Last week, The New York Times “discovered” Afghanistan is not a barren war-torn wasteland without natural resources that American public opinion suggests, but rather poised to become “the Saudi Arabia of lithium.” Lithium is a scarce metal used to produce electronics. It has value to many growing nations, especially China and the United States. The details surrounding the [...]
Entries Tagged as ‘Foreign Policy’
May 27, 2010
Oil Extraction Threatens Communities in Peruvian Amazon
Peruvian indigenous leader Alberto Pizango made headlines today after being arrested on charges of sedition, conspiracy and leading a rebellion. Last summer, Pizango led months of protests which prompted Peruvian President Álan Garcia order police to “use force” to remove a road bock near Bagua Grande. About 50 people were killed, according to Amnesty International. [...]
April 5, 2010
California Climate Change Initiative Under Attack
Why are a number of Texas-based oil companies pouring money into a nascent ballot initiative in California? Becasue they don’t want to clean up their act. In a desperate attempt to undermine the state’s ground-breaking environmental policies, these companies are funding a campaign to stall – or cancel completely – California’s comprehensive plan for climate [...]
April 4, 2010
South Africa: World Cup Ready
This June, South Africa will host the world in the largest international games, the World Cup. This is an event has been a point of pride for the country and the continent since it was chosen as the site of the World Cup in 2004. It will be the first time an African nation will [...]
March 23, 2010
Immigration: Arizona Debates Anti-Immigrant Bill
Thousands marched on Washington this past weekend to demand that the administration turn its attention to immigration reform, in order to ensure that the basic human rights of immigrant workers and their families in the United States are upheld. But, meanwhile, legislation is quietly making its way through the Arizona State Legislature which would make [...]
March 17, 2010
Turkish PM Counters Armenian Genocide with Threats of Expulsion
Turkish Prime minister Erdogan’s proposed course of action regarding the Armenian genocide is painfully ironic. The logic goes something like this: “Our nation did not systematically round up and murder over one million Armenians during World War I. And to prove it, I will now systematically round up and expel hundreds of thousands of Armenians living [...]
March 10, 2010
Obama on Climate: We Need a Carbon Cap
In a meeting with key Senators and administration officials yesterday, President Obama made one point abundantly clear: the U.S. needs to put a cap on our carbon emissions. Politico reports: In opening remarks, according to Senators in attendance, President Obama took the idea of an energy-only bill – the preferred approach of moderate Democrats – off [...]
February 11, 2010
Map of the Day: Maternal Mortality Rates
In a recent article in Reproductive Health Reality Check, the constant issue of maternal mortality was examined. Below is a map depicting the maternal mortility rates by nation in 2008.According to UNICEF, one of the best ways to improve global health is through educating women and girls. “Educating girls for six years or more drastically [...]
February 10, 2010
Global Climate Action: At Least We All Agree
As international climate negotiations continue to be thwarted by politicians fanning the flames of an alleged divide between rich and developing countries, people around the world are coming to the conclusion that action must happen soon, and it must be taken together. A 2009 Gallup Survey taken in four key negotiating countries asked participants who [...]
February 7, 2010
India: Education Deficit Hinders Climate Mitigation
Pollution is undeniable problem in many of India’s metropolitan centers. In the capital of New Delhi, smog has been known to reduce visibility to less than 600 yards. But the connection to between air pollution and climate change is not on the minds of most Indians. One of the greatest challenges to global climate change [...]
