http://www.mercatornet.com MercatorNet offers lively news and articles promoting human dignity. webmaster@mercatornet.com (Michael Cook) editor@mercatornet.com (Michael Cook) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/HIHzioHVkG8/12216 http://www.mercatornet.com/Newsletterv0810/newsletters/12216 About the World Congress of Families <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/Newsletterv0810/newsletters/12216" title="Permalink to 'Dumb question, I know, but why was I there?'">Read more...</a></div> Sat, 18 May 2013 04:24:11 GMT http://www.mercatornet.com/Newsletterv0810/newsletters/12216 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/gcq-cuGrPoc/jolies_choice http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/jolies_choice <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/marriage-1.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Angelina Jolie's decision to have a double mastectomy made headlines around the world. But is she sending women the right message? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/jolies_choice" title="Permalink to 'Jolie’s Choice'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 20 May 2013 05:50:19 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/jolies_choice http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/IdGyA4gkhek/a_fight_for_equality_or_a_war_on_difference http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/a_fight_for_equality_or_a_war_on_difference <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/discriminate.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />To invite the government to give us phony equalities by recognising gay marriage is to invite greater state intervention into our personal lives. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/a_fight_for_equality_or_a_war_on_difference" title="Permalink to 'A fight for equality or a war on difference?'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 20 May 2013 03:31:21 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/a_fight_for_equality_or_a_war_on_difference http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/0uVeRmX7kDA/star_trek_into_darkness http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/star_trek_into_darkness <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/StarTrekIntoDarkness.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The familiar characters face very contemporary issues of terrorism and militarism in this nicely characterised film. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/star_trek_into_darkness" title="Permalink to 'Star Trek: Into Darkness'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 20 May 2013 02:41:25 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/star_trek_into_darkness http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/43rJSZtYgOU/how_legal_euthanasia_changed_belgium_for_ever http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/how_legal_euthanasia_changed_belgium_for_ever <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/chairs_on_grass.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The ideology of absolute self-determination has become sacred and unquestionable. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/how_legal_euthanasia_changed_belgium_for_ever" title="Permalink to 'How legal euthanasia changed Belgium for ever'">Read more...</a></div> Thu, 16 May 2013 13:23:29 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/how_legal_euthanasia_changed_belgium_for_ever http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/3oir4fbuZpY/the_fallacy_of_a_happy_productive_and_ageing_work_force http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_fallacy_of_a_happy_productive_and_ageing_work_force <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/aging_workforce.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Glib answers will not conjure away the hard, cold fact that workers everywhere are getting older and older. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_fallacy_of_a_happy_productive_and_ageing_work_force" title="Permalink to 'The fallacy of a happy, productive and ageing work force'">Read more...</a></div> Thu, 16 May 2013 13:02:33 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_fallacy_of_a_happy_productive_and_ageing_work_force http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/EsKi5siIRSo/eu_shows_how_to_do_a_dodgy_survey http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/eu_shows_how_to_do_a_dodgy_survey <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/dodgysurvey.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The EU's largest-ever survey of hate crimes and discrimination against LGBT people claims that they labour under a terrible burden. But the figures don’t support the conclusions. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/eu_shows_how_to_do_a_dodgy_survey" title="Permalink to 'EU shows how to do a dodgy survey'">Read more...</a></div> Thu, 16 May 2013 12:41:29 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/eu_shows_how_to_do_a_dodgy_survey http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/HfWEnolKvUA/what_is_parenthood http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/what_is_parenthood <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/what-is-parenthood-contemporary-debates-about-the-family.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />In debates about the family, some social scientists are asserting the primacy of theory over facts. Is this science? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/what_is_parenthood" title="Permalink to 'What is parenthood?'">Read more...</a></div> Wed, 15 May 2013 08:06:36 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/what_is_parenthood http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/DbLFqvEpLIk/reason_and_responsibility_the_rana_plaza_collapse http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/reason_and_responsibility_the_rana_plaza_collapse <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/rana_plaza_collapse_2435.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The Rana Plaza tragedy was an outcome of a corrupt system that is rotten to the core. Who should -- and can -- be held accountable? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/reason_and_responsibility_the_rana_plaza_collapse" title="Permalink to 'Reason and responsibility: the Rana Plaza collapse'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 13 May 2013 06:03:07 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/reason_and_responsibility_the_rana_plaza_collapse http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/OP3A2Ul0z_U/your_cheap_clothing_has_a_high_price http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/your_cheap_clothing_has_a_high_price <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/ranaplaza2.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The tragic collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh exposes the immorality of the Golden Rule: he who has the gold, makes the rules. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/your_cheap_clothing_has_a_high_price" title="Permalink to 'Your cheap clothing has a high price'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 13 May 2013 05:44:41 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/your_cheap_clothing_has_a_high_price http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/bKU-Dnoa8Ic/cultural_imperialism_on_the_march http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/cultural_imperialism_on_the_march <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/USA_orthographic.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Why is the Obama administration promoting Gay Pride Months and campaigning for gay rights in countries like Pakistan and El Salvador? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/cultural_imperialism_on_the_march" title="Permalink to 'Cultural imperialism on the march'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 13 May 2013 05:12:31 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/cultural_imperialism_on_the_march http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/IipjwnQpkfI/what_do_the_children_say http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/what_do_the_children_say <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/Gay-parents-at-Truno.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The children of same-sex couples normally love the people who raised them. But many of them still have reservations about same-sex marriage. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/what_do_the_children_say" title="Permalink to 'What do the children say?'">Read more...</a></div> Sun, 12 May 2013 02:41:33 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/what_do_the_children_say http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/AI0TXzqoHmE/the_medias_sea_of_fire http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_medias_sea_of_fire <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/niall_ferguson_89976532.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Why is the media frothing over criticism of a long-dead homosexual economist? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_medias_sea_of_fire" title="Permalink to 'The media’s “sea of fire”'">Read more...</a></div> Fri, 10 May 2013 06:13:05 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_medias_sea_of_fire http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/LImuwP2g8xI/understanding_keynes http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/understanding_keynes <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/jmkeynes8987654.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Were the theories of the 20th Century's most famous economist blemished by the fact that he was a homosexual? An expert on Keynes says No. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/understanding_keynes" title="Permalink to 'Understanding Keynes'">Read more...</a></div> Fri, 10 May 2013 00:57:34 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/understanding_keynes http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/ftXyakeQ0lc/theres_always_another_choice http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/theres_always_another_choice <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/pregnant_icon.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />A Texas mother remembers how doctors struggled to save her premature twin daughters. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/theres_always_another_choice" title="Permalink to 'There’s always another choice'">Read more...</a></div> Thu, 09 May 2013 02:55:22 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/theres_always_another_choice http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/qzAzxppV6Kk/the_value_of_a_liberal_arts_education http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_value_of_a_liberal_arts_education <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/coloradocollege234.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Colleges must prepare young people to think with rigour and creativity rather than just train them for a job. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_value_of_a_liberal_arts_education" title="Permalink to 'The value of a liberal-arts education'">Read more...</a></div> Wed, 08 May 2013 21:43:51 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_value_of_a_liberal_arts_education http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/WRJUYeaLkPY/nostalgia_for_nato http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/nostalgia_for_nato <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/natosign98765.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />When the West had a common enemy in the Soviet Union, it was united. Now Europe is fragmenting once again into quarrelling rivals. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/nostalgia_for_nato" title="Permalink to 'Nostalgia for NATO'">Read more...</a></div> Wed, 08 May 2013 04:41:30 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/nostalgia_for_nato http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/4CghCi9J7ts/revisiting_the_after_birth_abortion_controversy http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/revisiting_the_after_birth_abortion_controversy <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/megaphone.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />An expert on Jewish medical ethics says that the slippery slope is very real, no matter what some bioethicists may say. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/revisiting_the_after_birth_abortion_controversy" title="Permalink to 'Revisiting the “after-birth abortion” controversy'">Read more...</a></div> Tue, 07 May 2013 13:36:41 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/revisiting_the_after_birth_abortion_controversy http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/0do-75-iN6k/not_a_noble_death http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/not_a_noble_death <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/deduve34456.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The euthanasia of Nobel laureate Christian de Duve in Belgium is a worrying precedent for the world's baby boomers. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/not_a_noble_death" title="Permalink to 'Not a noble death'">Read more...</a></div> Tue, 07 May 2013 12:48:08 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/not_a_noble_death http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/l0Hkfj4g-oI/terrorism_triangle_in_boston http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/terrorism_triangle_in_boston <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/chechen9987867.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Complex rather than single causality is the norm, not the exception, for terrorism. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/terrorism_triangle_in_boston" title="Permalink to 'Terrorism triangle in Boston'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 06 May 2013 03:50:01 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/terrorism_triangle_in_boston http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/H8vGyiA9dYE/malaysian_election_keeping_the_status_quo http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/malaysian_election_keeping_the_status_quo <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/malaysia_woman_voting_election_-_Google_Search.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />A Malay-based party retains its stranglehold on the government of Malaysia, even though it lost many supporters. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/malaysian_election_keeping_the_status_quo" title="Permalink to 'Malaysian election: keeping the status quo'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 06 May 2013 03:04:11 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/malaysian_election_keeping_the_status_quo http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/Yb4nMtofaUc/fraud_threatens_the_integrity_of_social_psychology http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/fraud_threatens_the_integrity_of_social_psychology <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/stapel98765.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Scientific studies are used to support controversial social policies like same-sex marriage. But can we rely on them? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/fraud_threatens_the_integrity_of_social_psychology" title="Permalink to 'Fraud threatens the integrity of social psychology'">Read more...</a></div> Fri, 03 May 2013 14:31:41 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/fraud_threatens_the_integrity_of_social_psychology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/570RItgL374/fashion_mags_fail_to_empower http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/fashion_mags_fail_to_empower <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/rby-best-haircut-be-realistic-de.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Highly eroticised glossy women's magazines are dragging girls back to the bad old days of misogynist stereotypes. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/fashion_mags_fail_to_empower" title="Permalink to 'Fashion mags fail to empower'">Read more...</a></div> Fri, 03 May 2013 01:02:32 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/fashion_mags_fail_to_empower http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/KyacTnww3J8/the_queen_has_retired_long_live_the_king http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_queen_has_retired_long_live_the_king <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/queenbeatrix890.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The abdication of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands marks the end of one of the longest periods of continuous female rule in modern European history. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_queen_has_retired_long_live_the_king" title="Permalink to 'The Queen has retired – long live the King!'">Read more...</a></div> Wed, 01 May 2013 04:58:11 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_queen_has_retired_long_live_the_king http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/vtv0etpKz9I/redlines_and_the_problems_of_intervention_in_syria http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/redlines_and_the_problems_of_intervention_in_syria <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/syria_chaos_2345.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The US and its European allies do not have the force needed to end Syria's appalling bloodshed. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/redlines_and_the_problems_of_intervention_in_syria" title="Permalink to 'Redlines and the problems of intervention in Syria'">Read more...</a></div> Wed, 01 May 2013 04:33:17 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/redlines_and_the_problems_of_intervention_in_syria http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/hwiXrbpbCqQ/reagan_versus_obama_on_abortion http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/reagan_versus_obama_on_abortion <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/Obama-to-Planned-Parenthood-2013.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The President's fulsome praise of Planned Parenthood ignores its shameful origin in racist eugenics. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/reagan_versus_obama_on_abortion" title="Permalink to 'The President needs a history lesson'">Read more...</a></div> Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:09:40 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/reagan_versus_obama_on_abortion http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/1bWjPQdDYog/tasmanias_intimidating_abortion_bill http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/tasmanias_intimidating_abortion_bill <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/extinction243535.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Deregistration, heavy fines and jail terms threaten those who voice their opposition to abortion. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/tasmanias_intimidating_abortion_bill" title="Permalink to 'Tasmania’s intimidating abortion bill'">Read more...</a></div> Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:42:43 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/tasmanias_intimidating_abortion_bill http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/O6aE_Wn1Y7Y/playing_with_fire_in_west_texas http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/playing_with_fire_in_west_texas <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/westtexas89976.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Ammonium nitrate fertiliser seems like a simple material, but it has a history of causing devastating explosions which have killed hundreds of people. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/playing_with_fire_in_west_texas" title="Permalink to 'Playing with fire in West, Texas'">Read more...</a></div> Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:41:43 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/playing_with_fire_in_west_texas http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/ebXyLwGN8-8/making_a_world_fit_for_the_young http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/making_a_world_fit_for_the_young <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/family-silhouette0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Human ecology is a youth issue, too, if only the young would realise that. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/making_a_world_fit_for_the_young" title="Permalink to 'Making a world fit for the young'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:58:43 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/making_a_world_fit_for_the_young http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/hQe3UOBFNIc/ageing_matilda_and_the_threat_to_democracy http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/ageing_matilda_and_the_threat_to_democracy <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/elderly-voter0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />A young Australian argues that youth interests need protection against an emerging gerontocracy. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/ageing_matilda_and_the_threat_to_democracy" title="Permalink to 'Ageing Matilda and the threat to democracy'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:57:43 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/ageing_matilda_and_the_threat_to_democracy http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/zWSmUEtsUp0/vater_vater_mutter_mutter_kind http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/vater_vater_mutter_mutter_kind <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/baby-girl0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />A German parliamentarian's homosexual household (and friends) takes the next step in "family diversity". <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/vater_vater_mutter_mutter_kind" title="Permalink to 'Vater, Vater, Mutter, Mutter, Kind'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:56:43 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/vater_vater_mutter_mutter_kind http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/dMrK88uAEKw/iron_man_3 http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/iron_man_3 <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/ironman30.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Shane Black has successfully reinvented Iron Man with a combination of humour and depth. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/iron_man_3" title="Permalink to 'Iron Man 3'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:51:16 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/iron_man_3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/VpFpNoFSitQ/is_religion_a_public_or_a_private_right http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/is_religion_a_public_or_a_private_right <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/religious_liberty0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Our public debate about religious liberty is missing a clear definition of religion, leading to confusion, frustration, shrill voices, and short tempers. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/is_religion_a_public_or_a_private_right" title="Permalink to 'Is religion a public or a private right?'">Read more...</a></div> Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:08:57 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/is_religion_a_public_or_a_private_right http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/S-9PWiibTYg/the_case_for_watching_zombie_films http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_case_for_watching_zombie_films <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/zombies0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />They are a chance to look at society as we know it under the microscope. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_case_for_watching_zombie_films" title="Permalink to 'The case for watching zombie films'">Read more...</a></div> Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:00:57 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_case_for_watching_zombie_films http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/F2mLN4goYL8/the_secret_thoughts_of_an_unlikely_convert http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_secret_thoughts_of_an_unlikely_convert <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/butterfield0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />An English professor's journey from queer theory to Christian faith. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_secret_thoughts_of_an_unlikely_convert" title="Permalink to 'The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert'">Read more...</a></div> Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:10:46 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_secret_thoughts_of_an_unlikely_convert http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/Sqg1JhH0dbg/six_claims_on_detainee_torture_skewered http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/six_claims_on_detainee_torture_skewered <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/gitmo0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />A scathing report on the treatment of detainees by the US refutes key claims defending the use of torture. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/six_claims_on_detainee_torture_skewered" title="Permalink to 'Six claims on detainee torture, skewered'">Read more...</a></div> Thu, 25 Apr 2013 03:08:11 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/six_claims_on_detainee_torture_skewered http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/cD0nGwehEk4/the_real_story_of_savitas_tragic_death http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_real_story_of_savitas_tragic_death <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/savita8765443.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Last year the death of an Indian woman was exploited as an example of Ireland’s “archaic” abortion laws. But the under-reported inquest tells a different story. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_real_story_of_savitas_tragic_death" title="Permalink to 'The real story of Savita’s tragic death'">Read more...</a></div> Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:31:46 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_real_story_of_savitas_tragic_death http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/A5OrSOLcSRU/why_should_we_care_about_boston http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/why_should_we_care_about_boston <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/boston_marathon_bombings234.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Some Australian journalists have asked why so much coverage was given to American deaths and so little to deaths in Iraq. Are they right? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/why_should_we_care_about_boston" title="Permalink to 'Why should we care about Boston?'">Read more...</a></div> Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:37:12 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/why_should_we_care_about_boston http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/m8R11_lkCzU/lessons_from_the_boston_bombings http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/lessons_from_the_boston_bombings <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/bomb0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Such things will likely happen again. We have to prepare ourselves for the next unexpected attack. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/lessons_from_the_boston_bombings" title="Permalink to 'Lessons from the Boston bombings'">Read more...</a></div> Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:47:33 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/lessons_from_the_boston_bombings http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/DmGDKreRQiU/should_human_genes_be_patentable http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/should_human_genes_be_patentable <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/genese3t4545.jpeg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />We must ensure that access to needed tests and treatments is not limited by the operations of the market. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/should_human_genes_be_patentable" title="Permalink to 'Should human genes be patentable?'">Read more...</a></div> Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:25:55 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/should_human_genes_be_patentable http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/UUvnSQFIv4I/whats_going_on_behind_babys_big_blue_eyes http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/whats_going_on_behind_babys_big_blue_eyes <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/baby_consciousness0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />A study published last week appears to contain the first scientific evidence that a 5-month-old infant is conscious. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/whats_going_on_behind_babys_big_blue_eyes" title="Permalink to 'What’s going on behind baby’s big blue eyes?'">Read more...</a></div> Tue, 23 Apr 2013 02:13:51 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/whats_going_on_behind_babys_big_blue_eyes http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/S7VKoUyLO-I/a_hijacking http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/a_hijacking <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/ahijacking7896.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />This extraordinary Danish film about a merchant ship taken by Somali pirates is a masterpiece of tension and characterisation. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/a_hijacking" title="Permalink to 'A Hijacking'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:33:37 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/a_hijacking http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/XFdZMu6mbxI/will_malaysias_elections_bring_an_asian_spring http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/will_malaysias_elections_bring_an_asian_spring <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/malay0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Citizens are weary of the politics of patronage, giving the opposition a fighting chance to win. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/will_malaysias_elections_bring_an_asian_spring" title="Permalink to 'Will Malaysia’s elections bring an Asian Spring?'">Read more...</a></div> Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:29:18 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/will_malaysias_elections_bring_an_asian_spring http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/8cVEtEkNyg4/the_law_and_martin_luther_king_jr1 http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_law_and_martin_luther_king_jr1 <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/King-Birmingham-jail.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Fifty years ago this week, Martin Luther King Jr was sitting in a jail in Birmingham, Alabama, for marching against segregation. From his cell he wrote a stunning analysis of what constitutes a just law. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_law_and_martin_luther_king_jr1" title="Permalink to 'The law and Martin Luther King Jr'">Read more...</a></div> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 05:14:04 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_law_and_martin_luther_king_jr1 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/hmflWXR0hTU/without_healthy_families_you_can_kiss_the_great_american_economy_goodbye http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/without_healthy_families_you_can_kiss_the_great_american_economy_goodbye <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/economiccrisis0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Family, church, and school are the three basic people-forming institutions, and they produce the best results when they cooperate. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/without_healthy_families_you_can_kiss_the_great_american_economy_goodbye" title="Permalink to 'Without healthy families you can kiss the Great American Economy goodbye'">Read more...</a></div> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 03:31:53 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/without_healthy_families_you_can_kiss_the_great_american_economy_goodbye http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/an0alvxNaEM/indifference_to_the_fate_of_middle_east_christians_has_ancient_roots http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/indifference_to_the_fate_of_middle_east_christians_has_ancient_roots <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/baghdadchristians7865.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The Western media is using an centuries-old playbook in its treatment of Iraqi, Syrian and Egyptian Christians. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/indifference_to_the_fate_of_middle_east_christians_has_ancient_roots" title="Permalink to 'Indifference to the fate of Middle East Christians has ancient roots'">Read more...</a></div> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 02:03:54 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/indifference_to_the_fate_of_middle_east_christians_has_ancient_roots http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/eFfqgB03ZmI/burying_thatcher_why_celebrating_death_is_still_wrong http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/burying_thatcher_why_celebrating_death_is_still_wrong <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/maggiethatcherflowers.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Our dealings with the dead are just as ethically governed as our dealings with the living. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/burying_thatcher_why_celebrating_death_is_still_wrong" title="Permalink to 'Burying Thatcher: why celebrating death is still wrong'">Read more...</a></div> Wed, 17 Apr 2013 01:21:38 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/burying_thatcher_why_celebrating_death_is_still_wrong http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/Y-KcIa4V21Q/quiet_please._complacency_at_work http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/quiet_please._complacency_at_work <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/kermitgosnel99887.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The New York Times has ignored an appalling abuse of human rights in nearby Philadelphia. What explains its indifference to the Kermit Gosnell abortion trial? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/quiet_please._complacency_at_work" title="Permalink to 'Quiet, please. Complacency at work!'">Read more...</a></div> Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:32:35 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/quiet_please._complacency_at_work http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/A_c6hUNPa34/another_controversial_legacy http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/another_controversial_legacy <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/ivfbobedwards.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Robert Edwards, the inventor of IVF, died two days after Margaret Thatcher. History may show that his impact was even greater than hers. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/another_controversial_legacy" title="Permalink to 'The other controversial legacy'">Read more...</a></div> Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:07:17 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/another_controversial_legacy http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/_qe6ely8n3o/white_elephant http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/white_elephant <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/elefante-blanco-tt2132324.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />A gut-wrenching Argentinian drama about life in the sprawling slums of Buenos Aires gives English-speaking viewers an insight into the background of the new Pope. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/white_elephant" title="Permalink to 'White Elephant'">Read more...</a></div> Tue, 16 Apr 2013 02:50:09 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/white_elephant http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mercatornet/family_edge/~3/OM4KsrzwXcY/the_road_to_same_sex_marriage_was_paved_by_rousseau http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_road_to_same_sex_marriage_was_paved_by_rousseau <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/rainbowroad2.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />At the heart of the debate over same-sex marriage are fundamental questions about who men are and how we decide what makes us flourish. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_road_to_same_sex_marriage_was_paved_by_rousseau" title="Permalink to 'The road to same-sex marriage was paved by Rousseau'">Read more...</a></div> Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:24:59 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_road_to_same_sex_marriage_was_paved_by_rousseau