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 […]
SOMALIA: Displaced families in dire need Thousands of families displaced in recent fighting in central Somalia are in dire need of food and water, according to the Elman Human Rights Organization (EHRO), based in Mogadishu. According to Kiki Gbeho, head of OCHA-Somalia, despite the problems of access, “the humanitarian community is making all efforts to […]
“Education is a companion which no future can depress, no crime can destroy, no enemy can alienate it and no nepotism can enslave.” -Unknown One needs not to question that there is immense power behind education, however the longevity of education outweighs that of any aid one can provide a child. For education can never […]
Senegal is no stranger to the slave trade, as cities such as Saint-Louis prospered due to the sale of human lives. Gorée Island, which lies just less than 2 miles off the coast of Senegal, was one of West Africa's largest slave trading outposts during the Atlantic Slave Trade. The sale of men, women and […]
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney leaves office next week, leaving behind a legacy of back-room deals and, more importantly, a legacy of torture. Cheney in his eight years as vice president, and a career in civil service, paved the way for warrantless surveillance of the American people. Cheney also formed a team of legal experts […]
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 16-1 today to confirm Hillary Clinton's appointment as the next secretary of state. The committee's report now goes to the full Senate for a vote after the inauguration. This AP report characterizes Clinton's confirmation hearing testimony as a call for the return of diplomacy and an end to unilateralism: […]
New Design Could Revolutionize World Slums Paper houses could transform sprawling slums, according to developers who hope the creation of a cheap, sturdy and sustainable housing structure made from paper will change the way the world's poorest city dwellers live. The dwellings, made from resin-treated paper, will first be used in Zimbabwe and Nigeria. PAKISTAN: […]
Commenting on media coverage of the U.S. presidential election campaign last May, the Columbia Journalism Review asked an important question: "Do you let a candidate's remarks stand unchallenged even if they are wrong or misleading?" The CJR, a bimonthly magazine published by the prestigious Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, scolded the Rocky Mountain News […]
For the moment (and not to speak for Dan), I don't have any more analysis on the Gaza incursion – my take on the purely legal aspects of the issue is here. However, for those interested in the questions about the law of armed conflict posed by the incursion, Opinio Jurislinks what is certainly the […]
I want to present some more eye-catching, positive developments for your delectation. To paraphrase the Gershwins, “It’s very clear, renewables are here to stay.” Gulf Oil States in the Vanguard? – Why Not? In “Syriana,” a pretty cool movie if you haven’t seen it, an Arab Prince wants to move his country on from oil […]
Hillary Clinton is appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's confirmation hearing today and since this is all happening while I’m at work, I’m checking out the Madame Secretary blog for updates. Nice work guys. This AP report also has a summary of Clinton's comments to the committee during her audition to be America's next […]
The latest conflict between Russia and Ukraine over gas supplies has hit the headlines in both Europe and the United States but the media are far from agreed on the causes. Some argue that it is a geo-political move aimed at increasing Russian power in the region while others argue that it is a result […]