AUTHOR'S BIO
Václav Havel et al
Václav Havel is a former president of the Czech Republic; His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism; André Glucksmann is a philosopher; Vartan Gregorian is President of Carnegie Corporation of New York; Mike Moore is a former Director of the World Trade Organization; Karel Schwarzenberg is a former foreign minister of the Czech Republic; Desmond Tutu is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Grigory Yavlinsky is Chairman of the Russian United Democratic Party, Yabloko.
| RECENT COMMENTARIES | FEATURED COMMENTARIES | MOST READ COMMENTARIES |
-
A Chinese Champion of Peace and Freedom
Václav Havel et al Series: The World in Words 
2010-01-18On Christmas Day last year, one of China’s best-known human rights activists, Liu Xiaobo, was condemned to 11 years in prison. For his bravery and clarity of thought about China’s future, Liu deserves the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize.... read Comments: 17 Recommended: 1 Read: 51649
-
Death in Lhasa
Václav Havel et al Series: Human Rights 2009-04-14
On April 8, following a closed trial, the Municipal Intermediate People’s Court in Lhasa sentenced two Tibetans to death for their role in last March's protests against Chinese rule. If China is to gain an international position of respect, it is vital that its representatives acknowledge the need for due legal process for all of its citizens, including its ethnic minorities.... read Comments: 0 Recommended: 0 Read: 14237
-
A Peace of Water
Václav Havel et al Series: The World in Words 2008-10-08Both Israelis and Palestinians are beginning to believe that the negotiations re-launched two years ago to determine the future of Palestine are going nowhere. As a result, it is vitally important to work on those areas where intensive negotiations have the potential to produce quick results, with water rights being a prime example.... read Comments: 0 Recommended: 0 Read: 13833
-
Referendum Farce in Burma
Václav Havel et al Series: The World in Words 2008-05-26The enormous suffering of the Burmese people caused by the recent cyclone deserves the sympathy of the entire world. But more than sympathy is needed, because the Burmese military junta's incompetence and brutal oppression – reflected in its recent sham constitutional referendum - are further aggravating the tragic consequences of this natural disaster. ... read Comments: 0 Recommended: 0 Read: 14683
-
Tibet’s Peace of the Grave
Václav Havel et al Series: The World in Words 2008-03-20Governments around the world are urging the Chinese government to exercise the “utmost restraint” in dealing with the current protests in Tibet. But that is far too weak a response.... read Comments: 0 Recommended: 0 Read: 18431
-
Europe Needs Solidarity Over Cuba
Václav Havel et al Series: Human Rights 2008-03-10March 18 marks the fifth anniversary of the Cuban regime's brutal crackdown on dissidents, with most of the 75 arrested still languishing in prison. Just as the solidarity of outsiders helped bring about change in Communist Europe almost 20 years ago, the EU should maintain pressure on Cuba's new leadership to free all prisoners of conscience.... read Comments: 0 Recommended: 0 Read: 16827
-
Ending the Tragedy of Darfur
Václav Havel et al Series: Human Rights 2007-08-21All parties to the conflict in Darfur must understand that civilians should no longer fall victim to their political disputes. And, because Darfur is emblematic of wider difficulties in the world, the international community must look beyond the immediate circumstances of the conflict and increase efforts to deal with the threats that have played a role in the disaster, such as climate change and environmental degradation. ... read Comments: 0 Recommended: 0 Read: 17737
-
Appeal for freedom of speech and respect for minority rights in Russia
Václav Havel et al Series: The World in Words 2006-11-10We were taken aback and dismayed by reports of actions directed against ethnic Georgians in Russia. These include accounts in the international media that Moscow police have asked schools to draw up lists of pupils with Georgian surnames as part of their search for illegal immigrants, and verifiable cases where Georgian businesses in Russia have been closed. Knowing the importance to poor families of remittance to Georgia, we are also concerned at reports of measures to block bank transfers. ... read Comments: 0 Recommended: 0 Read: 18498
-
The Discreet Terror of Fidel Castro
Václav Havel et al Series: The World in Words 2006-05-19This spring marks the third anniversary of the wave of repression in which Fidel Castro’s regime arrested and handed down long sentences to 75 leading Cuban dissidents. Soon afterwards, many friends and I formed the International Committee for Democracy in Cuba.... read Comments: 0 Recommended: 0 Read: 20195
| End the Silence Over Chechnya | Václav Havel et al 
|
