In The News

Japanese Whaling: Asia-Pacific Journal

Fynn Holm March 4, 2019
Japan, in withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission, plans to resume commercial whaling in July within the country’s exclusive economic zone, suggesting the country “remains committed” to managing such resources. Whaling has been part of Japan’s culture for four centuries, and the industry became a target of fierce international criticism since 1990. The country will cease a...

1 Million Forest Families Evicted in India: Guardian

Jatindra Dash February 25, 2019
India’s Supreme Court issued an order to reject 1.3 million land claims and remove indigenous people from forest lands in 21 states. “The case highlights the plight of India’s underprivileged lower castes and indigenous groups as the world’s second most populated country – with 1.3 billion people – juggles with environmental protection, poverty reduction and economic growth,” explains Jatindra...

Rappler Editor Arrested: New York Times

Alexandra Stevenson February 13, 2019
Bullying authoritarian leaders cannot endure criticism or democratic checks on their policies by journalists or courts. Agents with the National Bureau of Investigation arrested Maria Ressa, editor of the online news site Rappler. Rappler is a publishing partner of YaleGlobal Online. “Her arrest is the most dramatic sign of Mr. Duterte’s crackdown on the free press in the Philippines,” reports...

Europe and Nuclear Power Plays: Spiegel

Markus Becker, Christian Esch, Matthias Gebauer, Konstantin von Hammerstein, Christiane Hoffmann, Peter Müller, Jan Puhl, Christoph Schult, Klaus Wiegrefe and Bernhard Zand February 11, 2019
The United States has started the process of withdrawing from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The treaty led to destruction of thousands of missiles and rockets with ranges between 500 and 5,000 kilometers, but the US and Russia eventually accused each other of violations. More than 10 nations, including China, now have midrange rockets. This Spiegel Online article suggests...

Wall Street Journal: Nuclear Arms Treaty

Vivian Salama and Courtney McBride February 1, 2019
The United States announced plans to suspend its obligations under a 1987 nuclear-arms control treaty and “begin withdrawing from the pact, after talks to compel Russia to destroy missiles and launchers the U.S. maintains breach the agreement failed,” report Vivian Salama and Courtney McBride for the Wall Street Journal. “Friday’s announcement from the Trump administration follows revelations...

South China Morning Post: Gene-Edited Babies

Phoebe Zhang January 22, 2019
Much of the world expressed concern after reports of the birth of gene-edited infants in November. An investigation in China confirmed that the infants are real and the scientist acted on his own. A preliminary investigation, as reported by Xinhua News Agency, explains that the researcher avoided surveillance, forged ethical papers, and worked with foreign staff and eight couples, reports Phoebe...

DW: EU Reaches Agreement on Single-Use Plastic Ban

December 19, 2018
Plastic is made of oil and consists of large polymers that do not break down quickly, adding to waste management challenges. Most plastic waste ends up in the world’s oceans with microbeads and other forms of plastics finding their way into the food chain and seafood consumed by humans. China ended accepting imports of plastic waste for recycling this year, with global implications, forcing major...