In The News

Mystery of the Vanishing Bees

Norman L. Carreck August 30, 2007
Honey bees contribute much to agriculture and the delicious variety of foods we eat. But the social insects are under stress. The reasons could be many: Mites that attack bees increasingly become resistant to pesticides; researchers have also theorized about modern society’s reliance on cell phones, insecticides and genetically modified crops. Policies to protect bees are in order, argues Norman...

The Globalization of Giving

Steve Hendershot August 29, 2007
The savviest of corporate leaders know that community giving is a good business strategy. As firms grow and do more business overseas, charitable giving has expanded beyond the home base to markets around the globe. US firms seek to develop wealthier client bases in India, China, Latin America or Eastern Europe. Two examples of recent corporate grants, provided by this ChicagoBusiness.com article...

“Made in China” Label Spurs Global Concern

Paul Mooney August 23, 2007
As lead exporter in many types of products, China takes pride in serving as factory to the world. But a spate of tainted products and recalls involving goods made in China gives many global consumers pause. China’s reaction includes denials, scapegoating and even the fast execution of one government official accused of taking bribes to allow production of shoddy goods. But the government has also...

Health Care Costs to Squeeze Capitalism

Kenneth Rogoff August 21, 2007
Heath-care costs are becoming a higher proportion of national economies in western countries. Former senior official of the IMF, Kenneth Rogoff says when governments provide for health services that constitute one third of national incomes, health-care socialism becomes plain Marxism – based on the principle ‘to each according to his needs”. As the aging population increasingly requires...

The New Myth About Climate Change

Idean Salehyan August 17, 2007
Global warming is a serious problem and could result in a decline of basic resources such as water or food in some regions of the world. But Idean Salehyan rejects the notion that climate change will necessarily lead to civil wars, uncontrollable immigration and global violence. “Dire scenarios like these may sound convincing, but they are misleading,” writes Idean Salehyan for Foreign Policy. “...

Huge Dust Plumes From China Cause Changes in Climate

Robert Lee Hotz August 13, 2007
Nations can impose the strictest of environmental standards – but that does not stop the pollution seeping in from other nations. Plumes of “man-made sulfates, smog, industrial fumes, carbon grit and nitrates” collect over manufacturing powerhouse China and then move with prevailing winds around the globe. On some days, almost one third of the air pollution in cities like Los Angeles can be...

Other Cities Sign Up to Turn Off

John Huxley August 9, 2007
Earth Hour is a global-warming awareness initiative that originated in Sydney, but is spreading through Australia and New Zealand and beyond. Polls show that 2 million people, including entire schools and businesses, participated on March 31, 2007, turning off all their lights for an hour. The small gesture demonstrates widespread public support for tackling global warming. Organizers admit that...