Jueves, 9 de agosto de 2007

ReflexionesTestimonios

Para aquéllos que vivíamos cerca de él, el fallecimiento de Ingmar Bergman la semana pasada no ha constituido una gran sorpresa. Acababa de cumplir 89 años; era un hombre muy mayor. Su corazón cansado dejó de latir a primera hora de la mañana del 30 de julio, en esta temporada de verano tan lluviosa, en su casa de la isla sueca de Farö. Los conejos que se apostaban impávidos en la playa y escuchaban sus interpretaciones de Mahler se preguntarán ahora dónde se ha ido ese anciano. El caso es que ha desaparecido. El reloj de arena se ha quedado vacío.…  Seguir leyendo »

MundoOriente Próximo

The dire prospect of a state of emergency being declared in Pakistan - a possibility floated and denied in the past 24 hours - will concentrate minds in Washington and London. That is probably what General Pervez Musharraf intended.

Pakistan's president has had an "annus horribilis", as the Queen might say, and it is not over yet. In addition to a flood of domestic political criticism, a humiliating defeat at the hands of the supreme court, and escalating confrontation with Islamist militants, Musharraf has faced growing pressure from his main ally, the US.

After President Bush joined forces with Democratic presidential ingénu Barack Obama in threatening unilateral military action against Taliban and al-Qaida elements based on Pakistani soil, Musharraf seems to have drawn a line.…  Seguir leyendo »

MundoÁfrica

Africa has risen steadily in importance to the United States in recent years. Traditionally, Africa has been thought of primarily as an object of humanitarian concern. That perception has been highlighted by popular figures, such as Bono, Bob Geldof, George Clooney and others, focusing public attention on Africa's poverty, conflicts and major diseases. Africa has further captured worldwide attention due to the conflict in Darfur. Because the United States has judged the Sudanese government's campaign in the region to be genocide, the conflict has taken on enormous moral importance.

But Africa has other reasons, beyond these critical humanitarian issues, to command America's attention.…  Seguir leyendo »

MundoAmérica,

By now, most Americans know the story of Cpl. Pat Tillman. He bravely chose military service rather than the National Football League, and he was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 by fire from his comrades.

My own units in Vietnam were occasionally the victims of errant rifle fire, mortar rounds and bombs — indeed, the very success of an infantry attack is dependent on leaning forward into friendly supporting fires.

But, after the fact, the Tillman death played out differently. His unit reported that he was killed in a ferocious engagement with the enemy, and the truth was hidden by the chain of command until, as is almost always the case, the truth escaped.…  Seguir leyendo »

MundoOriente Próximo

Whatever else they might disagree about, Iraqis, Americans and Britons have something crucial in common: large majorities in all three countries oppose the occupation of Iraq by US and British troops and want them brought home. Recognition that the war has been a political and human catastrophe is now so settled that politicians are obliged to pay at least lip service to the pervasive mood for withdrawal. Gordon Brown's studiedly suggestive remarks on the White House lawn about plans to move British troops from "combat to overwatch" in Basra, where two more British soldiers have been killed this week, were clearly aimed at anti-war opinion in Britain.…  Seguir leyendo »

InternacionalSalud Pública

When scientists first identified the HIV virus in 1984, they expected to have a vaccine in two years. Twenty-three years later, we are still waiting. Meanwhile various partially effective means of prevention have been developed. Consistent condom use reduces the likelihood of HIV transmission, as does male circumcision, in those with the condition. But people seldom use condoms consistently, and male circumcision is still rare in the most highly Aids-affected countries.

What can be done? One thing that we can do is explore what happened in places where the epidemic did turn around. I've been thinking about this for nearly 15 years, and it's become increasingly clear to me that the key to fighting Aids lies in something for which public health has no name or programme.…  Seguir leyendo »

EspañaAspectos Generales

Dada la profesión de quien esto escribe, supongo que a pocos sorprenderá que, precisamente durante este mes, uno se atreva a hacer balance de lo que «no se ha aprobado». Y no me refiero únicamente al actual gobierno. Son también suspensos del anterior y del que le antecedió. De aquí que quizá puede que estemos ante temas pendientes de toda nuestra actual democracia.

Lo que nunca se ha acometido o, al menos, no se ha hecho bien y de forma perdurable. Aquello de lo que nunca he oído hablar en mítines, ceñidos casi siempre a temas de menor envergadura (pensiones, promesas de viviendas, impuestos, etc.)…  Seguir leyendo »

MundoAmérica,

En el proceso de involución general existente en la sociedad cubana desde hace años, no han faltado perniciosos efectos sobre la situación racial. La forja de la nacionalidad, acaecida fundamentalmente en el siglo XIX al calor de la lucha conjunta por la libertad de blancos y negros, hizo que los problemas raciales fueran menos críticos que en otras latitudes, a pesar de que la esclavitud del negro duró institucionalmente hasta 1886.

Con la instauración de la república, a inicios del siglo XX, se reforzaron los pasos hacia la integración racial. No obstante, se mantuvieron diferencias a favor del blanco en cuanto a riqueza y poder, basadas en que la población negra y mulata procedía de los estratos más humildes, en última instancia descendientes de antiguos esclavos, así como en prejuicios alimentados por tanto tiempo de explotación esclavista.…  Seguir leyendo »

ReflexionesPensamiento, Cultura y Ciencia

Nuestra época es, sin duda, la edad de oro de los hechos, las estadísticas, las listas y los datos; en una palabra, una era de números.

El déficit federal de Estados Unidos se registra, segundo a segundo, en un contador situado en Times Square, en Manhattan. Las clasificaciones anuales del grado de calidad de las universidades de todo el mundo causan gran alboroto entre la gente que se interesa por esas cosas. El popularísimo Libro Guinness de los récords se vende gracias a nuestra insaciable curiosidad por los números: ¿quién comió el mayor número de salchichas del mundo en una sola sentada, quién ha nadado más lejos que nadie?…  Seguir leyendo »