In The News

Millions of Indians Await Benefits of Globalization

Jessica Einhorn February 25, 2005
At a time when many analysts predict a booming future for the Indian economy, India remains hesitant to fully embrace globalization. India and its neighbor China have been tagged as the world's next economic superpowers. Yet while China industriously makes its shores hospitable to foreign capital, Indian reformers continue to grapple with a long history of intransigent domestic opposition to...

"Tsunami Effect" Likely to Hit Africa

Kevin J. Kelley February 24, 2005
In January, international donors quickly met the UN appeal for US$977 million for tsunami relief operations. That same month, member countries gave only US$21 million of the US$29 million requested by the UN World Food Program, resulting in ration cuts for some African nations. This disparity reflects a serious problem: While the international community has quickly responded to the tsunami...

World's Drinking Glass: More Than Half Full

G. Jeffery Macdonald February 8, 2005
Easy access to clean drinking water, along with hygiene system improvements, has been instrumental in enabling those afflicted by poverty to save time and money, as well as helping them avoid infectious diseases. However, some countries – particularly urban regions of South Asia – are falling behind, constrained by budget considerations and political pressures. As a result of difficulties with...

Local Tricks to Tackle Climate Shifts

Mustak Hossain February 4, 2005
Though the recent Indian Ocean tsunami had little do with climate change, it highlighted the vulnerability of the coastal areas of the region. As scientists anticipate rising sea levels in the coming decades, new strategies are needed to protect low-lying countries and small island states across the world. At the "Community Level Adaptation to Climate Change" in the Bangladeshi capital...

Can the World Deliver for Africa?

Larry Elliott February 2, 2005
2005 may be the year of Africa, if UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and other officials have anything to do with it. Britain, charged this year with the coinciding presidencies of both the EU and the G8, has vowed to make African economic revival a priority. The poorest continent in the world is steadily growing poorer, as standards of living, health, education, and economic productivity are far...

Power Hungry

January 31, 2005
In this comprehensive report, relief organization ActionAid International argues that large food corporations have become too powerful and are undermining the global fight against poverty. Currently, one transnational company controls 80 percent of Peru's milk production, five companies' control 90 percent of the world grain trade, and six corporations control three-quarters of the...

A Fiesta of Protest at Porto Alegre

Dominic Sachsenmaier January 31, 2005
Each year, over 2000 corporate and political bigwigs congregate in a luxurious skiing resort in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum. Simultaneously, at the far less opulent locale of Porto Alegre, a much larger, less well-heeled, and considerably more diverse body gathers at the World Social Forum. This diversity, however, may be its weakness, argues Professor Dominic Sachsenmaier....