Someone wished me a “happy Memorial Day” in passing and I wondered if they understood what the holiday was really all about. What is it really all about? The above photo was taken the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in France. According to Wikipedia, “the cemetery contains the largest number of American military dead in […]
Though Memorial Day did not become federal law until the 20th century, per above document, its origins reside in the post-Civil War era. Perhaps for this reason, the words of General William Tecumseh Sherman are with me today: I confess, without shame, I am sick and tired of fighting—its glory is all moonshine; even success […]
The legal standing of indigenous people improved earlier this week when Nicaragua ratified the only binding international law for tribal people, the International Labour Organization Convention 169. While ILO Convention 169 covers many of the same provisions as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, unlike the UN Declaration it is legally binding […]
Forty cents a day. That’s how much it costs to supply antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to an HIV/AIDS patient in sub-Saharan Africa. That is the gist of this short (30 minute) documentary created by HBO and (RED). Set in Zambia, the film documents the lives of several people whose lives have been turned around for the […]
Ben Wildavsky, Senior Fellow in Research and Policy at the Kauffman Foundation and a Guest Scholar at the Brookings Institution, recently published an interesting book – The Great Brain Race: How Global Universities are Reshaping the World. The book details just how globalization is making for better universities around the world and a competition among […]
I recently wrote a book review for the site The Mantle, a “forum for the next generation of leaders to be heard.” Here is a bit about the review to whet your appetite: “For the first time, the American National Security Strategy will focus on homegrown extremists ‘radicalized’ on American soil. The focus represents a […]
Children across the developing world are abused, trafficked, and forced in to situations of harsh labor, many receive little to no education, however often their stories remain silenced. IRIN has recently launched a new series of short films which illustrate the difficult challenges that many children across the globe face on a daily basis. IRIN […]
The Obama administration published its new National Security Strategy this week. So of course everyone is debating whether or not it’s actually much different than the Bush administration’s 2002 NSS, which laid out the argument for preventive military action. AP tells us, “Obama’s new security strategy breaks with Bush.” The NYT article on the report […]
Last week I attended the annual meeting of the UN Development Program (UNDP)’s Civil Society Advisory Committee. The significance of this committee for UN accountability merits attention. The UN – and most donor countries, for that matter – spends a good deal of time preaching the importance of civil society. As the line goes, civil […]
The spotlight is on Africa as South Africa gears up for the launch of the continent’s first World Cup, opening June 11th. To shed some of that light on global health, a few reports have been released this week highlighting the progress and challenges of African social and economic development. The Africa Progress Panel, chaired by former UN Secretary General […]
Egypt is the land of pyramids and pharaohs, a magical and mystical place living in the minds of dreamers and tourists the world over. A constant stream of headlines fuels the mystique and allure of Egypt: MSNBC reports divers are exploring the sunken remains of Cleopatra’s palaces and USA Today reports on ancient mummies discovered […]
Amnesty cites torture in 111 countries Individual governments are using their diplomatic power to cripple international justice efforts and helping to drive human-rights abuses around the world, Amnesty International charges its annual report released today. The group found torture used routinely in 111 countries and called on major powers such as the U.S., China and […]
Fast Forward – Ethics and Politics in the Age of Global Warming is the title of a book just out from two international relations heavyweights at Brookings. Strobe Talbott was deputy secretary of state in the Clinton administration and William J. Antholis worked at the National Security Council and at State, and was director of […]
Africa Rural Connect has partnered with World Policy Journal to offer people a chance to write their thoughts about food security in rural Africa. The organizers are looking for creative yet practical ideas for ensuring food security in rural Africa. Some of the contest details include: Submission length: 800-1,200 words Contest dates: June 1, 2010 […]
Last week the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Maqaleh v. Gates that detainees held by the U.S. in Afghanistan cannot challenge their detention in U.S. courts. There are many jurisdictional issues at play, some of which stem from the Supreme Court’s Eisentrager decision in 1950, in which the court ruled that German nationals […]