In The News

Study of Antarctic Points to Rising Sea Levels

Andrew Revkin March 7, 2003
Glaciers on the coast of Antarctica are breaking up, presumably in response to global warming, although temperatures in rest of Antarctica have remained stable. This break up is occurring after centuries of stability in the glacial structure. If this trend continues, it could have disastrous results for coastlines as water levels rise and for cities as salt water flows into fresh water sources...

Bubbling Up

February 28, 2003
World oil prices are higher than they have been in years, and economists have begun to speculate about the effect an oil shortage may have on the global economy. Not only has the impending war in Iraq made oil markets jumpy, but the strike in Venezuela and the possibility of conflict in Nigeria have contributed to the situation. On top of that, recent demand for oil has been high during the...

The Righteous War

Immanuel Wallerstein February 15, 2003
What is really behind the Bush administration’s big push to wage war on Iraq? Is it about removing a tyrant hell-bent on using his weapons of mass destruction? Or is it a US move to gain more control over the oil resources in the Middle East? Sociologist theorist Immanuel Wallerstein argues that both of these interpretations are flawed. The motivation to go war, he says, is really about...

Escaping North Korea’s Nuclear Trap

Nancy Soderberg February 12, 2003
Nancy Soderberg, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, reviews the history of U.S. negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear program. In each case, direct negotiations have led to North Korean compliance, suggesting that the Bush administration’s most viable option in resolving the current crisis is to negotiate bilaterally with North Korea once again, and offer incentives such...

Atom Agency Finds Pyongyang in Violation of Arms Accords

James Dao February 12, 2003
At the U.S.’s behest, the International Atomic Energy Agency has now found North Korea in violation of international nuclear weapons agreements. The Agency has sent the issue to the United Nations Security Council for review and to determine the appropriate action, which could include economic sanctions against North Korea. While China supports the U.S. initiative, Russia opposes it, saying...

Nod for China-Taiwan Oil Search

January 30, 2003
Economics may trump politics in the 21st century, if recent Taiwan-China cooperation is any indication. Despite bitter relations for the past half-century, Taiwan and China are putting aside their political differences in the name of economic efficiency – at least for the moment. They have chosen to search jointly for oil in the Tainan Basin, the body of water that separates the two countries...

Hybrid Cars Are Catching On

Danny Hakim January 28, 2003
In a global economy in which national boundaries hold little meaning for multinational corporations, American businesses are being forced to deal with competition from abroad. Japanese hybrid automobiles have begun to gain popularity in American markets, and American automakers, fearful of ceding yet another market to Japanese companies, have responded by announcing plans for the development of...