The New York Times published an editorial yesterday analyzing the Republican win in Massachusetts this week and offering advice to President Obama. I’m not sure why the “gray lady” of American journalism is joining the chorus in this country calling for populist policies as a result of the Massachusetts election — sticking it to the banks […]
The excellent “Green Energy Reporter” had an item noting a new study on mountaintop removal mining and Stephen Colbert’s take. There are huge environmental and health impacts associated with coal mining, as I’ve noted a number of times, here and here, among others. Now a group of scientists, led by the University of Maryland’s Dr. […]
As millions of dollars in aid and other resources flow to Haiti, it is inevitable that someone will raise the specter of waste through corruption. Often such words come from those who oppose aid on ideological grounds, swaying public opinion by exploiting our natural aversion to corruption. But genuine abuses unfortunately do occur, and their […]
This report in the World Politics Review suggests that the U.S. and our allies have lost a contest you may not have realized we were engaged in. The contest was over energy resources in Central Asia and those of you who believe that much of what happens in world affairs is linked to the competition […]
Dr. Martin Luther King’s views on economic justice at home, and questions about U.S. relations abroad, raised important democratic and constitutional questions about whether or not U.S. foreign policy decisions that exclude the values, traditions and perspective of a large, important and influential segment of its society can truly ever reflect “American” national interests..?? In the context of an Obama presidency, and what it means for the future of our nation, this question is one that must be addressed.
As the aftermath of Haiti’s deadly hurricane continues to unfold, historic rescues are starting to be come less and less as hope for finding live victims in the debris and rubble has faded, as fear induced ciaos quickly followed in its path. A country already teetering on the brink of disrepair, the future of Haiti […]
One dictionary I consulted gave several definitions for reaction: 1. a. A response to a stimulus. b. The state resulting from such a response. 2. A reverse or opposing action. 3. a. A tendency to revert to a former state. b. Opposition to progress or liberalism; extreme conservatism. What I gather from this is that […]
An upcoming exhibit at Tufts University will showcase some of the finest photojournalistic work available. The exhibit, entitled “Questions Without Answers,” will feature the work of all of VII photo agency’s photographers, Marcus Bleasdale; Ron Haviv; Antonin Kratochvil; Gary Knight; Joachim Ladefoged; Christopher Morris; James Nachtwey; Franco Pagetti; Stephanie Sinclair; and John Stanmeyer; and the […]
Last week President Barack Obama granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitians for a period of 18 months. This applies those already living in the US, but without legal papers. It prevents their detainment or deportation, and enables them to work legally. The purpose of this status is to protect persons who cannot return to […]
It was probably over before it even started. As I watched Bulgaria’s minister of foreign affairs, Rumiana Jeleva, shuffle with discernible panic in her chair, any notions she had of becoming the EU’s future commissioner for humanitarian affairs came to an abrupt end. That was last Tuesday at the European Parliament as MEPs from around […]
We don’t all have a lot of money to send to Haiti to add to the countries harrowing disaster and relief effort and few of us have the needed skills, time and capabilities to volunteer to go over and help the country quite literally dig themselves out of the heartbreaking rubble that covers the impoverished […]
One of the most interesting exchanges from George Mitchell’s Charlie Rose appearance earlier this month (to which I linked earlier in the week) is this one: George Mitchell: Israel annexed Jerusalem in 1980. Charlie Rose: Annexed is an important word. George Mitchell: Annexed is a very important word. No other country and including the United […]
There is apparently a disagreement within the U.S. government about the validity of the CIA’s 2007 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE). The key bullet points of the NIE, found here, were: We assess with high confidence that until fall 2003, Iranian military entities were working under government direction to develop nuclear weapons. We judge with high […]
This movie will make the viewer grateful for even the worst pair of shoes. This Iranian film is a drama set in a poor neighborhood. Ali (Amir Farrokh Hashemian) and his sister Zhara (Bahare Seddiqi) concoct a scheme whereby she will wear a pair of sneakers in the morning and give them to her brother […]
A week after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti, international aid efforts are the subject of global appeals from governments, relief organizations, journalists, entertainers and more. Experienced relief organizations like the American Red Cross have benefited the most from campaigns to raise funds, and are starting to mobilize more effectively to help Haitians survive. Relief for […]