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# Violence, silence and absence – The Week in 1 Minute: Apr 28 – May 4 on openDemocracy
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/violence-silence-and-absence-week-in-1-minute-apr-28-may-4-on-opendemocracy/
- Published: 2014-05-03T23:05:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-23T01:38:56.000Z
- Description: This week openDemocracy marked International Workers' Day by joining the queue outside the jobcentre. The global effects of crisis on the labour market are clear, calling for a more secure 'equality economy'. The European Progressive Economists Network asks if another road for Europe is possible,
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: The Week in 1 Minute, #Migrated, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 17:46, #appended-excerpt

*Transformation* too tells us it’s time for [a new definition](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/b4ca25f91d&ref=opendemocracy.net) of global activism, arguing that **anger should not be the dominant motivation** behind the fight for equality, and looking at a project to bring [‘Cowboys and Indians’](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/4a50ff59ed&ref=opendemocracy.net) together.  
  
*ourKingdom* continues its countdown of the [40 reasons](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/23e95358cb&ref=opendemocracy.net) to support **Scottish independence** and reminds us that the [NHS is not safe](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/55c4c64444&ref=opendemocracy.net) in David Cameron’s hands (nor is our [public health data](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/5df14fbaf1&ref=opendemocracy.net)). But there are people [standing up](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/d73220da5e&ref=opendemocracy.net) to be counted [for the NHS](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/a0393cc926&ref=opendemocracy.net).  
  
*openSecurity* puts **child marriage** in the spotlight, shining a much needed light on the plight of hundreds of young girls in north-eastern Nigeria who have been [kidnapped and forced into marrying](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/0d900582c5&ref=opendemocracy.net) members of Boko Haram.  
  
Tom Cowan draws **fourteen months of Cities in Conflict** to a close with [a meditation on urbanism](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/d46610a338&ref=opendemocracy.net), trapped between saviourism and withdrawal, and a new feature for openDemocracy - [our first timeline](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/9450f9b211&ref=opendemocracy.net) \- dedicated here to a rare feast of favourite articles, interviews, photo-essays and films.  
  
This week also marked the hundredth year of the **Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom**, and *50.50* takes a moment to look at the roots of the [women’s peace movement](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/182d1deeea&ref=opendemocracy.net), prelude to a new series on Northern Ireland’s [women peacebuilders](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/0beca40e9d&ref=opendemocracy.net).  
  
Meanwhile, **the toll of** [**violence in Yemen**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/0564674da5&ref=opendemocracy.net) **continues** unabated—if largely unreported, and there is yet more violence as the[bloodletting continues](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/3f31ecaade&ref=opendemocracy.net) in South Sudan. Neither of its factional leaders, with blood on their hands, can be part of its future.  
  
Cas Mudde and Donald Beaudette address [a similar theme](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/bb8eabf74a&ref=opendemocracy.net) in joining Robin Wilson and Lorcan Mullen to look at [lessons](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/fd79738865&ref=opendemocracy.net) from the [arrest](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/4b93385977&ref=opendemocracy.net) of Gerry Adams. Cas Mudde also has his doubts as to whether **Eurosceptic parties,** with [more MEPs](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/45faadbebf&ref=opendemocracy.net) than ever before in the next European Parliament, will be able to work together.  
  
Anton Shekhovtsov [lays out](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/c0e900d6ce&ref=opendemocracy.net) the **deep links the Kremlin has established with far-right parties** **throughout Europe**, while Nikolay Nikolov looks at [these links to populist parties](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/f84c78c866&ref=opendemocracy.net) in his native Bulgaria and concludes that all players are engaging in cynical and ideologically-bankrupt politics.  
  
*Transformation* asks [what’s normal](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/31a2859276&ref=opendemocracy.net)? in its exploration of **the politics of psychiatric labelling**. Drawing on a [deeply personal trauma](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/d51d0d343f&ref=opendemocracy.net), Nina Power examines the nexus between mental health and state violence, while Peter Beresford draws our attention to the ways in which mental health is being [cut and privatised](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/2a6f2af8a8&ref=opendemocracy.net).  
  
We end with the sad news that **Magnus Nome**, our Editor-in-Chief, is leaving us to pursue new challenges. After two years at the helm, he is [passing the torch](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/c05f3ae442&ref=opendemocracy.net) on to someone new ([here’s the job ad](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/fbd68fd3b9&ref=opendemocracy.net)). The whole of openDemocracy thanks him for his hard work!  
  
**In case you missed**:

- [Ynet News has a candid post mortem on the Israel/Palestinian talks from the US perspective](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/4e5ad794c0&ref=opendemocracy.net)
- [40 maps to explain the Middle East, courtesy of Vox](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/64166d7fbc&ref=opendemocracy.net)
- [The Intercept: UK’s GCHQ begged NSA for more access](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/421e394b99&ref=opendemocracy.net)
- [US state report confirms climate change is impacting the country already](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/871bf7a9f5&ref=opendemocracy.net)

This week openDemocracy marked International Workers' Day by joining the queue outside the [jobcentre](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/7f91a5a377&ref=opendemocracy.net). **The global effects of crisis on the labour** market are clear, calling for a more secure ['equality economy'](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/a28d7b3dda&ref=opendemocracy.net). The European Progressive Economists Network asks if [another road for Europe](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/e61753fdbb&ref=opendemocracy.net) is possible, while Simon Maxwell and Margaret Jay [insist that Europe](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/5e8fda4f14/7262321cfa/e229fe55b3&ref=opendemocracy.net) should lead the way in world development.