May, 2008

The United States Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced Wednesday that the U.S.

Many countries around the world have Roma populations, but in Europe, the Roma met their deepest and most thorough persecution.  Originally A Grassroots Boost to Quake Relief in China

China is getting much-needed earthquake relief aid from an unexpected source, the

Yesterday, Amnesty International released its 2008 report on the state of human rights.

The U.S. is not the only country feeling the pang of soaring oil prices.

Nepal is abolishing its monarchy and d

With the country still reeling amid the devastating aftermath of the May 12 earthquake, it’s difficult to focus on China’s recent gains.

The European Union’s Common Agricultura

In just two days, the NASA Phoenix Spacecraft is scheduled to end its 10 month journey through space and begin its landing mission on Mars.

The Economist warns that rising inflation could threaten the positive economic gains made by developing nations in recent years.

It is difficult to ignore the dramatic rise in food prices in the U.S., especially in the last few months; however, it is even more difficult to ignore its dramatic effects seen around the world.

The Marginal Revolution blog recently highlighted an important trend in international af

The catastrophe (turned malevolent neglect) in Burma/Myanmar over the past two and a half weeks has left me with two thoughts—one a recurring question, and the other one new.

The China Rises blog has an interesting discussion of China’s response to the recent earthquake in

Ominous News from Pyongyang

The Economist reports that the long-suffering citizens of North Korea may be

On Monday, Dr.

In a report that is already creating much discussion and mockery in the blogosphere, the Swiss Federal Ethics Committee on Non-Human Biotechnology argues that plants have “inherent worth” and thus must have moral protection. But while the report, entitled the “The Dignity of Living Beings with Regard to Plants” is causing guffaws on the web, it might be a more serious issue than it at first appears (although not in the way the authors intended). By arguing that “there is nothing to contradict the idea of dignity of living beings in the genetic modification of plants, as long as their independence, i.e. reproductive ability and adaptive ability are ensured,” the committee has drawn a vague conclusion that, if taken seriously, may impose serious limits on the development and use of biotechnology in agriculture. This report comes out at an especially inopportune time, as high food prices and food riots rock many communities around the world. Regardless of the committee’s intentions, weaving a moral code around plants which will necessitate moral calculations before deciding what to do with a bush or tree would extract a serious opportunity cost in time – time that is not available for millions who are worrying about their next meal. We need to focus on producing more food faster, not the “independence” of corn stalks and orange trees.

In my view, genetically modified food (GM) is an essential tool for increasing world food production. Happily there is some positive news on this front. This report from the World Politics Review highlights recent Chilean advancements in genetically modified rice. The modified rice only needs a fourth of the water used to make normal rice. This innovation certainly will not solve the global food crisis on its own, but it is a positive sign for the future. If developed countries are going to continue diverting crops to biofuel production (which judging from this year’s farm bill seems to be the case), then genetically modified food may be essential to pick up the slack. But in light of the Swiss report, one wonders whether Westerners, especially Europeans, will tolerate the increasing presence of genetically modified food.

While Americans are split on the issue of genetically modified food (GM), it has not become a major political issue. It is telling of American ambivalence that despite the fact that “over two-thirds of food in the US

Want to tour outer s

In an electoral surpris

Harvard University recently released a highly critical study of the UNAids program in Africa, stating that the funding is ineffective.

Peru is an example of the opportunities and limitations of globalization.  Although it boasts the fastest-growing economy in South America, poverty is still rampant and President García’s approval

Climate change is a global problem that w

A recent article in the Financial Times highli

After 5 years of war in Iraq, more than 6 years of war in Afghanistan, how much confidence does the U.S. public have in foreign policy?

Yesterday CSIS hosted a fascinating discussion between Robert Shapiro, former Undersecretary of Commerce and author of the recently released book,

The New York Times report

This recent column in the Economist highlights the critical problems inherent in a biod

The CIA Chief Highlights Global Population Trends

In his speech at Kansas State University yesterday, CIA Director Michael V.

Following up on our