Poland , The major international climate change meetings of the year are taking place in Poznan, December 1 through 12. This is the last "Conference of the Parties" (COP) to the UNFCCC before the critical COP in Copenhagen in December of 2009. (Here is Poland's website for the conference as well.) In the wake of […]
As you read through the United Nations Resolution 1514(XV) you begin to get a feel of its prose, of its ideals, and the people who put it to paper and for all those who benefit and have yet to benefit. This was in 1960, an era of European decolonization and where nations, particularly in Africa, […]
After increased Syrian military activity along its border with Lebanon, and a string of bombings in recent months, the two countries have voiced their interest in increased security cooperation. In a meeting Monday, Lebanese Interior Minister Ziad Baroud agreed with his Syrian counterpart to form a joint-commission charged with improving cooperation on matters of terrorism […]
Today we honor our country's veterans, for it was in 1918, at the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, that the fighting ceased in World War I with the German signing of the Armistice. Initially the day was known as Armistice Day, for which it remains known in many European countries. […]
The Inter Press Service News Agency published last week an article on religion in India, titled "Secular Fabric Under Threat." The author , Praful Bidwai , discusses a Hindu-chauvinist terrorist network, which police are now starting to understand better after two months of investigations. Bidwai writes that there are organizations and individuals "tied together by […]
I will be off tomorrow for the holiday, so I wanted to wish you a happy Veterans Day. As I previously mentioned, I grew up as a military brat (those who have one or both parents serving in the military) and this is a holiday that we tend to take seriously, as we have […]
Why is the promotion of breastfeeding, and the work that organizations like Mercy Corps are doing, so important? The first two years in a child's life are vital to that of healthy development into adulthood. After the age of two much of a child's life is already permanently imprinted upon them. Children who spend their […]
It's the final day of the 34th EUCOCO conference and people are slowly filing into the conference hall at El Palau de la Musica in Valencia, Spain. It is an appropriate setting for this finale where the dramas of injustice, oppression, and conviction play out on the stage in its many halls. Except this time, […]
An item in the "FT" caught my eye recently: Wal-Mart to seek greener supply chain. Fun fact: "In the US alone, Wal-Mart is estimated to sell about $30bn of goods annually that are made by about 30,000 factories in China, or about 10 per cent of all US imports." (I touched on what some retailers […]
The International Herald Tribune had the bright idea of asking six writers to identity what they most admired about President George W. Bush and would miss when he leaves the White House in January. Not all six were by any means Bush fans, but they all praised certain aspects of his character, often his basic […]
The people of Hong Kong have proven to be tough in pursuit of their own destiny. Now a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, this former British colony was given a special status not only because of its capitalist foundation under a one-party leadership. The name reflects the combination of Hong Kong's […]
You have probably seen these images on the news by now. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem erupted in a huge brawl on Sunday when Armenian and Greek orthodox began to fight for space in the church. The worshippers believe that it is the site of the crucifixion and contains the tomb of […]
Since the dawn of time women of set forth to care for their children, their natural source of sustenance for their infants, breastmilk. However natural breastfeeding may be, the rate of woman breastfeeding in some countries is significantly low, as seen in the previous post, Is Breastfeeding heading for extinction in the Philippines?, which is […]
The International Crisis Group calls it one of the world's longest and most neglected conflicts. For the Saharwi who live in the Western Sahara in southern Morocco, everyday is a struggle for recognition of basic fundamental rights and international attention. Neither seem to materialize. Progress is slow but for the global solidarity movement represented here […]
In times of war everyone becomes a victim, however children suffer more than anyone, and girls face an even graver fate than their male counter parts. Sexual Violence against girls is heightened in times of war, the degree of violence deepened. The Democratic Republic of Congo is no exception; in fact the DRC may truly […]