heart? Red Cross hopes so.
The international Red Cross is trying to persuade Islamic State to let in neutral aid workers to treat millions of civilians. The effort is part of a broader and needed effort to get all states and nonstate actors to comply with humanitarian law.
- In Venezuela, a need for magnanimity in victory
An election provides a stunning win for pro-democracy forces over a domineering ruler. Now Venezuela, with the world’s worst-performing economy, needs handshakes across a big political divide to make reforms.
- Obama’s call for Muslims to stand up
Among the president’s anti-Islamic State tactics is an appeal to Muslim leaders to assert an Islam based on universal values such as dignity, respect, and tolerance. Yet the US and Europe also must embrace these values to defeat all types of terrorism.
- A cool consensus emerges on global warming
Many nations, rich and poor, find it hard to end fuel subsidies. Several poor nations have made moves to do so while Europe plans to temporarily keep fossil fuel power plants in reserve. The Paris talks on climate change must build on this consensus.
- Protest, not numbness, in response to mass shootings
A rapid rise in mass shootings like the latest in San Bernardino should not lead Americans to resignation. Rather their search for a motive, the care for victims, and a debate over solutions instead reveal a protest for the power of good over evil.
- Diplomatic oil on Middle East's trouble waters
The region is in unprecedented turmoil, from Islamic State to Libya’s civil war, but almost as unprecedented are the attempts to negotiate the many conflicts.
- When nations step up for the global commons
From climate talks to the war on Islamic State, a few nations have lately shown greater global leadership. This wider embrace of humanity deserves notice.
- False promises in fantasy sports gambling
New York’s lawsuit against DraftKings and FanDuel forces the companies to admit how few people win in wagering on fantasy sports – contradicting their previous claims of winning.
- A test for motives in banking: ending bonuses
The new head of Germany’s largest bank challenges the financial industry by questioning the use of bonuses as a worthy incentive for providing service to customers. High finance needs more such ethical reflection.
- Italy's artful arsenal against Islamic State
The prime minister plans to spend $1 billion in shaping the ‘cultural identity’ of refugees from Syria and Iraq as a creative riposte to Islamic State’s destruction of art.