Peace. A state of harmony consisting of calmness and serenity, the absence of hostility, or a relationship characterised by respect, justice and goodwill. In a society fuelled by hostility and aggression, peace is evidently a utopian ideal: it was not a feature of my forefathers’ generation; nor is it likely to characterise my future. Continue reading “Peace: A Reflection”
Towards the end of February, I had the privilege of attending the Jury International de Conscience pour Le Liban which took place in Brussels over a long weekend. The Jury was charged with investigating the horrific crimes committed by the Government of Israel during the Israel-Lebanon conflict in the summer of 2006. The Jury comprised of five eminent jurists from five separate countries: Colombia, Cuba, Italy, India and Egypt (though the jury was reduced to four after the Egyptian judge was refused a visa to enter Belgium). The tribunal was supported by efforts from all over the world including the US-based International Action Center (founded in 1992 by former US Attorney General Ramsay Clark) and other individuals from Europe and the Arab world. The tribunal took place over three days in the Maison des Associations Internationales in central Brussels. Continue reading “Israel vs Lebanon: Justified Self-Defence?”
The non-participation of a people in the affairs of its country is indicative of an absence of democracy. In Pakistan, democracy was derailed by the suspension of the constitution and the army takeover of October 12, 1999. Ever since, the military government has been more concerned with politics than governance. When General Pervez Musharraf came into power, two of the foremost items on his agenda were bringing back real democracy to the people and promoting freedom of the press. However in his eight years at the helm, he has failed to achieve either. Continue reading “Desperately Seeking Democracy?”
In cases of political conflict, the most difficult task is often separating the good guys from the bad. This can seem impossible as, for one, there is never consensus on the definition of these two terms – it is usually a matter of one’s perspective. Furthermore, solutions cannot be reached simply by identifying an enemy and placing blame. Peaceful resolution of conflict is a product of negotiation and compromise. Continue reading “A tale of negotiation and compromise…”
There are two kinds of people on this Earth: those who find peace with themselves and those who do not. I watched Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain last week, motivated partly by the strong recommendation of friends and partly by the polemic that the last issue of King’s Bench had stirred. A tragic love story about two people deeply in love, but not at all at peace with themselves, Brokeback is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Being a big fan of independent cinema, I had encountered films with similar themes before, but still did not expect to be quite so shaken. Continue reading “Peace In My Time”
Lord Goldsmith QC, PC was the longest serving Labour Attorney-General in history. Encouraged by his solicitor father, he studied law at Cambridge prior to his call to the Bar in 1972. Lord Goldsmith went on to develop a successful commercial, corporate and international litigation practice at Fountain Court Chambers, taking silk at the early age of 37. In 1995 he became the youngest ever Chairman of the Bar and in the subsequent year founded the Bar Pro Bono Unit (of which he remains President). Five years later, Lord Goldsmith became Tony Blair’s second Attorney-General. He resigned the appointment in June last year and now works with US firm Debevoise & Plimpton as head of its European litigation practice. He spoke to KB about some of the controversies and successes of his years in Government. Continue reading “Lord Goldsmith”
Born in Lahore, Pakistan, Imran Khan made his debut in first class cricket at the age of sixteen. He soon moved to England where he combined studying PPE at Oxford with his burgeoning international cricketing career. In 1992 his career reached its zenith when he led his country to victory in the Cricket World Cup. On retirement, he turned his focus to social work, establishing Pakistan’s first cancer hospital in the memory of his late mother and serving as a UNICEF Special Representative. In 1996 he entered the political fray, founding the Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) party, which he still leads. He is a fierce critic of the Musharraf regime and boycotted last month’s elections in protest at the declaration of emergency rule. KB caught up with him just before the elections. Continue reading “Imran Khan”
An international lawyer and currently a partner at DLA Piper in London, Miriam Gonzalez previously worked in the World Trade Organisation and the European Commission. A mother of two, she is married to the recently elected leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg. Her areas of expertise are the telecommunications industry and European competition and trade law and policy. Continue reading “Miriam Gonzalez”
I was astonished to open King’s Bench (“Homosexuality: The Big Debate”, Vol. 15, Issue 2, p. 26) and see a debate about whether or not the community to which I belong, the lesbian and gay minority, “pose[s] a threat to the human race”. In the United Kingdom? In 2008? “Basil Haady” (a King’s student who seems to have recently arrived from 1958, the year after the Wolfenden Report) concluded that I, other gay men, and lesbian women do pose a threat to the heterosexual majority (because we engage in sexual activity without procreative potential), and that scientists should search for a “cure” for our “abnormality”. He generously provided that we should not be forced to take this “cure”. Despite its voluntary and non-fatal nature (cf. the British National Party’s “system of voluntary resettlement”: “immigrants … will be afforded the opportunity to return to their lands of ethnic origin assisted by generous financial incentives”), Mr. Haady’s hypothetical “cure” bears a chilling resemblance to Nazi policy on discrimination: despised or misunderstood minorities should not enjoy legal protection against discrimination, but instead should be eliminated for the benefit of the majority. The most horrific example of this policy was the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question”. Others included the killing of thousands of persons who had disabilities (their lives were deemed “not worth living”), or who were Roma, Jehovah’s Witnesses, or gay (see the “Reich Office for the Combating of Homosexuality and Abortion”). Continue reading “Right Of Reply: Do I Need A Cure?”
Remember Sesame Street? You learnt your 123s and your ABCs along with your Zees (hopefully someone was there to inform you of the correct pronunciation). Well just when you thought you had outgrown that show… Avenue Q is the West End musical that will get you excited over puppets all over again! Continue reading “Avenue Q with Simon Lipkin”