In The News

Japan's Mating Culture Extends Baby Drought

David Turner December 9, 2003
The world population will rise to slightly over 9 billion people within the next century. Yet Japan and many European countries face possibly catastrophic population declines. Strikingly low birthrates don’t only threaten economic growth and domestic familial dynamics, but could provoke "shifts in the political weights of countries in the international arena." Concern is so great...

Africa: Gender Inequality Fuels AIDS Crisis

December 3, 2003
Agencies trying to curb the AIDS crisis in Africa need to expand their approach, argues Human Rights Watch. There is a crucial link between gender inequality and the spread of AIDS. Sexual assault, the use of rape as a mechanism of war, the cultural acceptance of domestic violence, and women's lack of voice have kept women at the mercy of the disease in Africa. On that continent, women are...

Most of the World Still Does Without

November 25, 2003
The world's hungry and sick are more numerous than many may realize. In a survey of 38,000 people in 44 countries - a feat accomplished in large part thanks to globalization - the Pew Foundation finds that hunger and health problems continue to plague people around the globe. Even in the United States, the report notes, medical care is beyond the reach of more people now than it was in the...

Asia's Elite Corps

Suzanne Sng November 6, 2003
Is there a global 'face' for female beauty? If so, it isn't Asian, say the heads of several Asian modeling agencies. As the Elite modeling agency gears up for its talent search in Singapore this weekend, only about one-fifth of the contestants are Asians. "There may be more and more Asian models," in the future, says the managing director of Carrie Models, which has...

Draft Law Would Expand Rights

Ko Shu-ling November 5, 2003
Taiwan's cabinet is considering a human rights bill that would enact sweeping changes in its official treatment of a variety of issues. The version of the bill now before the Cabinet would establish the right to vote through referendums on issues of public policy and constitutional reform. The right to hold a referendum has been contentious since Taiwan began its push to democratization,...

Roh Supports English as 2nd Official Language

October 24, 2003
South Korea's President Roh is throwing his weight behind a plan to make English his country's official second language. The Ministry of Finance and Economy expects to build 100 special zones nation-wide for English education, and several provinces are considering investing some of their own resources into English immersion schools. In a recent survey of 12 Asian countries, South...

Bangladesh Faces the Challenge of Globalization

Wahiduddin Mahmud October 22, 2003
Bangladesh's economy grew rapidly during the 1990s as the country liberalized its markets and became increasingly integrated into the world economy. Until the 2001 global recession, Bangladesh ranked third for improvement of human development - behind only Cabo Verde and China - thanks in large part to exports from its blossoming garment industry. Wahiduddin Mahmud, economist and former...