Chaos in France is headlined around the world. The protests began with a strike of secondary teachers over conditions in schools and teacher shortages. Students joined; violence broke out in front of many schools. Principals and teachers…
CHAOS OR ORDER? The impact of major global changes over the last 12 months were evident at the 2026 edition of the Athens Democracy Forum this week.[i] A year ago, the Forum organisers had the foresight to…
HARD REALITIES CONFRONT DEMOCRACY AS WE KNOW IT … …as the UN Charter’s goal of nations united for peace crumbles
Attending the Athens Democracy Forum this week, with the theme: “New Visions for Hard realities”. Fascinating and stimulating opening session. Welcomed by the Democracy and Culture Foundation President, Achilles Tsaltas (with a hint of an Aussie…
La vision des Nations Unies est remise en question comme jamais auparavant depuis sa fondation il y a 80 ans. On assiste à un retour aux luttes de pouvoir d’une époque révolue, au XIXe et au début…
Bérengère Primat with John Riddell Well known South Australian journalist and former 7 News anchor John Riddell and his wife Heather were fascinated to discover the Foundation Opale dedicated to Australian…
VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE The tragedy of the war in Gaza – and beyond In Davos 20 years ago I met Shimon Peres, at that time Leader of the Opposition in Israel. The World Economic Forum (WEF)…
A pathfinder for civil society’s role in a turbulent world How the world has changed in 75 years! So has the nature and role of civil society. When governments founded the United Nations in 1945, they adopted…
At the year-end ceremony of my final year of school, I was awarded the General Prize. It was Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Working over the summer vacation as a roustabout on a sheep stud farm in…
Why so many people feel “There is nothing for you here.” Fiona Hill served as an advisor to three US Presidents. She wrote “There is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-first Century” after leaving…
Last week I was privileged to participate in a global online discussion to mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of Education International. EI has almost tripled its membership – to 32 million teachers and other education…
Readers of Dancing Before Storms: the story of five revolutions often ask: ‘where do you think the next revolution will start?’. A few weeks ago, I thought ‘probably Russia’. Wagner’s thuggish frontman said so publicly. Then came…