In The News

Japan's Laborious Dilemma

David McNeill January 13, 2005
The Japanese approach to immigration has been characterized as xenophobic, at worst, and ambivalent, at best. While a free-trade agreement with the Philippines was celebrated for allowing increased access for overseas caretakers, a subsequent policy restricting entertainment visas may result in a net loss of over 70,000 foreign workers. According to David McNeill, Japan's consistently...

For Honduras and Iran, World's Aid Evaporated

Ginger Thompson January 11, 2005
As international relief agencies rush to tsunami-devastated areas and the UN prepares to coordinate rebuilding efforts, many observers can't help but wonder how long the outpouring of goodwill will last. Six years ago, the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch seemed remarkably similar: World leaders pledged long-term relief, and aid workers populated storm-ravaged areas of Honduras. But now,...

Rethinking Science Aid

Keith Bezanson January 10, 2005
As the UN prepares to revisit its Millennium Development Goals in September, the topic of international development is on the minds of many. According to this SciDev.Net opinion piece, science and technology aid can play a crucial role in economic development - if used wisely. The authors push for an approach that encourages public-private partnerships that foster innovation, tailoring aid...

When Tragedy Trumps Borders

Ramesh Thakur January 10, 2005
The United Nations, throughout its 60 years, has never seen a tragedy on par with the South Asian tsunami. This astonishing display of nature's furor rendered political borders insignificant, and the overwhelmingly sympathetic international response has revealed the strength of global interconnectedness. At the January 6 Jakarta summit, the UN officially assumed the helm of relief effort...

Wave of Ignorance

Robin Harger January 7, 2005
As relief efforts begin and tsunami-ravaged areas embark on the long road to rebuilding, the international finger-pointing has already begun. Contrary to popular belief, UN official Robin Harger writes, a large number of casualties could have been avoided. According to Harger, the absence of technological infrastructures for early warning stems from a number of factors, particularly the manner...

An Imperial Denial

Deepak Lal January 6, 2005
Despite prevalent public discourse, "empire" is not a four-letter word - and it is time for the United States to begin to walk the imperial walk, writes Deepak Lal. In fact, suggests Lal, throughout history, the world has been most stable under the control of empires. The United States, like empires of yore, demonstrates its dominance through unparalleled military and economic...

A Global Age Catastrophe

W. Scott Thompson January 6, 2005
The South Asian tsunami has captivated headlines and hearts around the world. Is the fascination with this recent catastrophe due to more than the staggering size of the death toll? Perhaps, suggests this Los Angeles Times commentary. The large number of tourists in affected areas magnified the international scope of the disaster. Further, as global news giants rushed correspondents to the...