In The News

Asia-Pacific Journal Japan Focus: China’s BRI Goals

John A. Mathews January 2, 2019
China’s Belt and Road global investment strategy is financing more than $1 trillion in infrastructure development in more than 70 nations. The initiative, global in scope, is a response to the US “pivot to Asia” announced under the Obama administration, “carefully and astutely crafted to take advantage of moves by the US as the current hegemon,” explains John A. Matthews for the Asia-Pacific...

Medium: Lawsuits Stifle Environmental Opposition

Rebecca Renner October 29, 2018
Environmental activists strive to delay development of sensitive lands. In turn, development firms rely on courts to stop the interference. Maggie Hurchalla, 77, opposed development of 2200 acres of sugarcane fields near Lake Okeechobee and pollution described as the source of red tide outbreaks along Florida’s coasts. Her activism focused on public water supplies and storage and transfer of...

BBC News: Global Boom in Hydropower Dams

August 6, 2018
Businesses depend on energy, but energy-related construction can disrupt businesses and communities, too. More than 3,500 hydropower dams – the world’s largest source of renewable energy – are being planned and constructed throughout the developing world. “Critics point to the inherent dangers of building too many dams, too fast and without sufficient consideration for the consequences,” reports...

ENS: Indigenous Peoples Own/Manage ¼ of Earth’s Land

Environment News Service August 3, 2018
Indigenous people own or have management rights over at least 25 percent of Earth’s land, which in turn overlaps with 40 percent of all protected lands, according to Stephen Garnett of Charles Darwin University who leads an international mapping research team. The team emphasizes that understanding land ownership is essential for developing and monitoring international conservation and climate...

Brookings: Social Protection Programs and Life Satisfaction

Talajeh Livani and Carol Graham July 24, 2018
Do universal basic income and strong public welfare programs work? Experts in developed and developing countries have mixed reviews. Welfare programs “often come with stigma and disempowerment, in addition to high administrative costs, supporting the case for universal basic income guarantees” write Talejeh Livani and Carol Graham for Brookings. Measuring the effectiveness of social assistance...

Foreign Affairs: How Xi Jinping Views the World

Kevin Rudd May 31, 2018
Chinese President Xi Jinping is prominent among world leaders because of the size and continued growth of the Chinese economy as well as the nation’s military presence, role in development, and regional interests. Writing for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd describes Xi’s interests as seven concentric circles: His primary goal is keeping the Chinese Communist Party in power for the long term, making...

South China Morning Post: China Won’t Interfere in Venezuela

He Huifeng May 22, 2018
Three years ago, the United States was Venezuela’s top trade partner, accounting for 43 percent of exports and 29 percent of imports. Rising animosity in US-Venezuelan relations increased Venezuela’s reliance on China including oil-for-loan deals. The country’s economy has collapsed and China may be giving up on Venezuela, too: Basic goods and food are unavailable, crime is widespread, and the...