Features

Web Only: The Asymmetry of Racism Awareness

Frances Weaver — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:23:39 +0000

Author:Rev. Nick Howard

For much of 2012, racism has been in the news. The Stephen Lawrence case returned to the headlines with the conviction of two men for his racially-motivated murder. Diane Abbott's tweet, "White people love playing 'divide and rule'", was widely condemned by both white and black commentators. The footballer John Terry stands accused of racially abusing QPR player Anton Ferdinand, and has been stripped of the England captaincy as a result. Another footballer, Luis Suarez, has served an eight-game ban for similar charges; and two supporters of his club, Liverpool, have been arrested on suspicion of abusing black players during games.

An Islamist Winter?

Frances Weaver — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:25:59 +0000

Author:Amir Taheri

Flying the flag for freedom: Egyptians in Cairo's Tahrir Sqaure after the parliamentary elections in November (Stefan Simanowitz)

The Secret of Cheap Energy: Fire Chris Huhne

Frances Weaver — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:20:21 +0000

Author:Patrick Heren

DECC and Energy Trends (DECC Publications guide)

Given the norms of modern political contest, it is not surprising that at the last election in 2010 the three main parties offered almost identical energy policies — or rather, climate change and energy policies. Each promised an enormous shift to low-carbon electricity generation by 2020, with more to come by mid-century. Each promised a green bank and a massive increase in energy conservation. Each vowed to encourage carbon capture and storage projects, and to prevent construction of any but the cleanest coal-fired power stations.

It's Crunch Time for Britain in Europe

Frances Weaver — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:36:31 +0000

Author:Iain Martin

When David Cameron became leader of the Conservative party he was determined to avoid a subject that had proved fatal to his predecessors. The European question would not derail his leadership, as it had that of Sir John Major and before him Margaret Thatcher. Isn't it great, he was fond of saying several years ago, that the Tory party isn't having the usual row with itself over Europe.

In the event it turns out that on Cameron's watch it is crunch-time for Britain and the European Union. We will be compelled in the next few years — quite possibly even months — to choose what kind of relationship we want with those in charge of a new hegemony on the continent.

Forced Marriages Dishonour Britain

Frances Weaver — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:53:03 +0000

Author:Julie Bindel

Death sentence: Banoz Mahmod (right) was raped and strangeld by two of her cousins in 2006. The murder was ordered by her father (left)

If white British women were being forced to marry men they had never met, in a country they had never visited, there would be a national outcry. We would call it trafficking. But some liberals justify the practice as "cultural" when it involves Muslims and oppose making it a criminal offence.

We Only Pretend to Defend Free Speech

Frances Weaver — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:45:59 +0000

Author:Nick Cohen

Not-so-brave new world: After Rushdie's fatwa, fear of violent reaction silenced liberal critics of Islam (Clint Spaulding/AP/Press Association Images)

Dreyfus and the Birth of Intellectual Protest

Frances Weaver — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:39:40 +0000

Author:Piers Paul Read

The art of protest: Emile Zola by Edouard Manet, c. 1868 On January 13, 1898, Emile Zola published his celebrated open letter to the President of France, J'Accuse, in which he accused senior officers in the French army of thwarting a revision of the case against Alfred Dreyfus, convicted of selling secrets to the enemy four years before and then serving a life sentence on Devil's Island. Furthermore, wrote Zola, these officers in the Army High Command had conspired to protect the true traitor, Charles Walsin-Esterhazy.

'Over me my father's shadow hovers'

Frances Weaver — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:33:20 +0000

Author:Miriam Gross

"From that angle even Liz Taylor would look ugly": Svetlana Alliuyevna, née Stalin, in 1984 (Jane Bown)

No, I cannot be persuaded to talk about the Stalin subject. Perhaps you have noticed that during my 16 years abroad I never did so...The only time I gave in was with Malcolm Muggeridge on his BBC programme in 1981; I regret about that ever since and am not on talking terms with Mugg...I am sorry to be so blunt and bad-mannered but I react in the same way whenever I receive invitations like yours, based on total ignorance and the wrong assumptions."

Lieutenant Gaddafi in Swinging London

Frances Weaver — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:16:13 +0000

Author:Michael Cockerell