In The News

A Nation of Guinea Pigs

Jenifer Kahn March 14, 2006
Experimental drugs require large testing populations, which are increasingly hard to secure in the developed world. In 2005, the India government lifted restrictions on such testing by foreign-owned firms. So the pharmaceutical industry is outsourcing more trials. India has many advantages for such trials: English-speaking doctors; vast numbers of patients more willing to take experimental...

How Academic Flap Hurt World Effort on Chinese Bird Flu

Nicholas Zamiska February 27, 2006
A standoff has arisen between Chinese scientists and international health officials over bird flu. The Chinese have expressed reluctance to share avian-flu samples –needed to develop an effective antidote. Last spring, deaths of thousands of wild birds in a secluded region of western China, led officials from the WHO and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization to ask China’s Ministry of...

How to Ease the Pain of Globalization

Catherine L. Mann February 17, 2006
Frequent news articles detail the offshoring of information technology (IT) jobs, sounding alarms for all US workers. Catherine Mann suggests that such alarm may be unwarranted and points out steps to maximize the benefits of globalization. Research indicates that the globalization of IT actually promotes productivity, creates new jobs, reduces inflation and enhances innovation, both in the US...

The World’s Drinking Glass Is More Than Half Full

G. Jeffrey Macdonald February 14, 2006
Throughout the developing world, about 700 million people have acquired household access to drinking water since 1999. According to the WHO and UNICEF, more than half of people around the globe now have drinking water piped into their homes. In rural developing regions, women typically collect household water. Eliminating the trek to and from the nearest water source, sometimes up to ten miles...

EU Loses a Round On Biotech Crops

Scott Miller February 9, 2006
A WTO panel has found that the EU is guilty of illegally banning certain genetically modified crops. The 800-page ruling, which supporters hope has the potential to open Europe to more biotech products, was sought by Canada, Argentina and the US, who view Western Europe as a potential lucrative market for genetically modified seeds. For their part, European consumers are wary about the safety...

India to WTO: Help Us Protect Herbs, Tea, Yoga

Eric Bellman December 19, 2005
India is spearheading a drive among developing nations to ensure that the WTO address “biopiracy” at this year’s meetings in Hong Kong. Along with countries like Brazil and China, India is seeking to prevent the international pharmaceutical industry from exploiting its native plants, animals and traditional remedies. Countries like India perceive biopiracy as a threat, particularly if a...

Mission to Save Planet is “Failing”

December 6, 2005
Two separate groups have recently released dismal assessments of the state of the world, warning that humanity is not doing enough to make life on the planet equitable, sustainable and safe. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has lambasted national governments for failing to act decisively against global warming, warning that unchecked climate change is already exacerbating a host of other human...