Archive for 2010
Ivory Coast President Orders U.N. to Leave
President Laurent Gbagbo has refused to step down from his position after he lost the election last month, and now has ordered the U.N. peacekeepers to leave, claiming they are responsible for “serious missteps” and “contempt for Ivory Coast’s institutions.” The new President, Alassane Ouattara, has dismissed the demand that U.N. forces leave the […]
A Death Penalty Issue Unfolding: An Innocent Man to be Put to Death?
As we look forward to anti-death penalty activist Sister Helen Prejean’s May Day address this year, it is worthwhile to notice this drama unfolding in California. The link is here. From NYT columnist Nicholas Kristof’s column: “This case is a travesty. It underscores the central pitfall of capital punishment: no system is fail-safe. How can […]
China Establishes Its Own Peace Prize to Rival the Nobel Prize
As part of its campaign to discredit the Nobel committee’s selection of a pro-democracy Chinese dissident as its Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, China has established its own Confucius Peace Prize. The first winner has been chosen. The link is here.
Campaign to Boycott Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony Continues
Eighteen countries are heeding the Chinese government’s call to boycott the ceremony. The link is here.
Obama Rallying Support for Pact With Russia
President Obama is gaining support for a new arms control treaty with Russia, but there are some challenges among Republicans who want to focus on domestic issues such as immigration, gay rights, and extending the Bush-era tax cuts due to expire at the end of the month before they even consider any other issue. Obama […]
The origins of altruism and self-interest
This is a review by Sissela Bok of a fascinating new book on the possible biological origins of altruism. Bok, the daughter of Swedish parliamentarian and Nobel peace prize winner Alva Myrdal (and Nobel economics prize winner Gunnar Myrdal), wrote the forward to the only authorized American edition of Ghandi’s autobiography. Her current research at […]
Pope Says Condoms to Stop AIDS May Be Acceptable
Is this the first step in the Pope supporting condom use throughout Africa to hinder the spread of AIDS? Read on here.
NATO Sees Role After Afghan Combat
Not only are there plans to pull out of Afghanistan in 2014, there are positive interactions with Russia regarding the missile defense system and overall Russian involvement with NATO. Will Russia continue to cooperate with NATO? Read more here.
Responding to Rape in the Congo
In the wake of Jo-Ellen Fair’s attention to media representations of conflict in Africa Yurie Hong (Classics, GWS, and contributor to PCS 211) passed along this article on the related issues of civil conflict and rape in the Congo. Secretary of State Clinton has visited the region and committed herself to addressing the problem. A […]
Release of Myanmar Opposition Leader Anticipated
Will pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi be able to overcome military opposition and create an environment of democracy within Myanmar? Read more here.