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Although generally considered a tolerant or even an ultra-pacifistic religion,
contemporary Buddhism is far from being free from internal political-religious tensions.
The present article sketches three conflicts: the first is located within the Kagyüpaline
where two sub-currents argue about the legitimacy of the spiritual leader of the
school; the second refers to the controversy over Dorje Shugden, a protective deity whose veneration was declared dangerous by the Dalai Lama and other leaders of the Guelugpa-school in opposition to the defenders of this religious practice; the third one is the dispute over Soka Gakkai whose status as a modern representative of Nichiren Buddhism is questioned by other Japanese Buddhist groups. After having laid out the basic characteristics of the three conflicts the article deals with their impact on contemporary Brazilian Buddhism.

APRESENTAM-SE subsídios para o debate sobre políticas de migração internacional que já se estende para movimentos sociais de expressivos contingentes documentados e não-documentados nos principais países de destino. Recomendações de organismos internacionais defendem políticas migratórias em termos de direitos humanos e na supervisão de remessas, consideradas um dos aspectos positivos das migrações e auxílio no combate à pobreza dos países de origem. O contraponto com formulações teóricas sobre o fenômeno evidencia incoerências e inviabilidades dessas propostas se não forem articuladas com esforços para o desenvolvimento econômico e social dos países envolvidos. ; THE TEXT presents arguments for the debate concerning international migration policies; this debate, nowadays, involve social movements of increasing number of documented and undocumented migrants in the main destination countries. International organisms recommend migration policies based on human rights and remittances, considered as a way of reducing poverty in origin countries. Nevertheless, considering theoretical approaches and recent mass movements we can argue about the viability of the propositions as well as the necessity of also considering the structural conditions for the development efforts in these countries as a fundamental manner of combating poverty and improving their level of life.

The creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) marks an important progress in international law. However, in order to become a relevant body the Court must rely on the cooperation of all its members & benefit from the help of the states that didn't subscribe to the Rome statute. In the post 9/11 context it is important to assess the impact of the new counter-terrorist agenda on the regular functioning of the Court: will it help or will it endanger the ICC professed goals? In this particular context, the United States' position is of the utmost importance. Adapted from the source document.

After thirty years of bilateral relations, China & the European Union share many relevant political, strategic & economic interests. The convergence of interests became more evident since the end of the Cold War as both the European Union & China stand for a multilateral international order. Also economic relations developed dramatically as China became the first trade partner of the European Union. The formal strategic partnership established between China & the European Union reflects those realities. The tensions over the textile crisis should be seen in this broader framework & should not harm the overall bilateral relationship. Adapted from the source document.