In The News

Thai-Malaysian Pipeline: Project Set for Completion in 2005

May 7, 2003
A controversial gas pipeline stretching from Malaysia to Thailand is set to be completed by 2005, if we can believe the contractors in charge. The project has been opposed by Thai villagers whose property it will traverse, and whose Muslim communities would face substantial economic and cultural change if it is completed. If all goes as planned, the pipeline's construction will bring in...

India Harvests First Biotech Cotton Crop

Rama Lakshmi May 4, 2003
For decades, scientists, farmers and policymakers alike have debated the role biotechnology should play in farming. Many countries in the Western Hemisphere have long been proponents of genetic engineering as a means of injecting more, healthier crops into the world food market. And while Europe and much of the developing world remains skeptical, fearing environmental disasters or health...

Corporations as Good Global Citizens

Susan Ariel Aaronson April 8, 2003
Global corporate social responsibility (CSR) is often agreed about in theory, and has informed the policy of some governments. However, its implementation is still far from ideal. While some countries make no effort to promote CSR, even the ones that do have left the terms of compliance uncertain. CSR principles are often mandated, but corporations are rarely monitored. A number of European...

Iraq, Testing Ground for US Hi-tech Weapons

March 29, 2003
Some analysts believe that the United States is using Iraq to test newly developed hi-tech weapons – some of which have never been tested in a real battle in the country.

Water Meet Highlights Isolation

Chiu Yu-Tzu March 25, 2003
24,000 people from almost all the world's countries met last week in Japan for the 2003 World Water Forum. The over 100 new commitments signed by attendees addressed broad issues of water management, including education and access to information, as well as cultural diversity and traditional knowledge. Local activists in Taiwan, however, criticized their government's water regulation...

EU to Rule the High Seas?

David Hughes March 12, 2003
Why should a Singapore-based business daily express concern over a proposal drafted by the European Commission (EC) on pollution violations in EU waters? David Hughes argues that the new proposal is noteworthy precisely because it does not take geography or nationality into account. Therefore, he posits, "a Singapore flagged ship putting into Rotterdam could be prosecuted for an alleged...

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...