Contents l i t z a

P a

K r i s t i n

Agenda Making the news this month

8 Canada quits Afghanistan, almost 9 South Sudan: what now for Africa’s newest country? 10 Bedding down freedom in Tunisia 11 Burmese mothers told: ‘Do not add water!’ 12 Walls of shame, destined to fail 13 Naming the dead in Mexico

Analysis Special feature: Men for gender equality

14 Cooking up a storm Men’s willingness to address how they see themselves is bringing change for the women in their lives, too. Nikki van der Gaag offers a global perspective.

18 Reaching out with both hands Gary Barker on helping young men break out of cycles of violence.

14

9

22 Boy talk… A lighthearted look at some not-so-great expectations. 23 No longer a fairytale

Researchers Mark McCormack and Eric Anderson on a generation of men who are unafraid of showing affection.

H a n d o u t

I S

/U N M

l k a c K u

Mi m

R e u t e r s/T

23

i s

I m a g e S h o p /C o r b

©

Also in Analysis 25 Fields of burning gold Danny Chivers with the lowdown on fuelcrops. Are any of them any good?

30 Branching out Biofuels, including those still in the pipeline,

at a glance.

25

20

20 The prison that is patriarchy

South African activist Mbuyiselo Botha’s rallying call to his fellow men.

Eric Miller

4 ● N ew I n t e r nat i o nal i s t ● J U LY/AU GUS T 2 011 Argument 34 Is animal testing necessary to advance medical research? Pro-testing activist Laurie Pycroft and Helen Marston,

who heads an organization that campaigns against the use of animals, focus on the key issues.

Regular Features 6 Letters Islam and other cultures; yet more on population and climate change; a Dalit hero remembered. Plus: Scratchy Lines by Simon Kneebone.

32 Country profile: Burkina Faso 44 Essay – Viewed through an ism Chris Abbott challenges the way we see the world.

46 View from Havana Leonardo Padura Fuentes considers Cuba’s prospects for real change.

34

I m a g e s i v e / P r e s sA s s o c i a t i o n

A r c h

/PA

i n

C h e s k i d

D a v

StephenMunday

34

What do you think? Join the debate by visiting www.newint.org/argument Plus: your feedback on last month’s debate,

‘Is nuclear power necessary for a carbon-free future?’

LaiSengSin/AP/PressAssociationImages

Arts 39 Campaigns set me free Jailed for writing a song called ‘Constipated

Constitution’, Cameroonian musician Lapiro believes international solidarity helped secure his release. Plus: film, music and book reviews, including a Hot

Docs film festival special from Toronto.

Alternatives 48 Doing things differently

Alien invasions, fair trade condoms and a mouthwatering vegetarian recipe.

Action 57 Don’t just sit there! Events to tempt you off the sofa this month. Plus: a round-up of campaign news.

57

50 Letter from Cairo Maria Golia on the ‘true

Egyptians’ who always seem to be up in arms.

51 Southern Exposure A mother’s pain,

photographed by K M Asad.

53 Mark Engler Is the US really teetering on the edge of bankruptcy?

55 Puzzle Page 56 Making Waves Krystian Legierski, politician and gay rights campaigner, believes the tide is turning in Poland.

50

60 Cartoon Corner Polyp’s Big Bad World, Marc Roberts’ Only Planet plus guest cartoonist Elena Ospina from Colombia.

61 Anna Chen Dissident artist Ai Weiwei is a thorn in China’s side.

l i c e n c e

62 And finally… Canadian First Nations actor Adam

Beach on being a role model for young aboriginal kids.

CC

l i v e !u n d e ra

AM a n

62

Front cover: Design Pics / Still Pictures Magazine designed by Alan Hughes / Ian Nixon. All monetary values are expressed in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

J o h n

:S a r a h

I l l u s t r a t i o n i e v e m e n tF o u n d a t i o n lA c h i n a lA b o r i g

N a t i o n a

N ew I n t e r nat i o nal i s t ● J U LY/AU GUS T 2 011● 5