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Beijing takes the initiative in the Ukraine conflict

by Ralph Bosshard,* Switzerland

(14 March 2023) Just in time for the anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine, the Chinese Foreign Ministry launched its initiative for a political solution to the conflict.1 [See the 12 points in the appendix, ed.]

With its cleverly formulated and launched peace proposal, Beijing has staked its claim to a say in important issues of world politics and continues to promote its vision of a multipolar world in which Russia, too, would have to find its own place. Far from letting its Russian partner drag it into a conflict at an inopportune moment, however, China is not prepared to drop it either.
France

Let’s help each other to live, not to die

(14 March 2023) (sv) The French association "Alleviate but don't kill" makes an appeal to the whole of society in view of the Civic Convention that has been meeting in France since 9 December 2022 on end-of-life issues (see box).
France

Euthanasia and assisted suicide must not be considered as care

(14 March 2023) (sv) Representatives of 13 professional nursing associations in France have taken it upon themselves, with a view to possible changes in the law, to reflect on the consequences of legalising assisted suicide and euthanasia (see Box 1) on daily nursing practice and to inform legislators and the population about the results. – We print here the abridged version of their statement, which received wide attention in France. It deserved this attention in many Western countries where the ban on killing has already been challenged or abolished.

The ninth anniversary of the Ukraine war

by Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs,* USA

(7 March 2023) We are not at the 1-year anniversary of the war, as the Western governments and media claim. This is the 9-year anniversary of the war. And that makes a big difference.

The West and the Global South

‘You can’t be neutral in Ukraine War’

You are either with us, or against us

by Ben Norton,* USA

(7 March 2023) The foreign ministers of the United States, Germany, and Ukraine have told the world “you can’t be neutral” in NATO’s proxy war with
Russia,1 recalling President George W. Bush’s infamous declaration, “You are either with us, or against us”. In doing so, these Western officials are implicitly criticizing the vast majority of the countries on Earth, which are in the Global South, and which have maintained strict neutrality over the war.
Russia

A new life: four student portraits

A report on young people who, despite the conflict in Ukraine, decided to make a success of their lives

by Maria D.*

(7 March 2023) No one knows in advance what life will bring, and therefore, you can hardly prepare for unpredictable twists of fate. At present, the whole world is watching the great drama unfolding in the Slavic area.