In The News

China Has World's Tightest Internet Censorship, Study Finds

Joseph Kahn December 4, 2002
"Defying predictions that the Internet was inherently too diverse and malleable for state control, China has denied a vast majority of its 46 million Internet users access to information that it feels could weaken its authoritarian power." That's the conclusion of a new survey of internet use in China done by a team of researchers at Harvard University. The six-month study found...

Government Spends Rupiah 3.5 Billion to Revive Bali Tourism

December 3, 2002
In the aftermath of the Bali bombing incident, the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism has set up a program to revitalize the nation’s ailing tourism. As part of the program, the Ministry has invested rupiah 3.5 billion on the production of video clips on Bali’s attractions. These clips are to be both locally and globally broadcasted during December. - YaleGlobal

Can Global Warming Be Studied Too Much?

Andrew C. Revkin December 3, 2002
Globalization has resulted in a world in which actions in one area may have far-reaching consequences across the globe, and in no field of study is that fact more relevant than the current debate over global warming. The Bush administration has convened a three-day meeting to discuss the agenda for researching climate change. All agree that pollution, especially from fossil fuels, plays some...

PM's gaffe leaves a hostile Asian audience

Tom Allard December 3, 2002
The American enunciation of a doctrine of preemption brought muted criticism , perhaps because American power is unchallenged. A similar claim to the right to launch preemptive attack on neighbors if they harbored terrorists planning to attack Australia brought howls of criticism from Asian neighbors. There is a danger that Australia’s tough talk may harm its relations with neighbors without...

PM: We Will Act Against Those Who Intrude into Our Country

Sim Leoi Leoi December 3, 2002
In the wake of the recent Bali bombing, the US-initiated global war on terrorism has taken unexpected turns in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia's Prime Minister, John Howard, is coming under fire from his Asian neighbors for following the lead of the US and asserting the right to unilateral action against terrorists anywhere. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is fuming at the...

Jacob Threatens Sony with Boycott Campaign

December 3, 2002
When a global firm makes decisions based on global needs, local interests can feel the pain. Thousands of Indonesians may lose their jobs if Japanese electronics giant Sony goes ahead with plans to close a factory in Indonesia. Indonesia's Manpower Minister, however, is threatening to organize a boycott of Sony products if the company can't offer "clear reasons" why it plans...

US Tariff Plan Raises Concern at WTO

Ravi Kanth December 3, 2002
The US proposal to phase out tariffs on industrial goods is meeting with opposition from some members of the World Trade Organization. Many agree with a South Asian trade envoy who criticized the plan’s 'glaring absence of special flexibilities for developing countries with different levels of economic development'. Developing countries worry that revenue flow to their governments will...