China’s hostility toward African traders in its midst mirrors its ambivalence over its integration into the world economy.
After Attacks on Iraqi Christians, Kurd Authorities Come Up Smelling a Little Too Rosy
No matter who’s at fault for the attacks on its Christians, Iraq is a shell of a state incapable of providing the basic security.
Pennsylvania Divests Itself of Companies Working With Iran, Sudan; Somehow Overlooks Israel
It is hard to avoid concluding that the current divestment bills under consideration by the state of Pennsylvania are merely politically opportunistic measures, destined to be as ineffective as they are self-serving.
Criminally High Interest Rates Foul the Wellsprings of Microcredit in India
Skeptics of microlending argue that exorbitant interest rates reduce the practice to little more than formalized loan sharking.
An Open Letter to President Obama, Or Change I believed in
Dear President Obama,
You’re not the man I thought you were.
Most progressives have no problem finding flaws with your first years as President to criticize you about, whether it’s the whittling down of the healthcare bill, decision to ramp up military operations in Afghanistan, failure to close Guantanamo, or deal effectively with Climate Change at Copenhagen.
For me however, it is the moments in which you have an opportunity to make a clear decision, with profound moral implications, and yet choose to act in a way that makes me ashamed to call you my President…
Will Suu Kyi Ever Be Free of the Imprisonment-House Arrest-Release Merry-Go-Round?
In the wake of its “elections,” Burma’s ruling junta may be considering releasing Aung San Suu Kyi to win points with the West.
War Is Not Good For You
Back in the 1960s, peace activists sported a bumper sticker that read: “War is not good for children and other living creatures.” In a way, that sums up Barry S. Levy and Victor W. Sidel’s War and Public Health, where 46 experts on everything from epidemiology to international law weigh in on the authors’ central premise: “War and militarism have catastrophic effects on human health and well being.”
Housing Demolition in East Jerusalem
The most recent East Jerusalem protest ensued on October 25th after the Israeli police gave 231demolition orders to Palestinian families all across East Jerusalem, including Silwan, an Arab neighborhood in close proximity to the Old City. According to Human Rights Watch, Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes peaked this year, reaching 141 in July. This is the largest number of demolitions per month since 2005. Meanwhile, the Israeli government subsidizes Jewish settlements all over the occupied territories and in East Jerusalem as well.
Though Israel places most its inexcusable violent measures under the banner of “security,” this particular form of destruction is purely discriminatory and does not fall into the category of Israeli defense. If Israel intends to continue the peace process, it must stop demolishing Palestinian homes and building Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem.
The Lies of Islamophobia
The Muslims were bloodthirsty and treacherous. They conducted a sneak attack against the French army and slaughtered every single soldier, 20,000 in all. More than 1,000 years ago, in the mountain passes of Spain, the Muslim horde cut down the finest soldiers in Charlemagne’s command, including his brave nephew Roland. Then, according to the famous poem that immortalized the tragedy, Charlemagne exacted his revenge by routing the entire Muslim army.
Israel’s Shrinking Minority Rights
Palestinian Arab citizens are a sizable minority in Israel who make up 20 percent of the country’s population. They experience institutionalized discrimination in their daily lives much like the African-American community before and during the U.S. civil rights movement. But consistent, trustworthy information about the problems and specific concerns of this community is in short supply.