In The News

Mattel Recalls About 9 Million Toys

Nicholas Casey August 15, 2007
Ingesting lead, even small amounts, can cause irreparable brain damage in young children. So the news that major toy company Mattel has embarked on yet another major recall of toys made in China, because some contain lead paint and others contain small magnets, disturbs both consumers in the West and workers in China. Manufacturers based in China, where speech is censored, are unaccustomed to...

The Cutting Edge

Margot Cohen August 8, 2007
Framing the face, hair contributes to human appearance, so much so that European religious leader Martin Luther once observed that “The hair is the richest ornament of women.” Men and women, young and old, pursue wigs, hair extensions toupees and other products. Real human hair offers the most authentic look, and hair collection, sorting, dying and crafting have become a big business in Asia....

Food That Travels Well

James E. McWilliams August 8, 2007
In the US, some fruits and vegetables travel thousands of miles before reaching the dinner table. It would seem logical that food products grown close to home require less energy than those from far away. Environmentalists tout domestic products, farm markets and labels that promise reduced consumption of carbon fuel. But the carbon print of vegetables should not be measured in miles alone....

US Mortgage Crisis Hits Pacific Rim Markets

Carter Dougherty August 7, 2007
Lured by low adjustable-interest rates, US homeowners bought larger homes than many could afford. Mortgage companies bundled those loans into bond packages, selling them to investors worldwide. But the credit was too easy, and wages are stagnant for many. For homeowners who can’t handle automatic rate increases, loans go into default. Trying to sell homes and escape the trap, homeowners discover...

China's New Appetite for Milk Forces Price Rise in Germany

Kate Connolly August 4, 2007
Dairy milk, with all its calcium and protein, is an excellent source of nutrients for growing children. Comments from Chinese officials, urging Chinese children to drink milk, have helped boost demand. But the nation does not have a history of dairy farming and turns to imports, especially from Europe. One third of all milk produced worldwide now goes to China, reports Kate Connolly for the...

Global Fishing Trade Depletes African Waters

John W. Miller July 23, 2007
Fish is a favorite food for the global palate. Since 1982, a United Nations treaty allowed countries to restrict fishing within 231 miles of their coasts. Poor African nations, such as Mauritania or Senegal, found a lucrative source for cash when they started selling fishing rights to wealthy European and Asian countries that had already depleted stocks in their own waters. Most of the African...

The Next Globalization Backlash

Sebastian Mallaby July 3, 2007
Globally, with national reserves growing, countries move spare cash into sovereign wealth funds. Oil-rich countries, such as Russia and Nigeria, have experienced high growth rates, and it is unlikely that hydrocarbon prices will fall anytime soon. A global trade imbalance also spurs the funds’ growth. East Asian countries, such as China and Japan, have accumulated large sums, while the US...