New Internationalist

Cover for November 2009 - Issue 427

November 2009's Issue

In the wake of 11 September 2001 and the ensuing Western ‘war on terror’, extraordinary measures have been brought into play in the four corners of the world, in the name of fighting terrorism.

These have resulted in widespread human rights violations and the curtailment of civil liberties. But have they made us any safer?

Once democracies begin to accept torture and the various perversions of the judicial process, do they have any moral authority left to confront the despots who are using counterterrorism as an excuse for cleaning up their enemies?

This edition of the New Internationalist includes a powerful essay by security guru Bruce Schneier decrying the often pointless counterterrorism theatrics against movie plot threats indulged in by our elected leaders. Find out what he thinks will actually work against terrorism.

Every month, we put up a selection of articles from the magazine. To enjoy the complete magazine, subscribe and receive three free issues and a world map. Or buy a digital subscription which gives you unlimited access to all magazines since 2007 and for a year after purchase on your computer or mobile device, in their original full-colour design.

Featured in issue 427

Year Thirty

Despite being haunted by its gruesome past, there are reasons for optimism in Cambodia.

Between rock and a hard place

Underground film meets underground music… Iranian-style.

  • 24 Nov 2009
  • 0

The Berlin Wall of the Desert

On the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Stefan Simanowitz reports from Western Sahara on the wall that has separated a nation for 29 years.

Hillywood dreams

In the hills of Rwanda, Tom Cropper finds the world’s most unique film festival.

President Blair: The great escape

Anna Chen heaves a sigh of relief as Tony’s plans to conquer Europe are halted.

Losing the edge

Perceptions of efficiency – and cleanliness – can differ, Maria Golia discovers.

Murder without Borders

Vancouver-based journalist Terry Gould tells the stories of six journalists who paid with their lives for refusing to surrender their conviction that journalism is meant to be about ‘telling the truth’.

Rainy Season

Vanishing of the Bees

An eye opening account of the truth behind the declining bee population

Goodbye Solo

Different in every way: Ramin Bahrani’s brilliant Goodbye Solo.

Water shortage: the real thing

Coca-Cola’s water use in drought ravaged Kala Dera

  • 1 Nov 2009
  • 0

Sweeping the streets

Poor South Africans fall foul of soccer tournament preparations

Miracle or mirage?

Solar-powered development has huge potential if problems can be overcome

Balibo Five case reopened

Thirty-four years on, the notorious case of the ‘Balibo Five’ is to be reopened.

  • 1 Nov 2009
  • 0

World of counterterror

A snapshot of the continuing spread of counterterrorist measures – real and unreal.

  • 1 Nov 2009
  • 0

Action on Counterterrorism

A poem by Hubert Moore + ACTION directory.

  • 1 Nov 2009
  • 0

Bloody oil

Canadian First Nations internationalize their struggle against the most destructive project on earth

Love in a grey zone

In Bangladesh, homosexuality is illegal. Delwar Hussain talks to Suleman, a gay imam, about what this means for him and his partner.

And justice for all?

Ajit Sahi’s account of the scandalous record of the Indian State.

Big Bad World 427

No room for grey matter in Polyp’s cartoon

The ticking bomb

Peru’s rash of unlikely terrorists. Stephanie Boyd reports.

In the name of fighting terror

Dinyar Godrej on the damage done.

St Lucia

St Lucia’s stunning beauty, capped by the famous twin peaks of the Pitons, hides a turbulent history.

The not so Special Court for Sierra Leone

The trial of Charles Taylor has left an unhappy judicial legacy, argues Sulakshana Gupta.

You couldn't make it up

The lunatic fringe of planet terror.

  • 1 Nov 2009
  • 0

'Newspeaking' to deaf ears

Sixty years on from the publication of 1984, the neoliberals in Chile are still spouting Newspeak, reveals Lezak Shallat.

Mahinda Rajapaksa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka’s slick reputation comes unstuck.

  • 1 Nov 2009
  • 0

Helen Gray

Female de-miners in Mozambique

A Suitable Enemy

Racism, Migration and Islamophobia in Europe

Beyond security theatre

Expert Bruce Schneier argues for security measures that actually work instead of theatrics.

Sleepwalking through the Mekong

It’s a dance record galvanized for the groove; it’s a John Pirozzi film that takes a serious responsibility for the band’s material and details commitment to Cambodian heroes.

Between My Head and the Sky

‘It’s me. I’m alive.’ Yoko Ono, startling and challenging as ever.

Cover of the Mental health (Issue 452) of New Internationalist

On Newsstands

Mental health (Issue 452)

Mental health

Subscribe

Online now

Climate change adaptation

More from the magazine

Magazine Archive

Subscribe, etc. Subscribe Renew Give a Gift Subscriber Services Subscribe

Multimedia

More Videos
Videos from visionOntv's globalviews channel.

Regular columns

New Internationalist Magazine Issue 436

If you would like to know something about what's actually going on, rather than what people would like you to think was going on, then read the New Internationalist.

– Emma Thompson –

A subscription to suit you

Save money with a digital subscription. Give a gift subscription that will last all year. Or get yourself a free trial to New Internationalist. See our choice of offers.

Subscribe