Avoid force with North Korea, Invest in research in Africa, Bermuda parties' different campaigns, An ally's help for Taiwan, More vegetables for everyone

A roundup of global commentary for the Aug. 21, 2017-Aug. 28, 2017, weekly magazine.

Global Newsstand

The Jordan Times / Amman Jordan

Avoid force with North Korea

“[T]he UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution imposing additional sanctions on North Korea, after Pyongyang carried out two intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests...,” states an editorial. “US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley insisted that the resort to force against North Korea is not off the table yet, at least in theory. The use of force against Pyongyang is not an advisable policy.... As long as Kim Jong-un is not explicitly threatening any country with his missile arsenal, there is no real pressing justification for the resort to force and a devastating war.”

Daily Monitor / Uganda

Invest in research in Africa

“The world is transitioning rapidly to the knowledge economy, but Africa is once more lagging behind,” writes Wilber Sabiiti. “Research is by far the most important driver of new knowledge and innovation.... I took interest in Uganda’s 2017/18 national Budget and found out that the word research was mentioned only [a] few times and there was no clear amount allocated to research.... Our national budgets should demonstrate that we are able to boldly face our challenges by finding and implementing solutions with or without the hand of external donors.”

The Royal Gazette / Hamilton, Bermuda

Bermuda parties' different campaigns

“[T]he story of the 2017 Bermuda election was, in large measure, a tale of two radically different approaches to election campaigning,” states an editorial. “The One Bermuda Alliance ran a determinedly establishment campaign, one that was the political equivalent to fighting the next war with the outmoded tactics of the last one. By way of contrast, the [winning Progressive Labour Party] campaign was far more unconventional, mobilising the energy and enthusiasm of a standing grassroots army of supporters through a combination of digital strategies and boots-on-the-ground organisational savvy.... But by so successfully marrying new technological capabilities with old-school political organising and the mechanics of voter turnout, the PLP did go into the election with some reason to believe this tale of two campaigns might well end in a best-of-times scenario for itself....”

The News / Mexico City

An ally's help for Taiwan

“Taiwan has had a rough year...,” writes Thérèse Margolis. “Currently, only 19 nations and the Vatican officially recognize the sovereignty of the Republic of China (ROC), which Mainland China considers a renegade province.... [T]hings began to look up for Taiwan when Paraguay – the island’s only diplomatic ally in South America – tossed [Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen] a political lifeline in the form of a three-day visit by its president, Horacio Cartes.... Paraguay’s outstretched hand of friendship was a brave show of support and set an example for the island nation’s other allies to stay strong and help Taipei weather the storm of diplomatic assaults from Beijing.”

The Guardian / London

More vegetables for everyone

“In the last few decades, meat production has intensified and become big business for the agrochemical industry,” writes Callum Roberts. “Animals have been moved indoors into crowded feedlots where they are fattened on corn and soybeans grown, ironically, on the rangeland the animals vacated. Cropland is eating into the remaining prairie.... Crops grown to supply meat production consume vast quantities of fertilisers, herbicides, fungicides and pesticides, much of which wash into streams and rivers, and then downstream to the sea.... Industrial agriculture and our diets must change if the world is to prosper. By eating more vegetables and less meat, reared outdoors in humane and sustainable ways, we would all be better off.”