Climate change catastrophe threatening humankind
The world faces enormous changes in weather patterns and other natural phenomena. These changes have resulted from the emission of man-made pollutants from traditional, non-renewable fuels such as coal and oil in energy production.
Progress in Education and Health Care in Venezuela
:?w|are and public education have been two major points of social reform for the Chávez administration in Venezuela. While the private sector has decried the government's promotion of public services in these sectors as cutting into private profit margins, early indicators point to important improvements in health care delivery and general access to educational institutions.
Murderous Maniacs, PUCs and the Geneva Convention
The respected human-rights monitoring organization, Human Rights Watch, has recently issued a startling account, based on the testimony of three Army officers, which confirms the widespread, systematic use of severe physical and mental torture against detainees at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mercury in Iraq.
Brazil: Clean Politics on the Left
Brazil's Lula, elected on a wave of optimistic idealism, has learned to make political moves far less than ideal...He was elected to lead a nation with a failed domestic economy and a shadow foreign policy, rich beyond measure in resources, but as poor as any in the world. And he was elected with a mandate, but had to work with a Congress whose parties he defeated.
North Korea and The New Yorker – a Case of Hysteria in Print
Usually the staid New Yorker magazine can be counted upon to publish fairly informative, if not always completely reliable, articles about the goings on in our world. The August 22, 2005 issue, however, has an hysterical rant about North Korea more suitable to a tabloid such as the Enquirer than to a magazine that prides itself on its 'quality.'
UN DEMOCRACY FUND: Spreading Democracy a la Bush?
DURING the recent visit of prime minister Manmohan Singh to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly session, among the various activities conducted on the sidelines of the session was the launching of the UN Democracy Fund. The meeting was co-hosted by the US president, the Indian prime minister and the UN secretary general.
The Greens and the German Elections
'Not with me,' said Joschka Fischer, head of the Greens Party, who remains Foreign Minister until a new government is formed. His refusal meant he would not join a government headed by Angela Merkel, the leader of the right-wing Christian Democratic Union, which won a very thin, unexpectedly thin victory in last Sunday's election.
Africa Action Statement on 100% Debt Cancellation for Africa
6C)¼;?ment defines real 100% debt cancellation for Africa as understood by Africa Action. It is equally a statement of solidarity with civil society throughout Africa, whose leaders have long declared Africa’s debts to be both unpayable and illegitimate. Africa’s debts must be cancelled as a matter of economic justice because they are largely illegitimate and odious debts.
The Slow Collapse of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for South Sudan
Despite the formation of a new Sudanese 'Government of National Unity' in Khartoum, there is overwhelming evidence of bad faith on the part of the National Islamic Front (NIF) in creating what is only the semblance of a new political order.
ABLE DANGER: WHAT LURKS BEHIND BUSH'S STONEWALL
This week the Bush Administration prevented witnesses from providing public testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee about Able Danger, 'a secret military unit that is said to have identified four of the Sept. 11 hijackers more than a year before the terrorist attacks.'
