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Holiday Shopping & The Economy
2007-12-18 17:14:00
The days between Black Friday and Christmas represent an annual injection of consumer spending that boosts sales before year end. As the chances of recession seem to swell with each analyst projection and our economic climate becomes increasingly uncertain, attention has turned to the holiday retail bonanza. With preliminary sales reports lower than expected and 30% of polled shoppers spending less than last year, the much needed spending surge may not arrive as planned.
More About: Economy , Shopping , Holiday

Private Prisons
2007-12-17 17:02:00
Not all prisoners in the US are housed by federal and state governments. Every year 40,000 illegal immigrants and 27,000 US citizens are held by private prisons in questionable conditions. Corporations like the Corrections Corporation of America earn enormous contracts to jail convicted felons. For the government's part, private prisons alleviate overcrowding and save money. Critics argue that by outsourcing prisoner care the government shirks its responsibility to maintain decent living standards and that ultimate accountability is ambiguous.
More About: Private

Afghan Poppy
2007-12-16 17:02:00
2007 will be a record year for opium growth in Afghanistan. Illegal drugs derived from the extensive Afghan poppy fields make their way all over the world and have started to influence drug policy in many concerned countries. Effective strategy for dealing with the opium production, which many suspect funds the Taliban, is not as easy as burning fields and arresting farmers. Growing poppy is closely integrated with Afghan culture and government and some strategists fear that harsh actions against the growers may push more of the populace against NATO forces.

Drug Testing
2007-12-15 08:30:00
Since the 1980s, drug testing in the workplace, for both prospective and current employees, has become standard practice in many American companies. Proponents maintain that drug testing cuts down on an employer’s bottom line, saving money on employee illnesses, absences and health costs. Furthermore, drug testing helps ensure safety, particularly in dangerous work environments. Critics call employee drug testing a violation of privacy that infringes on 4th amendment rights, and also question the correlation between drug use and efficiency on the job.
More About: Testing , Drug

Ebola
2007-12-14 17:34:00
The subject of a widespread public health panic in 2000, the Ebola virus continues to affect populations in sub-Saharan Africa. A quick-moving and extremely deadly virus (mortality rates range from 50 to 90 percent), Ebola rages through rural, isolated communities, often wiping out entire villages. This year alone, two major outbreaks of Ebola have occurred. It is estimated that 187 people died from the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a new strain of Ebola is currently ravaging the Bundibugyo district of Uganda.

Reacting to Modern Art
2007-12-13 17:36:00
What designates a work as art? Does medium matter? Is it the intent of the artist, or the interpretation of the viewer? As the contemporary art market blasts into astronomical prices and prestige, the "what constitutes art" debate is more divisive than ever. Enter Tom Wolfe and the Derriere Guard, exponents of a return to "Classical Realism." Wolfe's regressive movement is small but has growing support. While the mission of the Derriere Guard is certainly worth note, artists and aficionados insist that modern art is no fad.
More About: Modern , Modern Art

Evaluating the UN
2007-12-12 17:13:00
The United Nations was founded to facilitate cooperation in international law, security, and development. In light of the recent corruption scandals, few would say the UN is functioning as intended. Consequently many have started to debate whether the United States should leave the UN. Though many stateside see the UN as a weak organization for dealing with modern humanitarian and security problems, the rest of the international community values the UN as the forum for international dialogue. . And while John McCain and others have promoted the idea of a rival "League of Democracies", even John Bolton considers reform a better option than flight.

The Future of Crowded Skies
2007-12-11 17:09:00
2007 has been one of the worst years for flight delays on record. Part of the problem is the Federal Aviation Administration’s antiquated air traffic control system, which uses radar to direct flight plans. The FAA is launching an extensive overhaul of its control system, which will use GPS technology. While it’s generally agreed that change is necessary, there has been debate about the efficacy of the proposed modifications. Some think that the United States should follow the lead of other nations and privatize its air traffic control. Others question whether the new technology will be enough to combat the problems of overbooked airports and understaffed control centers.
More About: Future , The Future

Virtual Worlds, Real Laws
2007-12-10 17:27:00
Virtual communities like Second Life and World of Warcraft have attracted millions of users. As these cyber realities become more popular, a body of law is born. Not only are some virtual items like swords, clothes and even islands being sold for real cash, but the theft of these 2 dimensional treasures has led to real prosecution. Issues with intellectual property are also coming to the fore, as some users demand the rights to characters they create and mainline companies start waking up to brand misuse. Couple these developments with real-life law enforcement and these cyber worlds look a lot like home.
More About: Laws , Worlds , Virtual , Real

EU-African Summit
2007-12-09 17:39:00
For the first time in 7 years, representatives of the EU member states met with African leaders. For many European governments the meeting was important enough to lift the visa ban on Zimbabwean President Mugabe. The urgency to readdress the Europe-African relationship stems from China's escalating influence throughout Africa. While the headlines were dominated by the presence of controversial leaders and the absence of Gordon Brown, the summit focused on immigration and peacekeeping. Most notably, African leaders categorically rejected a free trade proposal that would replace the colonial-era system.
More About: Summit

Hate Crime Legislation
2007-12-08 07:02:00
Hate crime legislation is controversial. Depending on whether or not the motives for a crime are "hateful," punishments vary greatly. Proponents of laws like the Matthew Shepard Act (dropped by the Senate this week) argue that crimes motivated by prejudice have a greater negative impact on our society and that punishments must be harsher. Others dismiss the laws on the grounds that hate legislation infringes on the freedoms of thought, speech, and expression that are so core to American values.
More About: Crime , Hate , Legislation , Hate Crime

Radioactive Waste
2007-12-07 10:55:00
Since 1954, the United States has been generating electricity from nuclear power and storing the subsequent waste. Once a highly publicized concern, disposing and securing the waste no longer receives the attention that it deserves. 80,000 tons of highly radioactive waste is cooling outside nuclear plants waiting for a destination. Politicians, engineers, and corporations have suggested myriad solutions, such as exporting, burying, or sinking the waste. And while numerous countries are developing final repositories sealed vaults buried deep in the earth no one is sure of its future effects on the environment.
More About: Waste

Global Water Shortage
2007-12-06 17:34:00
At the recent Asia-Pacific Water Summit, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke of the overarching consequences of water shortages and focused on the increased likelihood of violence. In Africa, India, and Asia, where some spend hours each day to reach water, the social and economic costs are enormous. To prevent these shortages and economize limited supplies, countries are privatizing their water resources. But these processes are criticized with many asking arguing that water is a right and not a marketable commodity.
More About: Global

Corn Ethanol
2007-12-05 16:58:00
Nearly all American ethanol is distilled from corn. Once touted as the green fuel of the future, corn ethanol has come under increasing scrutiny. Critics argue that, with the fossil fuels used to grow corn and the lower mileage per gallon, the environmental consequences of corn ethanol are ultimately worse than those of conventional gasoline, and that substantial corn subsidies discourage the development of other, cleaner alternative energy solutions. Proponents maintain that producing corn ethanol is the best option given alternative technology and the consequences of dependence on foreign oil.
More About: Ethanol , Corn

Funding NASA
2007-12-05 09:08:00
After NASA took us to the moon, the prestigious government agency earned respect and funding. Since then, tangible discoveries at NASA have been few and far between, and some have started to question the value of such an expensive government agency. Defenders argue that NASA does not receive nearly enough funding because space exploration benefits the entire planet and future generations. With signs of a weakening economy and a growing national debt, evaluating NASA has started to become a campaign issue as prominent candidates from both parties are willing to redirect funds to other government programs.
More About: Funding , Nasa

Belgium Searching for Government
2007-12-04 08:54:00
For nearly 200 days, Belgium has been without a government. Since the ambiguous election 6 months ago, King Albert II has not been able to form a stable government. The political quagmire is not easily resolved: wealthier Flems in the north seek greater autonomy, and the French-speaking Walloons vote to maintain a unified country. If politics in Belgium do not change course, many fear the country will split.
More About: Government , Searching

De Beers & the Diamond Industry
2007-12-03 09:06:00
For nearly a century, De Beers has dictated the price of diamonds all over the world. To maintain its monopoly, the South African company supported the Apartheid government and traded lucratively with the Soviet Union. Some also allege that De Beers mistreats its miners and evicts natives from their land. Despite having created an artificially bloated diamond market, some, including Nelson Mandela, come to De Beers' defense. Advocates of the controversial company contend that the industry leader has created jobs and brought significant wealth to parts of the world that would otherwise be impoverished.
More About: Industry , Diamond , The Diamond

Our Northern Border
2007-11-30 18:18:00
The United States and Canada share the largest unguarded border in the world, much of it is remote wilderness. Along the border drug busts and security arrests go largely unreported. Our nation's security agenda is focused on airports, harbors, and the southern border with Mexico. Some say, however, that with so many unchecked entry points across such a vast area, the Canadian border deserves more attention.
More About: Northern , Hern

Conscription
2007-11-30 17:51:00
Since the Vietnam War, the United States has not instituted mandatory military service. The idea of forcing young men into the armed forces is often dismissed in America, partially because of the Vietnam era controversy. Unknown to many in the US, however, is just how common Military conscription is in other parts of the world. For instance, Germany, Brazil, and Israel all rely on national military service to maintain strong national defense without incurring enormous debts.

The Hole in the Ozone Layer
2007-11-30 10:53:00
We all remember the enormous hole in the ozone layer that needed to be fixed before ending life as we knew it. In the daily craze of emissions, record temperatures and polar bears, it has completely disappeared from the media spotlight. The massive hole remains but since 1987 the ozone killing chemicals have been phasing out. A full recovery of the protective ozone layer is expected between 2060 and 2075. As this happens the adverse health risks posed by UV rays will be reduced.
More About: Ozone , Hole , Layer , Ozone Layer , The Hole

Overfishing and Farming
2007-11-28 18:33:00
All over the world fish reserves are being decimated by large scale trawling expeditions. Despite efforts by governments, NGOs, and the UN, fish populations continue to fall, some to critical levels. As fish stocks decline farming has become increasingly popular but equally controversial. Many think that farming has the potential to prevent a global fish crisis, but the man-made breeding poses significant health and environmental challenges.
More About: Farming , Armin

The Pegged Dollar
2007-11-28 17:20:00
To ensure economic stability, countries in South America, Asia, and and the Middle East peg their currency to the US dollar. As the dollar sinks to new lows, many countries are reconsidering their economic allegiance because it devalues and restricts their own currency, often resulting in inflation. Russia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela have already taken steps to revalue their currencies. If enough governments decide to cut ties with the dollar, consequences could be serious: our currency would freefall.
More About: Dollar

Peace in Annapolis
2007-11-27 18:08:00
Today in Annapolis the leaders of several Middle Eastern states gather for a rare Israel-Palestine peace conference. The primary goal, which some think futile, is to outline a plan to establish a Palestinian state. In the background of this colossal challenge are several secondary issues. The domestic party politics of Israel and Palestine may prevent the necessary concessions on both sides. Many are also wary of Syria, whose last minute commitment has led to speculation that the Iranian ally may be warming to Western interests.
More About: Peace

Amtrak and the Future of American Rail Travel
2007-11-25 17:25:00
Amtrak is an unusual company. Its board of directors is appointed by the President of the United States and in order to function, Amtrak receives well over a 1 billion dollars a year from the federal government. During the course of its life, Amtrak has made several pushes to profitability, all of which have eventually failed. Especially considering the high ticket prices, many have started to question the necessity of a national rail carrier at the price of so many tax dollars.
More About: Travel , Future , American , The Future , Rail

Population Growth
2007-11-22 17:09:00
By 2050 the world population will have reached 9 billion. Although often absent from public discourse, controlling population growth to maintain resource supply and environmental sustainability has become an increasingly pressing topic. Many argue that the earth's resources cannot sustain indefinite population growth and that the future of the human race depends on controlling it. Meanwhile, the idea of implementing controls makes others uneasy. Beyond the theoretical discussions, controlling the number of human beings is a logistical and political quagmire and may not even be feasible.
More About: Growth , Pula

Video Games & Violence
2007-11-22 13:30:00
Long gone are the days of Tetris and Packman. Today's video games have life-like images with graphic sexuality and violence. The controversy of regulating video games took center stage after two avid gamers killed 13 people in the infamous Columbine shootings but, since then, the debate has sputtered. Supporters of regulation wonder why the move-like rating systems that would stop minors from purchasing violent games are not enforced. Hillary Clinton and Joe Lieberman co-sponsored the Family Entertainment Protection Act (FEPA) to enforce age-appropriate video games sales, but FEPA never passed in the Senate because the courts have declared it unconstitutional. The connection between video games and violence remains debated as regulation is stalled by constitutionality.
More About: Video , Video Games , Games , Violence , Video-Games

Thanksgiving
2007-11-21 17:40:00
At the end of the harvest, Thanksgiving traditionally celebrated all the crops that would last the winter. Since the first Thanksgiving Day in 1619 the holiday has evolved-today it can mean football, traffic, and pizza. Regardless of the drastic change from 1619 to today, the crux of Thanksgiving remains the same. Family, friends and appreciation for all we have.
More About: Hank

The Right to Bear Arms
2007-11-20 17:16:00
Late yesterday, the Supreme Court agreed to rule on the second amendment - the right of US citizens to hold and bear arms. The case comes from the District of Columbia where 6 plaintiffs challenged the gun ban. The ruling will not only clarify the scope of the second amendment (the last Supreme Court ruling was in 1939), but it will bring gun control to the forefront of the 2008 election.
More About: Arms , Bear

Appropriate Military Technology
2007-11-20 08:35:00
The Navy has recently taken delivery of a new rail gun and the Air Force is pushing for a greater slice of the defense budget. Neither advanced fighters nor experimental weapon modules are of much use in Afghanistan or Iraq, where the majority of casualties are caused by comparatively primitive IEDs. Regardless, many defense analysts say that the best way to avoid a large scale conventional war is to be prepared.
More About: Technology , Military , Prop

The Genetic Revolution
2007-11-18 15:54:00
Scientific research and technology has brought us to the brink of a genetic revolution. Specific genes, now identifiable, indicate higher risk of diseases and predisposition to any number of medical conditions. While the medical implications of genetic science are immense, the technology poses many political and philosophical dilemmas. Is it morally acceptable to alter the genetics of our unborn children? Should employers and heath insurance companies have access to our DNA? Genetics may force drastic changes in the health industry and the conception of privacy could take on a whole new meaning.
More About: Revolution , The G