by Sarah Anderson, Institute for Policy Studies, USA - Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have been the strongest supporters of taxing financial transactions for nearly two years. A few months ago, the European Commission also reversed its earlier opposition and released proposed legislation for such a tax in the European Union.

by Nicole Pope, Today's Zaman, Turkey - The wide gender disparity on the economic front could have a long-term impact on the sustainability of Turkey's growth. The WEF tracks the male/female ratio in countries around the world because it believes closing the gender gap is not just an issue of human rights and equity, but one of efficiency

by Gayatri Parameswaran, Radio Netherlands, Netherlands - Tribal people are being pushed off their forest land because the government leases out forest areas for development projects. One of the major demands of the ‘adivasi parliament’ is access to forest land and minor forest produce, which would let them continue to live as they have for centuries.

by Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation, USA - More than one in three Americans now lives on less than $44,700 annually for a family of four. That makes it pretty tough—sometimes impossible—to afford the basics like housing, healthcare, food and education.That’s why more and more people are turning to the safety net who never imagined they would need to.

by Helena Hyvönen, European Journalism Centre, Netherlands - Mexico is now considered to be the most dangerous country in the western hemisphere in which to practice journalism.

by Khadija Sharife, Pambazuka, Kenya - Did France intervene in Libya out of desire to promote democracy, or simply to secure its business interests?

by Aurore Cloe Dupuis, France 24, France - Protesters and NGOs marching in Nice on Tuesday ahead of the G20 summit in Cannes say growing anti-capitalist protest movements are a great cause for hope.

by Olivia Chung, Asia Times, Hong Kong - Protests by Chinese homeowners objecting to price cuts on new purchases for similar properties appear unlikely to halt more reductions, as developers struggle to maintain sales and cash flows.

by Fionnuala Sweeney, CNN, USA - Reporters often encounter danger on the job. Call it survival journalism – the fine line some journalists walk between reporting the truth and not getting killed. Four female reporters were recently honored for courage in journalism by the International Women's Media Foundation.

By Alana Semuels, Los Angeles Times, USA - Even the well-educated find it tough to earn middle-class wages, and some end up in the farm fields where their parents toiled to give them better lives.

by Sonika Lamprecht, Mail & Guardian, South Africa - An unmanned ­helicopter that will enable farmers to monitor their crops, pastures and stock has been developed, and is being tested, by ­Stellenbosch ­University's department of electrical and electronic engineering.

by Mira Luna, Shareable, USA - Where national currency is not available because of overall scarcity or there is not enough market value for the work, local currencies can create real, tangible wealth we can see and control. Investing in community currency means investing in your community's health for the long haul, and therefore your own security and happiness.

by Tracey Ferrier, The Age, Australia - The battle to protect Australia's terrestrial environment from feared effects of coal seam gas mining is at fever pitch.

by Sylvia Martinez, MamiVerse, USA - Women are taking over the world, quite literally. From the corridors of colleges, universities and law schools to the arenas of construction and mining, the number of women has increased exponentially and organically.

by Suzanne Goldenberg, The Guardian, UK - Special session of legislature begins Tuesday afternoon – a key moment in whether 1,660-mile oil pipeline goes ahead

by Yasemin Ergin, Der Spiegel, Germany - Some 50 years after Germany and Turkey signed a labor agreement, a group of 35 so-called Turkish 'guest workers' embarked on an anniversary train trip to relive their original journey. Following her father's path, writer Yasemin Ergin rode along last week, recording their memories in the first two parts of her series.

by Sophie McBain, New Statesman, UK - Muammar Gaddafi is dead but the women of Libya remain fearful.

by Suzanne Lehn, Global Voices, Netherlands - "The time has come for an official acknowledgement of this tragedy, the memory of which is as much French as Algerian. The forgotten victims of 17 October 1961 were working, residing, living their lives in France. We owe them this basic justice, that of remembering."

by Lisa Hymas, Huffington Post, USA - Population growth tends to get blamed on other people: Africans and Asians who have "more kids than they can feed," immigrants in our own country with their "large families," even single mothers in the "inner city." But actually the population problem is all about me: white, middle-class, American me.

by Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich, Countercurrents, India - The Assad regime in Syria is facing increased scrutiny for its handling of demonstrators. The Syrian opposition has asked for arms and NATO intervention similar to what was witnessed in Libya . Washington Hawks such as former presidential candidate and U.S. Senator John McCain have called for military intervention in Syria to “protect civilians.”

by Erna Paris, Globe and Mail, Canada - The Supreme Court of Canada is currently pondering whether to jettison provisions in the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code that restrict free speech in the interests of protecting a vulnerable minority from publicly proclaimed hatred. The case in question concerns the rights of homosexuals, but the issue is broader: The court’s judgment will have a ripple effect on anti-hate laws and the rights of minorities everywhere.

by Devi Boerema, Radio Netherlands, Netherlands - Every two years the leaders of the Commonwealth countries meet to discuss issues of common interest. In recent years the discussion has focused increasingly on the future of the institution itself. Are the values the commonwealth is founded on still intact?