Independence from fossil fuels is crucial for human security

Nations today are faced with the Energy Trilemma; how to achieve energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability – at the same time. And transitioning towards renewable forms of energy is essential to achieve human security worldwide, according to Marie Stjernquist Desatnik at Naturskyddsföreningen (the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, SSNC). Image: A military attack on energy infrastructure. Photo by: Ecoaction.

Of: Marie Stjernquist Desatnik

The world's addiction to fossils fuel is the main contributor to the climate crisis, and it impacts peace and security worldwide. This was clearly demonstrated in 2022 by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But why is it so difficult for nations to move away from fossil fuels? Part of it can be explained by the so-called energy trilemma, according to Marie Stjernquist desatnik, Senior Climate Policy Advisor at The Nature Conservation Society (the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, SSNC). She I argues that ttransitioning towards renewable forms of energy is essential to Achieve human security worldwide. 

January 17, 2023, English, Guest analysis, Guest piece, Magazine

Infrastructure and climate adaptations promote women's work in Kenya

Diversification, i.e. having several different income-generating activities, is vital for many poor women in rural Kenya. Various actors should therefore take measures to promote diversification. That's what Ella Ihre, master's student in rural development and natural resource management at SLU, writes in a guest analysis. Photo: Ella Ihre. Location: Kitui, Kenya.

Of: Ella Ihre

The timing of have several income-generating activities have become an increasingly important survival strategy for women in rural Kenya. Improved infrastructure, climate adaptations and self-help groups can promote women's work and thus their own livelihood.

December 13, 2022, Guest analysis

Why conferences on climate change fail

Every conference on climate change creates a great deal of expectation and disappointment. But why do conferences on climate change fail? Daniel HB Gamez, master's student in International Relations at Linköping University, reflects on the subject in a guest analysis. Photo: UNclimatechange. Source: Flickr.

Of: Daniel HB Gamez

Despite the efforts by many to raise awareness on clime changer, for example by multilateral conferences, the fate of reducing global warming depends on the economic and political distribution of power on a global scale.

October 17, 2022, English, Guest analysis, Magazine, Opinion

Redirect the Resources of Oil Companies, Military Firms and Banks

Oil and military companies are two key actors both contributing to global warming. Together they have the scale of resources necessary for systemic transformation, writes Jonathan Michael Feldman, who works in the Department of Economic History and International Relations at Stockholm University. Photo: Pxhere.

Of: Jonathan Michael Feldman

Equitable global development requires that basic needs are met in communities safe from the worst effects of war global warming, pollution, poverty, and pandemics. Problems persist because we lack a systematic response - but we can gain that if oil and military firms causing problems are transformed into platforms for civilians, sustainable development through conversion and proactive investment campaigns aimed at universities and local investment actors, writes Jonathan Michael Feldman, who works in the Department of Economic History and International Relations at Stockholm University. 

June 30, 2022, English, Guest analysis

More and more people are suffering from obesity - in both high- and low-income countries

More and more countries in the world are faced with non-communicable diseases such as obesity - which is a contributing factor to, among other things, heart problems, diabetes and osteoarthritis. Pictured: A night market in Vietnam. Photo: Image by Sang Hyun Cho. Source: Pixabay.

Of: Frida Lindberg

More and more people in developing countries are suffering from obesity, which is fatal. The causes of the problem are poverty, unequal societies and dietary changes with increasing amounts of sugar, salt and fat. This leads to the so-called "double burden", where countries are allowed to work on two fronts - both against communicable and non-communicable diseases.  

June 23, 2022, Analysis

Will the war in Ukraine be the spark that will ignite a new revolution in Tunisia?

Tunisia has been in a serious political crisis since President Kaïs Saïed dissolved the country's parliament, and civil society organizations in Tunisia are following developments in the country with concern, says Carin Norberg, former head of the Nordic Africa Institute and board member of Civil Rights Defenders. Photo: Houcemmzoughi. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Carin Norberg

After a visit to Tunisia at the end of April, the image of a country in limbo emerges. The country is partly in a political crisis, partly in an economic crisis and the crises reinforce each other. Rising food prices and declining supply of wheat, which is a staple food in Tunisia, are therefore creating a very unstable situation ahead of the referendum on a new constitution announced by the president. It writes Carin Norberg, former head of the Nordic Africa Institute and board member of Civil Rights Defenders.

May 23, 2022, Guest analysis

EU invests billions in developing countries - seen as a challenger to China

The EU is investing billions in infrastructure investments in developing countries. The initiative is seen by many as a challenger to China's project "New Silk Road" - also known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Pictured: one of the terminals of a high-profile BRI-funded railway project in Laos, which was inaugurated two days after the launch of the EU initiative. Photo: Pakopakopapa. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Markus Hietanen

The EU promises multi-billion sums in infrastructure investments to developing countries under the heading "The Global Gateway". Many see the initiative as a direct challenger to China's similar giant project "The New Silk Road", while others question the EU's ability to compete with China.

May 6, 2022, Analysis

El Salvador's president is criticized for cyber espionage and currency change

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has been controversial during his tenure, and the introduction of Bitcoin as the official currency in the country has diluted this. Photo: PresidenciaSV. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Hanne Karlsson

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele is facing massive criticism and is increasingly mentioned as a dictator. This after the development during the past year that has been fraught with the removal of judges from the Supreme Court, changes to the country's constitution and the introduction of Bitcoin as the official currency.

May 5, 2022, Analysis

Invasion is always wrong - even in Western Sahara

Image from the documentary 3 Stolen Cameras, secretly filmed in occupied Western Sahara by Equipe Media in collaboration with RåFilm.

Of: Lena Thunberg

Russia's invasion of Ukraine rightly takes a large place in the media. But it must not make us completely forget about other wars and conflicts. One of them is Morocco's invasion and occupation of Western Sahara - which was blessed by former US President Donald Trump. This is what Lena Thunberg, editor of Tidskriften Västsahara, writes in a guest analysis.

April 19, 2022, Guest analysis