> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Quiet after the storm (Nov 19-25) - URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/quiet-after-storm-nov-19-25/ - Published: 2012-12-14T11:12:37.000Z - Updated: 2026-04-23T01:20:02.000Z - Description: So the rockets have stopped in Gaza. But these events need to remain tied to their historical context, says Eóin Murray; Israel is playing a long game. Martin Shaw sees them playing with fire, while our columnist Paul Rogers argues that, despite the close relationship between Israeli and US defenc - Author: openDemocracy Supporters - Tags: The Week in 1 Minute, #Migrated, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 17:27, #appended-excerpt A special **oDRussia investigation tells a harrowing story** of [modern day slavery](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/a735c1d10b&ref=opendemocracy.net) as, at the other end of the power spectrum, the implications of Sergei Shoigu once again [accepting his General’s epaulettes](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/28dccf07cb&ref=opendemocracy.net) are analyzed. Just starting up is the [16-day campaign against gender violence](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/4088550df5&ref=opendemocracy.net), as always covered better than anywhere else at oD [50.50](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/c2dd80ad7c&ref=opendemocracy.net). In Uganda, **the anti-gay bill could be days away from passing**: we [hear the story](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/1be53ca3ec&ref=opendemocracy.net) in an audio interview with an LGBT campaign leader there. In Spain, two suicides in quick succession by [homeowners facing eviction](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/23ed54cfae&ref=opendemocracy.net) have forced some hurried legislation, but **waves of protest started by the 15-M movement**, extensively covered on openDemocracy, are spreading. The other major groundswell in the country is in Catalonia, where elections took place on Monday. Matthew Tree explains and [clarifies](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/f8a05f7af8&ref=opendemocracy.net) some of the economic questions of the debate. It has been a week for decisions in Britain too. The Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling, has told MPs that they can vote to uphold the ban on prisoners voting, **despite a European Court ruling that this breaches their human rights**. Michael Bartlet [puts the case](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/b85436dd52&ref=opendemocracy.net) for enfranchisement. Meanwhile the governing body of **the Church of England voted against women bishops**. Jane Tillier, one of the first women to be ordained as a priest in the CoE, [expresses her pain](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/46db5841f3&ref=opendemocracy.net) at the news, while Simon Barrow takes us through [what this means for church and state](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/cb4b0c846f&ref=opendemocracy.net). openDemocracy likes to hold institutions to account, especially when it comes to public service. So OurKingdom explains why the [old-boy fixing at the BBC has to end](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/08e4d87be2&ref=opendemocracy.net), and **launches a petition for an open process to elect a new Director-General**. Maybe our petition gave Aunty a fright. She went ahead with her back-room deal anyway, and a suddenly, mysteriously, a new head has grown where George Entwhistle’s fell. We will be holding **a debate on the future of public-service broadcasting on Monday, December 10 in London**. [Come and help us work out](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/9a3dd48a1d&ref=opendemocracy.net) how to re-establish trust between the BBC and its public. In other media news, Lord Leveson will soon deliver his report. Lis Howell explains why [he should wait](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/593aca026e&ref=opendemocracy.net). **Elsewhere on the web:** - [#](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/dfa341c003/q=%23idfa&src=hash&ref=opendemocracy.net)[Oburma: the President in Myanmar](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/eadef1d211&ref=opendemocracy.net) - [The Polish hero of children’s rights](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/5260ea164c&ref=opendemocracy.net) - [Polluters must pay](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/b52b1b94b7&ref=opendemocracy.net), writes Jeffrey D. Sachs - [Death has a circadian rhythm](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/7646ce834d&ref=opendemocracy.net) **openDemocracy’s week in 1 minute is emailed to Members, Friends and authors who help pay for and create our great content. Please forward this to any contact you think might be interested and** [**want to join**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/b1a3ba4933/openDemocracy/bb28beb484/946f39415f/51634b1085/openDemocracy/d4022f1a75/TEST/e64101092e&ref=opendemocracy.net) **or email us (**[**supporters@opendemocracy.net**](mailto:supporters@opendemocracy.net)**).** So the rockets have stopped in Gaza. But these events need to remain tied to their historical context, says Eóin Murray; Israel is playing a [long game](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/12ad113df0&ref=opendemocracy.net). Martin Shaw sees them [playing with fire](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/ecf7e786d6&ref=opendemocracy.net), while our columnist Paul Rogers argues that, despite the [close relationship](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/b04ead4685&ref=opendemocracy.net) between Israeli and US defence forces, **regional politics are moving in favour of Hamas**. Mohammed Suliman’s interview live on CNN was [interrupted by a missile](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/9475c121b7&ref=opendemocracy.net), and the ceasefire is discussed by [Rob Prince](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/0bf3c9199f&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Mohammed S. Alnadi](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/0339c95c5d/7262321cfa/c53c013f6e&ref=opendemocracy.net).