> ## 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. # Sticking to the guns: April 29 – May 5 on openDemocracy - URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/sticking-to-guns-april-29-may-5-on-opendemocracy/ - Published: 2013-05-04T23:05:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-04-23T01:25:21.000Z - Description: Has a red line been crossed in Syria? Bob Rigg urges caution and takes us through the history of chemical weapons in the Middle East, Mary Kaldor looks at what arming the rebels would do and laments the lack of a serious discussion about the plight of the Syrian people, Shelley Deane examines the - Author: openDemocracy Supporters - Tags: The Week in 1 Minute, #Migrated, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 17:36, #appended-excerpt Has a red line been crossed in Syria? Bob Rigg [urges caution](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/3c89e6c472&ref=opendemocracy.net) and takes us through **the history of chemical weapons in the Middle East**, [Mary Kaldor](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/206af6ed89&ref=opendemocracy.net) looks at what arming the rebels would do and laments the lack of a serious discussion about the plight of the Syrian people, Shelley Deane examines the [life cycle of civil war](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/327a5ee7e2&ref=opendemocracy.net), while, on the ground, Rita [asks if FSA fighters can ever get their lives back.](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/96c2255beb&ref=opendemocracy.net) While we worry about gas in Syria, there are still plenty of nukes around, and in a [series of pieces](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/74f9254d21&ref=opendemocracy.net) Rebecca Johnson covers the UN Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and concludes **the NPT is toothless in the face of real world dangers**. openDemocracy columnists Vron Ware and Paul Rogers look at warfare too, [military wives](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/615a5dd063&ref=opendemocracy.net) and **the dangers of developing new weaponry**, from [drones to lasers](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/e47f937329&ref=opendemocracy.net). (Another, Dan Hancox, ponders [Occupy's legacy](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/d570e58796&ref=opendemocracy.net) in New York.) Erwin van Veen looks at how we can [reduce global violence](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/206840175d&ref=opendemocracy.net) but so far the gun peddlers aren’t suffering, making [arms deals](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/250ceafcff&ref=opendemocracy.net) in the Gulf and [doing just fine in Europe](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/e9b2ba0717&ref=opendemocracy.net). In Europe Bernard Rorke [calls on the EU](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/86b5610e37&ref=opendemocracy.net) to officially recognize**anti-Gypsyism as a long-standing and deeply rooted form of European prejudice**, Mario Pianta [presents the new Italian PM Enrico Letta](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/1eab0c6afa&ref=opendemocracy.net) and asks [if austerity is at the beginning of its end](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/34c678e327&ref=opendemocracy.net). **Nickel mining** [**threatens**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/2b9b8b0109&ref=opendemocracy.net) **Russia’s breadbasket**, its nature and population, while government inspectors [enforce Putin’s anti-NGO foreign agents bill](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/2ddcab1e48&ref=opendemocracy.net) and Dmitri Travin wonders if [the new campaign to combat corruption](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/3e56e69536&ref=opendemocracy.net) is real or not. Marissa Begonia [reflects](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/735accb2a9&ref=opendemocracy.net) on the **fight for the rights of migrant domestic workers in Britain** and we look at [the link between immigration policy, labour markets and exploitation](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/983afd182e&ref=opendemocracy.net), and how the country may [squander human rights for the sake of deporting a single extremist](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/bab53330cb&ref=opendemocracy.net) in a populist move. In Bangladesh, [bloggers have found themselves](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/4e6ecfd637&ref=opendemocracy.net) **hunted by fundamentalists, denounced in mosques as atheists, arrested by the government**, while in France the different reactions to the[ban on burqas and to the legalisation of same-sex marriage](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/5c16887954&ref=opendemocracy.net) lay bare the hypocrisy of the French right. There are **attempts at peace and reconciliation** in [Mali](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/05cb3c7d47&ref=opendemocracy.net) and the [Philippines](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/3a45207599&ref=opendemocracy.net), but we’re warned our optimism should be cautious. In Guatemala dictator Rios Montt is [on trial for genocide](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/06839fb0a3&ref=opendemocracy.net), while elsewhere Israel continues its policy of [impunity for its military and political officials](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/75ba7afd09&ref=opendemocracy.net). **Everyone at openDemocracy are very sad to see** [**Niki Seth-Smith**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/ee6afdc3b3&ref=opendemocracy.net) **leave as co-editor of Our Kingdom**, but do read her [goodbye letter](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/b1df48fcbc&ref=opendemocracy.net). Also: [UK republicans and tax justice](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/a434e94e23&ref=opendemocracy.net), [an evening with the Iron Lady](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/5c3ab1d39f&ref=opendemocracy.net), [UK surveillance law](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/cd91c80d75&ref=opendemocracy.net), [trans women in feminism](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/d9430db500&ref=opendemocracy.net) and Jo Shaw on [the terror watchdog that failed to bark - Britain's secret justice legislation](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/22913259f4&ref=opendemocracy.net). **Dont miss:** - Charlie Brooker [on the electoral success](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/03c873e44e&ref=opendemocracy.net) of the UK Independence Party - Nature [on the true and false of GM crops](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/c4bef981e7&ref=opendemocracy.net) - Chris Hedges [on Wikileaks](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/e1f7fe1b50&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/f74825309b/7262321cfa/da44600c42/openDemocracy/bb28beb484/946f39415f/51634b1085/openDemocracy/d4022f1a75/TEST/e64101092e&ref=opendemocracy.net) **or email us (**[**supporters@opendemocracy.net**](mailto:supporters@opendemocracy.net)**).** Has a red line been crossed in Syria? Bob Rigg [urges caution](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/3c89e6c472&ref=opendemocracy.net) and takes us through **the history of chemical weapons in the Middle East**, [Mary Kaldor](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/206af6ed89&ref=opendemocracy.net) looks at what arming the rebels would do and laments the lack of a serious discussion about the plight of the Syrian people, Shelley Deane examines the [life cycle of civil war](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/327a5ee7e2&ref=opendemocracy.net), while, on the ground, Rita [asks if FSA fighters can ever get their lives back.](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/f74825309b/7262321cfa/96c2255beb&ref=opendemocracy.net)