By Dr. Kathie Malley-Morrison

Assata Shakur. Photo in public domain.

Terrorism is defined as the "systematic use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and thereby to bring about a particular political objective.... Although usually thought of as a means of destabilizing or overthrowing existing political institutions, terror also has been employed by governments against their own people to suppress dissent." (Merriam-Webster online dictionary)

Now, for the first time in history, a woman-- Assata Olugbala Shakur, whom the FBI calls by her former married name, Joanne Chesimard--has been put on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorist list, with a $2 million bounty... Read more... 

By guest author Luciana Karine de Souza

Used under CC license.

What does a society do when its children kill? This question became intensely personal in Brazil with the recent shooting death of a college student in São Paulo. The victim was 19 years old; the shooter was 17.

Child and adolescent psychologists teach us that emotional stability, autonomy, and independence come with time and flourish when children develop secure attachments to the adults who care for them. But what happens when the adults providing children and adolescents with reciprocity, sensibility, monitoring, and so on, do so not for a humane... Read more... 

By guest author Dr. Dahlia Wasfi 

Imperialism is defined as the policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other nations.

The British Empire's reign expanded through the invasion of 90% of the countries on Planet Earth, including those of Western Asia (the "Middle East"). This region remains riddled with violent strife.

Duplicity by the Allies during the World War I era is the root of the injustice and accompanying conflict that continue between Western Asia and Western powers. Today, the imperialist drives of the United States and NATO are continuing the bloodshed... Read more... 

Guantanamo detainees. Image in public domain.

Question: What is the significance of June? Answer: June is Torture Awareness Month.

Question: What is the significance of Guantanamo? Answer: Guantanamo is the symbol of American shame and self-degradation.

Fact: Our government has physically and psychologically tortured innocent men, and has kept them locked in a hellhole to the point that they are starving themselves.

Question: Why? Answer: The government fears that after the treatment those men have received at the hands of American henchmen, they may become terrorists if they return...  Read more...  

Featured comment on Engaging Peace

One can look at the actions of Tamerlan and Dzhokhar in the way Moghaddam describes in his article "The Staircase to Terrorism." The first step is to perceive some injustice or deprivation. In the cases of the Tsarnaev brothers, one could guess that it was the injustice they saw that was happening to their people in Chechnya, and the perceived complicity... Read more... 

Planting peace

By Krista Lee Berardi