In The News

Japan Seeks Greater Global Role

Richard Halloran May 20, 2004
After decades of quiet growth and official pacifism, Japan is seeking an increased role in diplomatic and military actions globally. The country is now debating redrafting its constitution to amend an article that forbids the use of military force in international disputes. This attempt at reversal or modification of Japan's official pacifism is largely in reaction to the menace presented by...

A Change in the Climate

Vanessa Houlder May 19, 2004
The efficacy of the 1997 Kyoto environmental treaty, designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, hangs on Russia’s actions in the coming months. The protocol requires the participation of 55 percent of industrialized nations, and without Russian support, it lacks a deciding vote. Internal debate in Russia has focused the potential economic impacts on its struggling economy; those in...

Liverpool Bid

May 19, 2004
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has recently expressed interest in purchasing a 30 percent stake in England’s Liverpool football club, a move which has raised eyebrows in Thailand. Thai regulatory measures might make such an investment problematic, as there is uncertainty about whether foreign investments undertaken by the government must be approved by the central bank. The proposed bid...

U.S. Speeding Up Approval Steps for AIDS Drugs

Lawrence K. Altman May 17, 2004
In its efforts to distribute cheap and easy-to-use drugs,the global fight against AIDS has encountered serious roadblocks in the past. Local governments and pharmaceutical companies have often fought against generic AIDS drug distribution. Now, the US – which has been accused of slowing the process more than any other country – is willing to give in a bit to quell global criticism. At the...

Biotech Crops Could Help Poor Farmers, U.N. Says

Justin Gillis May 17, 2004
The debates over biotechnology have centered on the environmental, health, and global equality issues implicit in any major agricultural technology change. Some charge that genetically modified food crops are detrimental to environment, biodiversity, long-term health, and benefit rich nations at the expense of poor. The other side – which now seems to be joined by the Food and Agricultural...

Oxfam Launches Fair Trade Coffee Chain

Tash Shifrin May 13, 2004
The growers of one of the world’s most globalized farm produce –coffee --may benefit from the worldwide concern about their plight. The UK based international development and aid agency, Oxfam and a private coffee company have launched a joint-venture: a chain of fair trade coffee shops named the Progreso Café. Fair trade coffee is the fast growing coffee sector in United Kingdom and provides...

Muslims: Judge Us Not By Un-Islamic Acts of Few

Parvez Ahmed May 12, 2004
In the following article, two Muslim scholars associated with the Washington based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) argue that the American led war in Iraq is becoming defined by brutality, torture and humiliation by both, American soldiers and Iraqis. According to these scholars, the humiliation and the torture of prisoners at the Iraqi Abu Ghraib prison, and the subsequent...