Something happened on September 17, 2002 that is altering the course of history. Among others, the event laid the basis for the U.S. attack on Iraq—not because of Bin Laden, not because of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and not just because of oil. The U.S. attacked Iraq because of something larger and much more encompassing. August 2003

I’m not writing as an expert, rather as an everyday human-being, concerned with the working of society. I’ve made use of my democratic right to take part in the social debate – a debate which – by and large – is non-existent. I’ve used sources available to all – mainly newspapers, but also books and periodicals. Further, certain net-sources have proven interesting. March 2003

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and the Battle of Genoa in July 2001 in Italy captures the present power configuration of the world. Three worldviews are struggling for control over the future of the planet. These three worldviews are characterized and labeled, broadly, as Jihad, McWorld, and Civitas. McWorld is the world of the dominant materialistic modernity that governs the world. Jihad is the fundamentalist response of tradition, not just Islam, to McWorld. The world of Civitas is the world of post-materialism seeking a more spiritual approach, different from McWorld and Jihad, to world challenges. September 2002

Police violence shattered the prospects for a successful outcome at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) being held at Johannesburg, South Africa. Without provocation, South African police troopers threw concussion bombs and teargas at activists who were peacefully marching to protest what they perceive to be the corporate control of the WSSD. Three protestors were injured and dozens of others were hauled off to jail. August 28, 2002 

Sustainable Integrated Area Development or SIAD offers significant opportunities for local executives, planners, decision makers in government, civil society, and business. SIAD helps develop a comprehensive and more realistic approach to poverty eradication. It facilitates the integration of national programs and initiatives. SIAD assists LGUs in mobilizing broad-based support for poverty eradication and sustainable development plans through threefolding partnerships. SIAD enables LGUs and other local institutions to tap the sustainable development grants and investments which now reach up to $2 trillion worldwide. August 2002

In the wake of mixed success of massive global demonstrations around the issue of globalization, activist groups around the world are now discussing and asking. We have achieved global resistance but the results of the Doha Ministerial of the WTO shows that our efforts are not enough. We have convened the World Social Forum to showcase our alternatives but the ravages of elite or corporate globalization continue to spread around the world. What can we now do to shift the discourse and direction of globalization towards “another world” which we want to create? 20 July 2002

Do you know GATS? An opinion poll certainly would cause more than 99% of the citizens consulted to shake their heads and reply: "Never heard of it." And yet, speaking of GATS, we are dealing with something that will deeply affect  all our lives, much more deeply than what happens on those levels of political decision making to which our attention is drawn by the media - unless we manage to implement alternatives to the "General Agreement on Trade in Services" ("GATS") which is presently being negotiated within the World Trade Organization WTO.  November 2001

Without warning, terrorists struck at the symbols of US economic and political power: the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Together with the world, we mourn the waste of human lives and condemn the acts of terrorism. As we mourn, however, we are also starting to become concerned. The US, in the words of President Bush, is mobilizing for the “first war in the 21st century”.  And most heads of states are supportive. Yes, justice must be pursued. Yes, terrorists must be held accountable. But there is a growing sense that this does not mean engulfing the world in war and making it hostage to a vicious cycle of escalating violence.  19 September 2001

For many decades, thinkers have grappled with a question, the answer to which could provide a key foundation for a peaceful, spiritually creative and prosperous global civilization. The two world wars and dozens of other “small” wars have given stark warning of what happens when no adequate answer is to be found. This question can be expressed as follows. “What is the task of smaller nations in world affairs dominated by economic and political superpowers?” 04 March 01

Civil society-government relations are becoming critical as civil society continues to shape world affairs. This is also true in the Philippines where People Power II, led by civil society, recently toppled a corrupt presidency and paved the way for a new government. To mediate its relations with the new government and the market, civil society is advancing the concept of social threefolding. To appreciate this approach, we need to understand the modern understanding of civil society—an understanding that is also operative in the Philippines. 01 March 2001