Articles by: A K Merchant

Tackling Global Emergencies – UN International Day of Peace

Tackling Global Emergencies – UN International Day of Peace

Imagine talking about peace when according to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, the world is just one misunderstanding, just one miscalculation, away from global catastrophe, due to the ongoing war in Europe! While the Security Board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists already warned humanity in January this year when it timed the Doomsday Clock that[Read More…]

by 21/09/2023 Comments are Disabled World
A Friendship Treaty for a Prosperous and Peaceful World

A Friendship Treaty for a Prosperous and Peaceful World

Reflections on the occasion of World Friendship Day 2023                                                                WE all yearn for true friendship and how many of us have friends whose association goes back to our school[Read More…]

by 30/07/2023 Comments are Disabled Life/Philosophy
Stop Plastic Pollution as We Commemorate 50th World Environment Day 2023

Stop Plastic Pollution as We Commemorate 50th World Environment Day 2023

There is widespread acknowledgement that the present-day structures of society are ill-prepared to address the needs of humanity in its current travails. Therefore, cooperation and reciprocity should be our highest priority. The stronger the ties of fellowship and solidarity, the greater will be the power of constructiveness and accomplishment in all the planes of human activity. In the economic sphere[Read More…]

by 04/06/2023 Comments are Disabled Environmental Protection
Pluralism, Salt Satyagraha & the Constitution of India 

Pluralism, Salt Satyagraha & the Constitution of India 

The 93rd Anniversary of Salt Satyagraha that lasted for 24 days can provide important lessons for appreciating India’s pluralism of religions, castes, languages, cultures, governance ideologies, and host of other diversities. The 78 trusted volunteers who accompanied Mahatma Gandhi came from various backgrounds and cultural sensibilities. As a commodity of everyday use, Gandhiji was convinced that salt provided a common rallying point[Read More…]

by 03/04/2023 Comments are Disabled India
Accelerating Change on United Nations World Water Day 2023 

Accelerating Change on United Nations World Water Day 2023 

At a time when India has been given the presidency of G-20, efforts are on to accelerate change on several fronts including the water crises which is listed as Sustainable Goal Number 6—Clean Water and Sanitation.  Series of Conferences on various topics and in different states of the country have been planned, some already held and many more yet to come culminating[Read More…]

by 22/03/2023 Comments are Disabled World
UN International Day for Social Justice: A brief reassessment of the successes and failures of the United Nations system 

UN International Day for Social Justice: A brief reassessment of the successes and failures of the United Nations system 

The Common Agenda that stemmed from the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Organization identified the following 12 action goals: (1) Leave no one behind; (2) Protect our planet; (3) Promote peace and prevent conflicts; (4) Abide by international law and ensure justice; (5) Place women and girls at the centre; (6) Build trust; (7)[Read More…]

by 20/02/2023 Comments are Disabled World
 Tolerance is a powerful virtue –Let’s be tolerant with one another 

 Tolerance is a powerful virtue –Let’s be tolerant with one another 

16 November is the United Nations International Day for Tolerance   In the scheme of universal values “tolerance” appears to be the most misunderstood and abused in everyday life. The United Nations General Assembly first discussed over three decades ago to get educational institutions and the general public to see “tolerance” as a staple of society. Therefore, in 1995 UNESCO[Read More…]

by 16/11/2022 Comments are Disabled World
World Teachers’ Day—Educational systems need a new awakening

World Teachers’ Day—Educational systems need a new awakening

Every year in India we celebrate 5th September as the National Teachers’ Day and just a month later the world observes 5th October as ‘World Teachers’ Day’. The theme this year is: “Teachers at the heart of education recovery”. It was UNESCO that established this day in 1994 to celebrate and recognize the immense contribute of all those in the[Read More…]

by 05/10/2022 Comments are Disabled Life/Philosophy
On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Greenpeace volunteers fly Peace Doves, bearing messages of peace, "No More Hiroshima", "Yes to Peace",  "No to Rokkasho" in Japanese and in English, beside the A-Bomb Dome Memorial in Hiroshima. 
Greenpeace renews their calls for peace and make this anniversary a message to world leaders to make real their commitments to nuclear disarmament, including the Japanese government to abandon plans to produce nuclear weapons.

Peace is the Way–Let Us Give Peace a Chance!

People everywhere appear to be wearied with the way things are in the world today. Present-day society is experiencing a profound breakdown and the minds of peoples of the world are in a state of utter confusion. From Black Sea to Korean peninsula to the Middle East to China Seas, from the Arctic to Indian Ocean, our planet is manifesting the signs of an “angry beast”. There is so much of violence and destruction everywhere. Age-old institutions are collapsing, traditional ways are[Read More…]

by 21/09/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Crises of migrants and refugees–where should homeless millions go?

Crises of migrants and refugees–where should homeless millions go?

The history of humankind of the past hundred years have thrown up a gamut of emotions and heart-wrenching crises.  An accentuating challenge is the displacement of millions upon millions of peoples throughout the planet.  People are forced to flee or migrate from their homeland or places of birth for a variety of reasons.  At the international level United Nations High[Read More…]

by 22/06/2022 Comments are Disabled Human Rights
Climate Emergency & Biodiversity Loss—It is Now or Never!!

Climate Emergency & Biodiversity Loss—It is Now or Never!!

At the turn of the 20th Century, the astonishing advances in science emboldened humanity, giving rise to confidence that science could, at last, as the fountainhead of truth provide the wherewithal for a stable and equitable social order for a sustainable future. In such a world, God was dead and religion regarded as a bundle of superstitions and blind faith.[Read More…]

by 10/02/2022 Comments are Disabled Climate Change
The science of mind in the Philosophies of the World and the future of humanity

The science of mind in the Philosophies of the World and the future of humanity

A two-day seminar cum webinar convened by the World Buddhist Culture Trust brought together a select group of academics and researchers as well as concerned citizens to discuss what is “human mind”, its descriptions as portrayed in various spiritual texts, its functions in tandem with other faculties and problems facing humanity. The elusive “mind”, it was noted, has been sought[Read More…]

by 18/11/2021 Comments are Disabled Life/Philosophy
Parliament of the World’s Religions makes a passionate call to save the planet

Parliament of the World’s Religions makes a passionate call to save the planet

The 3-day virtual Parliament of the World’s religions concluded in a spirit of fervent bonding and camaraderie connecting thousands around the world. From 16th through 18th October thousands participated to partake of the hundreds of inspiring and riveting presentations, prayers, music and dance, exhibitions and displays, workshops and many other unique features all echoing again and again the call to[Read More…]

by 30/10/2021 Comments are Disabled World
An India of our Dreams – Reflections on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti 2021 

An India of our Dreams – Reflections on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti 2021 

On the occasion of 152nd Gandhi Jayanti, 2nd October 2021, in tandem with Azadi ka Amrut Maha Utsav launched on the 75th Independence Day what thoughts flood our hearts as we survey happenings and events in the country and the plight of humanity.   On the one hand is the “India of My Dreams” that Mahatma Gandhi had expressed and[Read More…]

by 01/10/2021 Comments are Disabled Life/Philosophy
Economic and Financial Travails of our Planet caused by Covid-19

Economic and Financial Travails of our Planet caused by Covid-19

In a world when Covid-19 has brought humanity to its knees and exposed the haughty posturing of many nation-states the lesson of its interconnectedness are still not being learnt. Despite some positive developments that give hope, there is much that should weigh heavily on the conscience of the human race.  Impending systemic collapse, the crash of global economy and widespread[Read More…]

by 27/05/2021 Comments are Disabled World
The India We Want: India Poised For Civilizational Leap In A World Ready To Explode

The India We Want: India Poised For Civilizational Leap In A World Ready To Explode

As the world’s largest democracy but not the oldest India is a young nation where 60% of its population are below 35 years of age. With a solid mandate encapsulated in the slogan: Sab ka Sath, Sab ka Vikas, Sab ka Vishwas, the central task before the new Government, then, will be to build capacity in more and more people[Read More…]

by 22/06/2019 Comments are Disabled India
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