Another sad story to digest. This time, once again, an aspiring journalist was shot dead along with a human rights lawyer outside a metro in Moscow. Murdered in broad day light. Only 25 years old, Anastasiya Baburova, kept a blog about life in Russia, about her passion for rollerblading and her frustration with Putin’s government. […]
The Washington Post Wednesday reported that U.S. President Barack Obama ordered a suspension of war crimes trials for suspected terrorists held at the naval facility at Guantanamo Bay. We may have more on this later in the day. Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, January 21, 2009; Page A02 GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, Jan. 20 — In […]
Barak Obama was sworn in yesterday as President of the United States, however with President Obama, not only comes the new First Lady Michelle Obama, but also the ‘First Daughters’. Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, have surely done well thus far in the public spotlight, and shadow of their father. Nonetheless what does the move […]
I watched the inaugural address of Barack Obama at a packed auditorium at New York University School of Law. When Obama said, "America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity" the room broke out into applause. In fact, there were about a […]
How is the inauguration of Barack Obama changing perceptions of the U.S. role in the world? According to this AP report, the answer involves expressions of hope, expectation, elation and celebration: A world made weary by war, recession, joblessness and fear shed its collective burden Tuesday to celebrate the arrival of a new American president. […]
DC has been a buzz all weekend with the glitz and glamour of the inaugural balls, as well as the not so glamorous road blocks and street closing; however rain, shine or snow crowds of people will descend on the city streets in only a few hours. Many young and old have already begun to […]
Amnesty International joined a chorus of voices accusing Israel of war crimes for its use of white phosphorus incendiaries over populated areas of the Gaza Strip. White phosphorus munitions are used for a variety of roles by military forces. It is commonly used as a smoke screen to mask military movements on the ground. It […]
To day we honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., King’s fight for human rights and his legacy was left for all children regardless of race, religion or color. The fight he led for civil rights in the United States was, and still is, an inspiration for all who have, or are, oppressed around […]
As if sending Burmese refugees back out into the open sea wasn't bad enough, Thailand has now imprisoned an Australian writer for three years. His crime – insulting Thailand's “sacred” and beloved monarchy. Apparently, he self-published the work which only sold a dozen copies. Enough however to put him behind bars. The real crime is […]
The Answer, My Friend – Wind Farm Off Cape Cod Clears Hurdle is the story from the “NY Times” the other day. As you know, offshore wind projects have been hurtling forward in Europe, but have lagged years behind in the US. The Cape Wind project generated an extraordinary and largely unforeseen backlash when it […]
Move aside depressing economic outlook articles, this is going to be an exciting week. If only I could be in D.C. for a front row view! If you aren't lucky enough to have MLK Jr. Day as a national holiday and a day to volunteer your time, there is room for participation from all corners of […]
January 16 was Religious Freedom Day (the news was dominated by the miraculous landing of an airplane on the Hudson). Various religious organizations issued statements and press releases, while the Day itself even has its own website. The White House, on January 14, issued a press release to commemorate the annual recognition of the 1786 […]
The Asia Society held an interesting event the other day on the ins and outs of the melting of the Himalayan glaciers. Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, the Chairman of the IPCC, was the keynote speaker. Dr. Pachauri highlighted this startling observation: There were 500,000 square kilometers of glacial cover in the Himalayas in 1995. At the […]
Burma. Let's not even call it Myanmar. Doing so only condones the junta's legitimacy. It overthrew the ruling leaders in a military coup in 1962. And for years now, decades, the human rights abuses emanating from this kleptocracy is a constant reminder of the struggles facing a people held hostage. Nobel Peace prize winner Aung […]