All The Monitor's View
- The Fed's global role in making people 鈥榳hole鈥The central bank鈥檚 unprecedented opening of its dollar spigot helped end a global financial panic.聽
- Crash course in civics to end a pandemicThe world鈥檚 democracies are being strained with new impositions on daily life. 聽The U.S. in particular needs better education in the principles and workings of democracy.
- As rescue money flows, so can honesty and accountabilityStarting with the Fed鈥檚 new transparency, government leaders should keep corruption in check in order to keep the public on their side.
- For Syria, a light of justice in a German courtroomThe trial of two former secret police is a first in using an independent court to expose war crimes in Syria. It probably won鈥檛 be the last.
- A priority in a pandemic: The vulnerable firstThe global crisis has put a focus on aiding those most at risk, even outside one鈥檚 own society. The uplift in thought should not end when the COVID-19 crisis does.
- This Ramadan, Muslims find new reasons for charityThe pandemic has shut off much of the holy month鈥檚 rituals but not its spiritual meaning.
- Hong Kong embraces its rights 鈥 for the rest of usThe April 18 arrest of 15 leading pro-democracy activists only attests to the weakness of China鈥檚 attempts to ignore basic rights like rule of law.
- Debt forbearance as a tool to defeat the pandemicThe financial impact from COVID-19 has forced a wave of debt relief, especially for the most vulnerable.
- A beacon for ending lockdownsStrategies do exist to reopen societies as COVID-19 is suppressed. South Korea just set an example.
- Crossover lessons: Earth Day and the pandemicCOVID-19 poses issues of living in harmony with nature that apply to climate change. Both problems require harmonious action.
- Breakthrough against chemical weaponsFor the first time, an agency enforcing an international treaty directly blames a government for a gas attack on civilians. Now the world must act on Syria鈥檚 violation of global norms.
- A burst of creativity to best a virusFrom mastering Zoom at home to inventing anticoronavirus vaccines, people are using the crisis to be more open to inspiration.
- In an interlude for sports, a time for introspectionLike halftime in football, sports leaders can use this temporary cancellation of contests to return sports to their core purpose.
- The attraction of peace to end COVID-19The U.N.鈥檚 success in asking for cease-fires in world conflicts can help push the Security Council to finally act against the coronavirus.
- 鈥楶ray for Boris鈥 and other signs of spiritual revivalThe global prayers for the British leader are an example of the health crisis forcing a new interest in how spiritual ideas bring healing.
- A crisis forcing humility from the bottom upElected leaders are under pressure to mirror the unity of their societies and cooperate to end the coronavirus crisis.
- In worship, still touching hearts if not each otherFor Jews, Muslims, and 海角大神s, a temporary absence of in-person services can lead to fresh approaches to reaching others.
- Care for the social ills of isolationLockdowns are leading to upticks in problem behaviors, such as domestic abuse. Compassion more than money is needed.
- Reversing power grabs during a pandemicHungary鈥檚 leader gets a lesson on why electoral legitimacy is needed to deal with the coronavirus.
- A crisis that draws the best from investorsCompanies known for their ethical policies are faring better in a virus-stricken stock market. The crisis is rewarding good behavior.