In The News

China Shutters Nonprofit Newsletter

Nicholas Zamiska July 17, 2007
Chinese government officials recently ordered a stop to publication of “The China Development Brief.” This newsletter, read by many NGO representatives around the country, covers a range of human-rights topics, from AIDS to environmental issues. Founding editor, Nicholas Young, reports that his organization was under scrutiny in recent ears and suspects the closure is part of a broader political...

We Should Welcome the Dawn of the Migration Age

Ban Ki-moon July 17, 2007
Globalization, like other phenomena, occurs in stages, explains Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general of the United Nations. In the first stage, the flow of capital and goods increased, and, for the most part, developed countries benefited. That stage prompted the age of mobility, with people crossing borders in search a better life and opportunities. Mobility has benefits – for example, remittances,...

Congress Set to Tighten Scrutiny of Foreign Deals

Greg Hitt July 16, 2007
In the wake of the public backlash against the proposal that would have allowed Dubai Ports World, owned by the government of Dubai, to manage some US ports, the US Congress is expected to pass legislation that will tighten scrutiny of such investment deals. The legislation includes an extended 45-day examination period of companies owned by foreign governments and also requires the Committee on...

China's Diplomatic Gain Is Taiwan's Loss

Edward Cody July 13, 2007
Taiwan and China compete for diplomatic alliances. Taiwan often finds itself on the losing end of the competition, especially as China becomes more integrated in the global political and economic systems. Costa Rica’s decision to create diplomatic relations with China shocked politicians in Taiwan. Analysts expect other Central American countries, such as Nicaragua, to follow Costa Rica’s lead....

Global Safeguards for a Global Economy

Harold Meyerson July 12, 2007
Strategies that created mass prosperity in the US and Western Europe – by establishing safety networks and consumer trust – could be applied throughout the world, suggests Washington Post columnist Harold Meyerson. He urges the creation of a global safety agency to review and offer regulations on issues ranging from unsafe food imports to climate change. Meyerson suggests that it is unrealistic...

Text Messages Giving Voice to Chinese

Edward Cody July 10, 2007
Zhao Yufen, a scientist at Xiamen University, organized a petition protesting the construction of a chemical factory and expressing concern about potential accidents, health risks and environmental damage. Local officials supported the factory, which could potentially double the city's gross domestic product, so national officials ignored the petition. Then a blog published Zhao's...

The Arctic, the Tropics and Ottawa

James Allen July 9, 2007
Despite their distance, the circumpolar North and the countries in the Pacific, Caribbean and Indian Oceans, known collectively as the Small Developing States, have much in common. Both regions feel threatened by increasing evidence of global warming – melting ice and changing species in the north, hurricanes and rising sea levels in regions closer to the equator. Both express concern about...