Climate justice discussions entangle multiple perspectives, which while often controversial must be addressed. Policy makers might have different priorities, while only pretending to listen to the voices of relevant people for climate negotiations. Are we supporting a more ecological and inclusive future, or simply using the sustainability flag to gain support and achieve hidden economic goals? COP, the Conference of the Parties 30, the 30 th  United Nations conference on Cli

“In the corners of a Circle”, an artwork created by Fashion Design graduate, Kim Gemmik, was exhibited at Bureau Europa for this year’s FASHIONCLASH Festival in Maastricht. The viewers could discover the artwork in its basement.  When walking down the stairs, I was immediately introduced to the interactive and playful part where the viewer was invited to become a model themselves. As another group of artists and friends were having fun with the activity, I chuckled, inspired

The UN’s Committee on World Food Security (or CFS) envisions a large role for governments in food systems with ambitious responsibilities for national and regional governments. The CFS gathered this summer to draft a shared vision on Urban and Peri-Urban food systems. Their conclusions included a vision for the formalization of markets, intentions for international oversight, and best-practice sharing.  The CFS’s primary mandate is to converge national policies and coordinat

As the human rights crisis in Gaza worsened, protests in Germany were rising, fuelled by some citizens believing that the government was not taking enough action. From activists and public figures being uninvited to conferences because of their views, to UN experts accusing the government of systematically suppressing manifestations for Gaza, public opinion grew increasingly divided whilst the government continued to send weapons to Israel.  Germany’s moral duty to support Is

Art heists have an undeniable mystique. People cannot help but instantly feel invested in the topic, questioning the 'hows' surrounding the incident. Most recently, in October, the Louvre parted with a collection of French Crown Jewels valued at 102 million dollars after four masked thieves entered in broad daylight . In this particular Parisian case, the detail which intrigues people the most is how is it even possible, considering how well protected such art collections are

Trigger Warning: This article discusses films that include themes of gender-based violence, self-harm, bodily transformation, blood, horror and gore imagery, ritualistic violence, religious symbolism, and queerphobic behaviour. While graphic details are not described, some content may be disturbing or emotionally triggering for readers.  A Red Glow, A New Kind of Cinema FASHIONCLASH 2025  has proven itself a turning point in European fashion film, defined by outspoken, genre-

Tugs of Crisis, from Caracas to Beirut  Dear readers, welcome to your weekly rendez-vous with the Maastricht Diplomat.  US-Venezuela Standoff  Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are becoming increasingly apparent in terms of security. US President Donald Trump has suggested that he would be prepared to authorize ground operations against drug traffickers in Venezuela . This statement comes after multiple visits to US allies in the Caribbean  to secure strong coo

Figure 1 : Stop the Shutdown Rally - Washington D.C., January 2019 43 days of uncertainty left millions waiting, federal workers at a standstill, and no pay. American federal workers and citizens felt, and are still facing, the repercussions of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The nation is left asking: How did this happen? What happens next?  What is a government shutdown? The United States is the only country with a government that fails to keep funding goin

A primary forest is a pristine forest that has never been altered by human activity. It is a precious ecosystem, particularly for its biodiversity. Globally, only 1,180,000,000 hectares  remain, primarily in six countries: Brazil, Canada, the United States, Russia, China, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These forests have almost vanished elsewhere due to centuries of agricultural expansion, logging, mining, and urban development that permanently transformed natural land

Photo taken from the intro of the YouTube video “ Miu Miu Women's Tales #21 - Shangri-La”. On 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, it is important to remember that sexual abuse and harassment are still too prevalent in our world. While some acts of violence repeated are extremely brutal, others may seem milder but share the same violent essence in nature.  Several short films by the Miu Miu (a luxury brand created by Miuccia Prada) den

October 29, 2025. 9 pm. The results of a closer-than-ever election appear on Dutch television. The centrist liberals of D66 are ahead of the vote, the culmination of a remarkable comeback in the final days of the campaign. Led by a young front-runner, 38-year-old Rob Jetten, they embody a new era for Dutch and European politics. At the end of August, polls gave D66 around 10 seats in the Tweede Kamer. Today, they are the largest party in the Netherlands, with 26 seats, and ha

The bullet that killed Charlie Kirk did more than end a life. It exposed a nation already bleeding from within. I realized how deep the wound had become last week while standing in the backyard of a house party in Santa Barbara. The music was loud and the conversations drifted from finals to travel plans. Everything felt light until someone mentioned Kirk’s assassination. One guest immediately laughed and celebrated his death as if it were a joke, reenacting the moment Kirk w

Eyes on Chilean Cinema Allende making a speech. Photo taken from the Battle of Chile, The Coup d’Etat by Patricio Guzmán / Atacama Productions / ICAIC - Instituto Cubano de Arte e Industria Cinematográfico. Por la razón o la fuerza. By reason or by force.   This proverb is Chile's national motto, reflecting the Chilean republic's desire to assert its right to exist in the face of the colonising powers of the 19th century. Chile shall defend its rights through diplomacy and re

On October 30, 2025, the Latvian Parliament voted to withdraw  from the Istanbul Convention, with 56 votes in favour, 32 against and 2 abstentions. If confirmed, Latvia would become the first EU member state to leave the Council of Europe’s treaty on preventing and combating gender based violence.  International observers, including the Council of Europe and women’s rights organisations, have criticised the withdrawal vote as a setback for gender equality in Europe. They have

October 29th saw the Dutch return to the polls to decide on the fate of their new government. At the center of the debate were issues like housing and migration, but this is not the whole picture. The last government led by Geert Wilders fell due to his strong anti immigration stances, which often went against EU law. His extreme demands did not sit right with the other parties in the coalition, the VVD, NSC, and BBB, and as such it will be interesting to see how this will in

Shadows of the Past, Fights of the Future Dear reader, welcome to your weekly Sunday night blues remedy! Tonight, we are travelling across the continents, amidst the phantoms of the past and the troubles of global diplomacy.  13 Novembre : La France se souvient* *France remembers  As a French writer, it would have been hard for me to dismiss the subject of the commemoration of the terrorist attacks  of November 13, 2015, which changed French society forever. On this night, th

With the Chilean presidential elections being held tomorrow, November 16 will be an important day for Chile. A Marxist communist president may be elected, the first since Salvador Allende ( 1970-1973 ); his legacy brings back painful memories to the coup d’état before the violent dictatorship . To honor and remember the victims of these frightful years, a museum was created, instilling their legacy in a national one. I will showcase the archives of the Museum of Memory and Hu

Suharto Titled “ National Hero ” On November 10 2025, Indonesia conferred the title of   Gelar Pahlawan Nasional  (“ National Hero ”) on former President Suharto, prompting widespread discussion. Such an act matters far beyond symbolic commemoration: it revives public debate over historical memory, addresses issues of transitional justice, and interprets the legacy of its authoritarian era. Many domestic and international observers have read the award as part of a broader pol

After a long day at the university, do you often find yourself seeking entertainment in parody shows like SNL or South Park? While you may be a fan of these programs, you might not be fully aware of the legal issues they can raise. For instance, the majority of the spectators do not think about whether by the creation of the parody the rights of the original creator were harmed. Such legal implications go by unnoticed by most, whereas due to its popularity of parody it would

Figure 1 : Place to Stay Music Festival at the B, Maastricht, September 12th 2025 Picture: Camiel van der Heijden “Essentially, what it comes down to is community, ” says Yvette Ojo. “ That is the aim of Place to Stay. ”  Music, art, and compassion. These are the building blocks of the recently founded Maastricht collective. Through their festivals, Place to Stay  turns creativity into an act of care, developing spaces where art meets solidarity and where people come together