Virtual Courseware
As part of a collaborative project between faculty members at the CaliforniaState University-Los Angeles and the National Science Foundation, theVirtual Courseware website brings together a number of thematicinstructional resources for science educators. Some of the resources includeactivities that deal with earthquakes and global warming. Within eachmodule, visitors will find a number of self-guided tutorials and explanatorymaterials for instructors to use in their classrooms. One real gem here is the 'Virtual Dating' section, as students and educators will get theopportunity to learn how geologists and archaeologists determine the ages ofrocks and ancient artifacts. The site also makes the module on earthquakesavailable in Spanish, titled “Terremoto”. With a mix of activities,assessment exercises, and instructor materials, this website will be a greatfind for science teachers working with college or high school students.
The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor
With offices in Paris and Washington, DC, The Consultative Group to Assistthe Poor (CGAP) is a consortium of 33 public and private developmentagencies working together to expand access to a variety of financialservices for the poor in the developing world. The agencies involved withthis project include The World Bank, the European Commission, and the Billand Melinda Gates Foundation. For those who are less well versed in theworld of microfinance, the “About Microfinance” section is a great place tobegin, as is its counterpart, “Key Principles of Microfinance”. Included inthe other sections (such as “Financial Transparency” and “Poverty Outreach”)are well-written briefs and reports that explain a wide range of relatedmatters, including their poverty assessment tools, microfinance regulation,and documents on how to train people in the nuances of microfinance lending.Rounding out the site is a link where visitors can offer feedback or alsojust ask questions.
Ending Oil Dependence
Concerns about the United States’ dependence on oil are nothing new, andvarious policy solutions have been around for decades. A number of scholarsand experts have been attempting to address the subject, and one recentpaper from The Brookings Institution offers a number of thoughtful ideas onthis important concern. Released in January 2007, this 25-page paper writtenby David B. Sandalow offers a number of ambitious proposals aimed atreducing oil dependency in the US. Some of his proposals will soundfamiliar, as he includes references to the inherent possibilities inwidespread adoption of biofuels, the adoption of smart growth policies, andthe potential benefits of plug-in hybrid engines. Sandalow also offers somemore specific details on how the auto fleet might be transformed over time,and also how the fuel supply might be transformed as well. It’s a thoughtfulwork, and one that will be of interest to policy analysts and others who areconcerned with this vexing issue.
Final Exam...
Laughran's Question:
Taking the specific tenets of taoism explained in the Tao of Pooh, how and why might you apply them to addressing positively certain specific current global problems? If there are also any specific problems that would seem irrevocably resistent to such practices, what might be a more fruitful approach and why, do you think?
Johnson's Question:
What was the final score of the May 1st game of the Sea Dogs vs. the Bowie Baysox??
Taking the specific tenets of taoism explained in the Tao of Pooh, how and why might you apply them to addressing positively certain specific current global problems? If there are also any specific problems that would seem irrevocably resistent to such practices, what might be a more fruitful approach and why, do you think?
Johnson's Question:
What was the final score of the May 1st game of the Sea Dogs vs. the Bowie Baysox??
Wow... Talk about a dinner!!"
NEWS. Twenty kilos of black caviar at 4000 euros a kilo. That is only one item on the expense list that Russian baron Roustam Tariko assembled in organising a party the likes of which had never been seen before in Venice. To celebrate his 45th birthday, he rented the rooms of the Cini Foundation on the island of S. Giorgio, where the guests -- all rigorously masked -- arrived and were greeted by scores of jugglers, actors, and extras. Mr. Tariko, known as "Mister Vodka", controls two-thirds of the Russian vodka market, is one of the richest men in the world, and spared no expense on his personal celebration. By way of example, the vegetables were embellished by spraying them with edible gold, the wine was among the best Tuscan variety (at least 500 euros per bottle) and, in the "sweets room", there were two fountains that flowed with molten chocolate!
Oh well, at this point, I guess we'll just have to try to do that for your 10 year reunion... :-)
Oh well, at this point, I guess we'll just have to try to do that for your 10 year reunion... :-)
More Fun from "Eats, Shoots and Leaves"
There was no punctuation in the earliest editions of the Bible!
Consider the differences:
"Comfort ye my people" vs. "Comfort ye, my people"?
or
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord."
vs.
"The voice of him that crieth: In the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord."
Consider the differences:
"Comfort ye my people" vs. "Comfort ye, my people"?
or
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord."
vs.
"The voice of him that crieth: In the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord."
From this week's Internet Scout Report
World Water Council: "In 1997, the World Water Council had its first official forum in Marrakech, and since then they have continued their work on 'critical water issues at all levels.' Some of these issues include efficient water conservation, water use management, and other relevant matters. With its compelling visual images and design, the homepage contains sections that provide information on upcoming World Water Forums and some very helpful overviews of their work. One such general overview may be found in the 'Water at a Glance' area, which provides information on the nature of freshwater resources around the globe. Persons involved in water policy and international affairs may wish to look over their online library, which includes their annual reports, synopses of materials covered in the Water Forum meetings, and papers such as 'The Right to Water: From Concept To Implementation'. It is also worth noting that many of the materials on the site are available in French and Spanish."
Ali G & David Beckham ("Mr. Mohawk"), Taoist Quotes (and Final Exam Suggestions!)
Firstly, FYI... speaking of soccer, there's an interview out there of David Beckham and Posh Spice by Ali G (AKA Sacha Baron Cohen, AKA Borat). It's rude, but Ali G's improv'ed interview with the Beckhams can be a scream... "Respect!" :-)
Then, just a couple of things I didn't get a chance to quote tonight...
Re: simplicity and what Kate was trying to say about the paradoxical difficulty of living simply: "Govern a nation as you would cook a small fish." - Lao Tzu :-)
"To remain whole, be twisted!
To become straight, let yourself be bent.
To become full, be hollow.
Be tattered, that you may be renewed.
Those that have little, may get more,
Those that have much, are but perplexed.
Therefore the Sage
Clasps the Primal Unity [tao],
Testing by it everything under heaven.
He does not show himself, therefore he is seen everywhere.
He does not define himself, therefore he is distinct.
He does not boast of what he will do, therefore he succeeds.
He is not proud of his work, and therefore it endures.
He does not contend,
And for that reason no one under heaven can contend with him.
So then we see that the ancient saying 'To remain whole, be twisted!' was no idle word; for true wholeness can only be acheived by return." - Tao Te Ching
"Do or do not. There is no try." - Tao Master Yoda
As for the Final Exam, finish reading Pooh and review the notes and articles from the class presentations. I personally envision an essay question that mixes the two (like applying one to the other, for example...)
Then, just a couple of things I didn't get a chance to quote tonight...
Re: simplicity and what Kate was trying to say about the paradoxical difficulty of living simply: "Govern a nation as you would cook a small fish." - Lao Tzu :-)
"To remain whole, be twisted!
To become straight, let yourself be bent.
To become full, be hollow.
Be tattered, that you may be renewed.
Those that have little, may get more,
Those that have much, are but perplexed.
Therefore the Sage
Clasps the Primal Unity [tao],
Testing by it everything under heaven.
He does not show himself, therefore he is seen everywhere.
He does not define himself, therefore he is distinct.
He does not boast of what he will do, therefore he succeeds.
He is not proud of his work, and therefore it endures.
He does not contend,
And for that reason no one under heaven can contend with him.
So then we see that the ancient saying 'To remain whole, be twisted!' was no idle word; for true wholeness can only be acheived by return." - Tao Te Ching
"Do or do not. There is no try." - Tao Master Yoda
(and I found more on the Tao of Star Wars here!)
BTW, the most recent estimates of people worldwide who espouse Taoism as their religious belief [which is slightly different from Taoism purely as a philosophy] range from 20 million to 50 million. (from Adherents.com)
As for the Final Exam, finish reading Pooh and review the notes and articles from the class presentations. I personally envision an essay question that mixes the two (like applying one to the other, for example...)
Tao of Pooh, Part Deux
"This is a well known Taoist symbol. 'It represents the balance of opposites in the universe. When they are equally present, all is calm. When one is outweighed by the other, there is confusion and disarray." (from Religious Tolerance)More on "pu"...
Taoism was never a unified tradition, but generally speaking...
"The Way" is important both in Confucianism and Taoism, but the former stresses the 'way of humanity', while the latter focuses on harmony which ensures proper conduct. (from Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs and Religions)
"The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.)" (Religious Tolerance)
Hence, Tai Chi (video 1, video 2, plus "Wu Jing, Master of Tai Chi" and more info at Kung-Fu Cinema)
"Tao Te Ching" was written at a time of warring states in China, with the idea of educating rulers that creative inactivity (wu-wei) is better than frenetic activity. (I.e., "Bisy Backson")
"It advocates naturalness and spontaneity and the idea of yielding ground in order to advance. Central to it is the notion of the Tao which cannot be named but is the sources of all that is and the unchanging principle behind the universe. The secret of life is to live in accordance with the Tao which 'never acts, yet nothing is left undone." (Larousse)
"In ancient Taoist texts, wu wei is associated with water through its yielding nature. Water is soft and weak, it is noted, but it can move earth and carve stone. Taoist philosophy proposes that the universe works harmoniously according to its own ways. When someone exerts his will against the world, he disrupts that harmony. Taoism does not identify man's will as the root problem. Rather, it asserts that man must place his will in harmony with the natural universe." (from Wikipedia)
Lao Tzu (sixth century B.C.) historical or legendary? (Means "Old Philosopher" or "Old Guy")
Not "the dry-as-dust absentminded professor"! Why not? ("Spelling Tuesday")
Not cleverness or "working the problem", either... Why not?? ("Cottleston Pie"/"The Pooh Way")
Taoism Cartoons
Bonus Question: What does the Tao of Pooh have to do with the Myth of Progress??
Last Installment of Schedule for Capstone
We're fortunate that the "Rachel Carson" lecture has been rescheduled for our meeting night (yes, we are!) So, that's going to be the game plan for tomorrow night.
Tuesday, April 24:
- Instead of our usual class meeting, attend the 2nd Annual Rachel Carson lecture by Tom Wessells about "the Myth of Progress" at 7 pm in the Auditorium. Post a comment here (or email me your comments) about what you thought was particularly compelling about his argument and what may have been weaker, in the context of your newly-broad understanding of contemporary global issues. Alternatively, you could ask in person an analytical question of the speaker, and not have to post anything here!
- Lastly, if you simply cannot attend at that time, I will post an alternative assignment for you... Here it is: with some jockeying around (they don't make it easy!), you can manage to read the entire first chapter for free online on Amazon.com. Follow this link... Start on page 1 and go to page 21. Any time the reader window won't let you page forward anymore, refresh the search results' link above and click on the page you need to continue with, until you get to page 21. At that point, post an analytical comment here (or email me with it). I think you'll find "emergence" a pervasive topic here! :-)
- TAKE THE POLL BELOW!!!
Thursday, April 26:
- "Soccer vs. McWorld" presentation by Joanna & Sarah B.
- Discussion of Pooh... READ UP THROUGH "BISY BACKSON"! (Quiz???)
Tuesday, May 1:
- Sea Dogs! Meet in our classroom at 5 pm and we'll drive down to the 6 pm game!
Thursday, May 3:
- First Annual "Capstone Awards Dinner" (tassels, anyone?) at my house! (I want to cook gourmet Italian for you, but Johnson wants a cookout. A food poll is being taken below... Be sure to vote!!)
- POLL:
Sea Dogs Postponed...
Copied from Facebook...
Michelle Laughran wroteat 2:21pm
Not to mention that the weather looks extraordinarily iffy for that day... I think we're currently looking at Pat's as a plan b, and then maybe trying a Sea Dogs game the first week of May.
Heidi Cheek wroteat 2:07pm
Are we still seeing a baseball game Tuesday? Kate and I will most likely not attend due to the demands of our senior sem papers.
Wall-to-Wall - Write on Heidi's Wall - Message - Delete
Michelle Laughran wroteat 2:21pm
Not to mention that the weather looks extraordinarily iffy for that day... I think we're currently looking at Pat's as a plan b, and then maybe trying a Sea Dogs game the first week of May.
Heidi Cheek wroteat 2:07pm
Are we still seeing a baseball game Tuesday? Kate and I will most likely not attend due to the demands of our senior sem papers.
Wall-to-Wall - Write on Heidi's Wall - Message - Delete
Today's Fun with English!
Nothing important... Just saw this in an eBay listing, and it drove me so nuts about the principle of the thing that I thought I'd share it with ya'll... (And that at least Jackie would empathize with me!!)
"ALL MY BOOKS ARE USED SOME MORE THAN OTHERS. THERE NOT ALL TORE UP BUT USED SOME LOOK LIKE THERE BRAND NEW."
AAIIIIEEEE!!!
"ALL MY BOOKS ARE USED SOME MORE THAN OTHERS. THERE NOT ALL TORE UP BUT USED SOME LOOK LIKE THERE BRAND NEW."
AAIIIIEEEE!!!
Equal Time for Garrett!
Iraqis: life is getting better-News-TimesOnline
Plus, offered this Spring through Portland Adult Education:
"PORTLAND JUNTO
Instructors: Peter Wannemacher
Do you prefer discussing over disputing? How would you like to have people listen and respond instead of ignore and react? The Portland Junto is a 21st century version of a polite discussion group established by Benjamin Franklin in Colonial America. In 1727, Mr. Franklin asked a few of his acquaintances to meet regularly in order to discuss and debate "in the sincere spirit of inquiry after truth, without fondness for dispute or desire of victory." He called it Junto. Out of those discussions came such ideas as the public library, volunteer fire departments, and paved roads. In these meetings a small group will gather once a week to present and listen to ideas. There will be rules of politeness and a moderator and plenty of opportunity to learn from others in your community. Topics will be selected by the group. #1602; Mondays5/2-5/30; 6:00-8:00 PM; 5 SessionsDeering High School, Room 115 Course fee $35/45"
BTW, the "Vote Different" parody video (posted March 7) seems to have been created and seeded on the Internet by somebody with connections to the Obama campaign... (More at FOXNews.com - Creator of Anti-Hillary Clinton YouTube Ad is Ex-Employee of Firm Linked to Obama Campaign
Plus, offered this Spring through Portland Adult Education:
"PORTLAND JUNTO
Instructors: Peter Wannemacher
Do you prefer discussing over disputing? How would you like to have people listen and respond instead of ignore and react? The Portland Junto is a 21st century version of a polite discussion group established by Benjamin Franklin in Colonial America. In 1727, Mr. Franklin asked a few of his acquaintances to meet regularly in order to discuss and debate "in the sincere spirit of inquiry after truth, without fondness for dispute or desire of victory." He called it Junto. Out of those discussions came such ideas as the public library, volunteer fire departments, and paved roads. In these meetings a small group will gather once a week to present and listen to ideas. There will be rules of politeness and a moderator and plenty of opportunity to learn from others in your community. Topics will be selected by the group. #1602; Mondays5/2-5/30; 6:00-8:00 PM; 5 SessionsDeering High School, Room 115 Course fee $35/45"
BTW, the "Vote Different" parody video (posted March 7) seems to have been created and seeded on the Internet by somebody with connections to the Obama campaign... (More at FOXNews.com - Creator of Anti-Hillary Clinton YouTube Ad is Ex-Employee of Firm Linked to Obama Campaign
Syllabus & Assignments Update
Okay, today, we'll kill some electrons instead of trees... :-)
Tonight, Tao of Pooh and Honors discussion. At right, "The Vinegar tasters."
Thursday, Hotel Rwanda.
Before Thursday, read and listen to the full radio segment at NPR : Paul Rusesabagina, No 'Ordinary Man'
and
Genocide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(As usual, there could be a quiz!)
Tues., April 3:
Read "Soccer vs. McWorld" from Global Issues, to be presented by Joanna & Sarah B.
Thurs., April 5:
EASTER BREAK!
Tues., April 10: Read Pooh, "Spelling Tuesday," and "Cottleston Pie."
Tonight, Tao of Pooh and Honors discussion. At right, "The Vinegar tasters."
Thursday, Hotel Rwanda.
Before Thursday, read and listen to the full radio segment at NPR : Paul Rusesabagina, No 'Ordinary Man'
and
Genocide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(As usual, there could be a quiz!)
Tues., April 3:
Read "Soccer vs. McWorld" from Global Issues, to be presented by Joanna & Sarah B.
Thurs., April 5:
EASTER BREAK!
Tues., April 10: Read Pooh, "Spelling Tuesday," and "Cottleston Pie."
Question of the Day
"If 50 Cent was actually worth 50 cents when he was born in 1975, adjusting for inflation, what would his name be today?"
(from You Don't Know Jack: Online)
Links for the Day
Did Al get the science right? Salon News
"Draft Gore. He has participated in a lampoon of his defeat, has at least one web forum devoted to what might have been and may yet be, has his own web site, his own Wiki page, is an Academy Award winner, is encouraged to run by at least one major newspaper , and has numerous web sites devoted to encouraging him to run. His competion? Jeb Bush, (if there is any justice in this world, please let it be the Jeb miester), Rudy Giuliani, and John McCain. I predict a landslide of unprecedented proportions. Metafilter before ." (via Metafilter)
Cult of Personality
Vote Different?
"Draft Gore. He has participated in a lampoon of his defeat, has at least one web forum devoted to what might have been and may yet be, has his own web site, his own Wiki page, is an Academy Award winner, is encouraged to run by at least one major newspaper , and has numerous web sites devoted to encouraging him to run. His competion? Jeb Bush, (if there is any justice in this world, please let it be the Jeb miester), Rudy Giuliani, and John McCain. I predict a landslide of unprecedented proportions. Metafilter before ." (via Metafilter)
Cult of Personality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo
Vote Different?
Assignment for this Week, plus SPRING BREAK READING ASSIGNMENT!
Oh, how I can hear the gnashing of teeth now! Fear not, there's not much reading over Spring Break, and at the very least you should find it quick and enjoyable... :-)
So, be sure to read the Foreword, "The How of Pooh?" and "The Tao of Who?" in your Pooh over Break. THERE WILL BE A QUIZ & DISCUSSION ON TUESDAY, MARCH 20! (Plus, and I know you're waiting on the edges of your collective seats for this, we'll also give you that day the Capstone daily schedule for the remainder of the semester! Stay tuned!!)
Then (or - perhaps I should say - "before"), read Global Issues, “Nuclear Now” & “Looking Into the Sun” (Articles 27 & 28) plus the brief handouts I'll give you on Tuesday night for Thursday, March 8. (Again, discussion will be on the menu, and - be warned - a quiz could also be on deck!) Remember also that your letters to the editor midterm will be due on that day!
So, be sure to read the Foreword, "The How of Pooh?" and "The Tao of Who?" in your Pooh over Break. THERE WILL BE A QUIZ & DISCUSSION ON TUESDAY, MARCH 20! (Plus, and I know you're waiting on the edges of your collective seats for this, we'll also give you that day the Capstone daily schedule for the remainder of the semester! Stay tuned!!)
Then (or - perhaps I should say - "before"), read Global Issues, “Nuclear Now” & “Looking Into the Sun” (Articles 27 & 28) plus the brief handouts I'll give you on Tuesday night for Thursday, March 8. (Again, discussion will be on the menu, and - be warned - a quiz could also be on deck!) Remember also that your letters to the editor midterm will be due on that day!
Running the Numbers
"Running the Numbers is a look at contemporary American culture through the austere lens of statistics. Each image portrays a specific quantity of something: fifteen million sheets of office paper; 106,000 aluminum cans and so on.This project visually examines the vast and bizarre measures of our society, in large intricately detailed prints assembled from tens-of-thousands of smaller photographs."
For example, above "depicts 60,000 plastic bags, the number used in the US every five seconds."
UPDATED: Johnson & "How to Draw a Bunny"
Available on DVD and streaming now on Netflix... (Seriously!)
Johnson, I had no idea that your bunnies seem to be revolutionizing 21st-Century Art!
Johnson, I had no idea that your bunnies seem to be revolutionizing 21st-Century Art!
UPDATED: BTW, found this to keep your Devo collection up to date!
:-)
Extra Credit Viewing Tuesday Morning...
FYI...
"The Life in a Jar/Irena Sendler segment will air on the Today show this Tuesday, February 27th, during the 8:30 AM segment... This time is dependent on other news stories and could change."
Same drill as last time if you're interested...
"The Life in a Jar/Irena Sendler segment will air on the Today show this Tuesday, February 27th, during the 8:30 AM segment... This time is dependent on other news stories and could change."
Same drill as last time if you're interested...
Extra-Credit Viewing Sunday Night on "60 Minutes"
Sorry for the short notification. I just received this.
Hi. I wanted to let you know about a story we’re going to be running on “60 MINUTES” this coming Sunday, Feb. 25 (7PM ET/PT on CBS) that I thought you’d be interested in. It’s about the Theresienstadt concentration camp which, as you know, the Nazi’s briefly turned into a model town to try and convince the world that stories that they were exterminating Jews were untrue. Central to the deception was the performance of a children’s opera called “Brundibar” that actually mocked the Nazis. The opera survived the war, as did a few members of its cast, and CBS News’ Bob Simon recently met with the group at their yearly reunion in the Czech Republic.
It’s an amazing tale of both hardship and survival, and as with our December piece on the Bad Arolsen archive, we’re trying to get word out to people who have a special interest in this subject. The response to the Bad Arolsen piece was incredible (we are still getting calls and emails), and though this is a much different type of story, we hope you would again consider sending out something to your listserve and/or posting something on your website. As before, further information will also be available on our website which you’re welcome to link to from yours.
If you're interested, watch this story and post an analytical comment about your reactions here.
Hi. I wanted to let you know about a story we’re going to be running on “60 MINUTES” this coming Sunday, Feb. 25 (7PM ET/PT on CBS) that I thought you’d be interested in. It’s about the Theresienstadt concentration camp which, as you know, the Nazi’s briefly turned into a model town to try and convince the world that stories that they were exterminating Jews were untrue. Central to the deception was the performance of a children’s opera called “Brundibar” that actually mocked the Nazis. The opera survived the war, as did a few members of its cast, and CBS News’ Bob Simon recently met with the group at their yearly reunion in the Czech Republic.
It’s an amazing tale of both hardship and survival, and as with our December piece on the Bad Arolsen archive, we’re trying to get word out to people who have a special interest in this subject. The response to the Bad Arolsen piece was incredible (we are still getting calls and emails), and though this is a much different type of story, we hope you would again consider sending out something to your listserve and/or posting something on your website. As before, further information will also be available on our website which you’re welcome to link to from yours.
If you're interested, watch this story and post an analytical comment about your reactions here.
Vs. Corruption: Global Integrity
Global Integrity: "Many of the world’s national governments have been plagued by charges ofcorruption and pervasive malfeasance over the past few decades. As a result,a number of international organizations have been created to provideinformation on corruption and governance trends for the policy community andthe general public. With funding from the World Bank, the Global Integrityorganization produces the Global Integrity Report, which features a numberof “integrity indicators”, which analyze openness, governance, and anti-corruption mechanisms for a wide range of countries. Visitors to their sitecan read the Report in its entirety here, and also browse through a numberof media resources designed for journalists. Additionally, visitors can alsolearn more about the organization’s staff members and their variousmethodologies for compiling reports." (from the Internet Scout Report)
Plus, Factors Regarding Corruption in Italy
Plus, Factors Regarding Corruption in Italy
UPDATED: Newspapers in Trouble? Optimus Prime to the Rescue!
"So the NAA -- that's the Newspaper Association of America... decides it needs a literacy campaign. And what's a literacy campaign without a celebrity spokesman? Nothing! So who[m] do they pick? Optimus Prime. No, seriously. I officially declare this the end of media irony. [via]"
Talk about demographics... As far as I can tell, this ad campaign is aimed at just one age group: Tim Ryley! ;-)
UPDATED: After our discussion last night, I can't help but think that this is the one last, desperate stand of a team made up of two formerly-beloved icons of American culture, now has-beens (newspapers & transformers, that is!)
Re: "Sticky Power," plus other miscellaneous class links
- Re: Global Urbanization - "The Sound of the City"
"This year, for the first time in human history, more people will live in urban areas than rural areas. Some of the quantitative statistics are staggering. Every day in the world, 200,000 people migrate to cities. Half the new buildings in the world in the next 10 years will be built in China. Mexico City has gone from three million to 20 million. In 1950 50 million people a year crossed national borders mainly from cities - last year it was 840 million." (via Linkfilter)
- Re: Global Warming - Cool the Globe!
- Re: Bottled Water's Global "Footprint" - "The True Cost of Bottled Water"
"In summary, the manufacture and transport of that one kilogram bottle of Fiji water consumed... 849 Kilograms of fossil fuel (one litre or .26 gal) and emitted 562 grams of Greenhouse Gases (1.2 pounds). [Plus. uses] nearly seven times as much water used to make it than you actually drink! Staggering is an understatement..."
- Re: World Poverty (about recently released global poverty map)
Re: World population - KQED You Decide: Overpopulation & Chinese one-child laws produce scary results
- Re: World Diet - "Hungry Planet" - A photographer visited 24 countries and photographed what 30 different families eat during the course of a typical week... (via Yahoo! Link of the Day) At left, the US. At right, Chad.
- Re: Garrett - "Convince Me" Debate online, all the time!
:-)
Tonight's Links, plus Syllabus, Version "Vista"!
Firstly, quote of the day:
"We don't know what those other cycles were caused by in the past. Could be dinosaur flatulence, you know, or who knows?"
-Rep. Dana Rohrabacher R-CA, on the cause of previous warming cycles
Next, here are the links that Mariya cited tonight...
- http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/?p=89251
- http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/file_depot/0-10000000/0-10000/3390/folder/48524/Fall2005Survey.doc
- http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/?p=VisaMantis
Then, here's that news from today about oil prices...
And then, here's the schedule for the remainder of this week and next... (If we have a mega-snow-holiday and are also off Thursday, I'll adjust it accordingly!)
Thursday, Feb. 15:
- Allison-with-2-Ls & Devon: "America's Sticky Power"
- Sarah H.: "The Big Crunch"
Tuesday, Feb. 20: NO CLASS!
Thursday, Feb. 22:
- Harrison & Joanna: "Political Graft"
- Kate & Garrett: "Chile"
At that point, the syllabus is back to normal, whatever "normal" may be! :-)
Remember that I'll collect the NYC deposit of $50 on March 1st! (Go ahead and RSVP as soon as you can with a comment on this email, so I can check hostel-availability!!)
And don't forget to order your Pooh!
Lastly but not leastly, Happy V-Day to some of my favorite "funny valentines"!! :-)
Support "micro-loans" with just 2 clicks a day!
"If you knew you could fight poverty and hunger, conserve the environment, empower women, and combat AIDS - all with just two clicks a day - would you do it?
The Oxfam America Collegiate Click Drive is a national online competition to generate funds for micro-credit programs worldwide.
Participation is quick and easy - each click generates a $.25 donation. To compete, go to www.PovertyFighters.com. The Click Drive runs February 12th through March 30th, 2007.
The funding provides loans to help start small businesses which help lift families and communities out of poverty.Help make a difference today! Go to http://www.povertyfighters.com/ today to compete!
The Oxfam America Collegiate Click Drive is a national online competition to generate funds for micro-credit programs worldwide.
Participation is quick and easy - each click generates a $.25 donation. To compete, go to www.PovertyFighters.com. The Click Drive runs February 12th through March 30th, 2007.
The funding provides loans to help start small businesses which help lift families and communities out of poverty.Help make a difference today! Go to http://www.povertyfighters.com/ today to compete!
Thank you for your support!
Tim Fullerton, Oxfam America
Tim Fullerton, Oxfam America
The Oxfam America Click Drive is an annual effort organized by students at Brandeis University."
Plus, microloans American-style @ Prosper.com...?
News! The Problems with New Technology!! (Plus Obama on TV tonight!!!)
"A couple years ago, a Carnegie Corporation study reported that the average age of newspaper (print edition) readers was 55. I'm not aware of more recent estimates, but they're not likely to have gotten any lower. Nor will they in the future. The printed newspaper now seems akin to TV network broadcast news (at least here in the U.S.), where you can tell the advanced age of its average viewers because most of the commercials are for pharmaceuticals and other products aimed at an over-50 demographic. That's not good news for either medium..." (more at Where News Consumption Is Heading)
In related Scandanavian news...
And for Harrison, Barack Obama will be on 60 Minutes tonight! :-)
"Yahoo! News" of the Day!
First of all... 3 million Muslims join mass prayer in Bangladesh seeking peace - USATODAY.com
Can't wait to see 3 million Christians do the same! :-)
Next, yesterday was a big newsday for global warming!
Can't wait to see 3 million Christians do the same! :-)
Next, yesterday was a big newsday for global warming!
- Virgin's Branson offers $25 mln global warming prize
- Pelosi: Expect House global-warming bill by July
- 'Doomsday vault' to resist global warming effects
- Exxon Says Action Needed Now to Combat Global Warming
- China says global warming in hands of wealthy nations
- Inuit accuse US of destroying their way of life with global warming
- Researchers Examining Effects of Global Warming in Antarctica
- Dutch May Build Offshore Breaker Islands in Response to Global Warming
- Dutch scientist says software can cut car fuel use
- FOX News Poll: Most Americans Believe in Global Warming
And, last but not least,
- U.S. companies prepare for bird flu pandemic
- Poll shows Arabs dislike Bush (surprise, eh?)
- and (horrors!) Students use chat lingo in class
For Jackie... finally, the end of civilization as we know it? :-)
Tao of Pooh
Well, I hunted around for a couple of hours tonight because I'd hoped I could find a place online where I could purchase 15 economical copies of The Tao of Pooh in one fell swoop to save everybody on shipping. No such luck...
So go ahead and order your own copy. (Just make sure it'll arrive relatively soon!) The cheapest place online seemed to be Amazon, from 10 cents!
FYI: If you have a Gameboy Advanced or a "Gameboy Advanced Emulator," you can apparently download a free eBook of The Tao of Pooh! (Lemme know how it is...)
So go ahead and order your own copy. (Just make sure it'll arrive relatively soon!) The cheapest place online seemed to be Amazon, from 10 cents!
FYI: If you have a Gameboy Advanced or a "Gameboy Advanced Emulator," you can apparently download a free eBook of The Tao of Pooh! (Lemme know how it is...)
News of the Day!
China says global warming in hands of wealthy nations
And, regarding "brain drain," Germany Agonizes Over a Brain Drain !
And, regarding "brain drain," Germany Agonizes Over a Brain Drain !
Extra-Credit Opportunity!
Coming up on the Discovery Channel...
"Futurecar - This four-part series offers a glimpse of what tomorrow's automobiles may be like, and what alternative fuels they may run on."
See the series and post an analytical comment here about what you think regarding the feasibility of these projects, and why.
TV LISTINGS:
FEB 07 2007@ 08:00 PM
FEB 08 2007@ 12:00 AM
FEB 10 2007@ 11:00 AM
FutureCar --> The Extremes
FEB 14 2007@ 08:00 PM
FEB 15 2007@ 12:00 AM
FEB 17 2007@ 11:00 AM
FutureCar --> The Body
FEB 21 2007@ 08:00 PM
FEB 22 2007@ 12:00 AM
FEB 24 2007@ 11:00 AM
FutureCar --> The Fuel
FEB 28 2007@ 02:00 PM
FEB 28 2007@ 08:00 PM
MAR 01 2007@ 12:00 AM
FutureCar --> The Brain
"Futurecar - This four-part series offers a glimpse of what tomorrow's automobiles may be like, and what alternative fuels they may run on."
See the series and post an analytical comment here about what you think regarding the feasibility of these projects, and why.
TV LISTINGS:
FEB 07 2007@ 08:00 PM
FEB 08 2007@ 12:00 AM
FEB 10 2007@ 11:00 AM
FutureCar --> The Extremes
FEB 14 2007@ 08:00 PM
FEB 15 2007@ 12:00 AM
FEB 17 2007@ 11:00 AM
FutureCar --> The Body
FEB 21 2007@ 08:00 PM
FEB 22 2007@ 12:00 AM
FEB 24 2007@ 11:00 AM
FutureCar --> The Fuel
FEB 28 2007@ 02:00 PM
FEB 28 2007@ 08:00 PM
MAR 01 2007@ 12:00 AM
FutureCar --> The Brain
Support your favorite charity JUST BY SEARCHING THE WEB!
A penny goes to your favorite charity every time you use this Yahoo-powered search engine!!
UPDATED: Lots of Global Warming in Today's "Yahoo! News" (and More Language Fun!)
- U.N. climate panel blames people for global warming
- Seas rising faster than U.N. predicts: study
- US thinktank offering cash to dispute UN climate panel: report
- White House rejects mandatory CO2 caps
- UPDATED: Global warming to continue for centuries
- UPDATED: Reports from a Warming Planet - Yahoo! Picks for January 30, 2007
And more "English Police" fun: 100 Most Often Mispronounced Words & Phrases!
UPDATED: New Book? Plus, Tonight's Presentation...
Dear Class,Well, you're likely not going to believe this, but I was actually pretty pleased tonight with the discussion of Emergence! (You don't have to like the book, but at least you're not even vaguely apathetic about it!!)
However, my offer still stands... You guys present Johnson & me with an alternative on which we can all reach a consensus by next Thursday, and I'll drop making you read Emergence and we'll read your choice instead! (Otherwise, we pick up reading Emergence again the following week!!)
You may post as a comment here your suggested nominations that I hope might be every bit as good fodder for thoughtful, imaginative (and hopefully impassioned) discussion as Emergence seems to be turning out to be. :-)
Leaping out from a quick glance of the lists of "the best books of 2006": Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change; The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream; The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals; The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million; Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed; and the Pulizer-Prize-Winning Polio: An American Story. Then, of course, there were my personal picks of Ishmael & The Ghost Map. Johnson may not like 'em, but I don't exactly hear him making any suggestions! :-)
Last but not least, props to Joanna & Sarah B. for their wonderful presentation today... Nice balance of article analysis synthesized with supplemental concepts, not to mention deft moderation of the subsequent discussion! Does anybody have anything further they'd like to add to the discussion here?
In the meantime, keep up the good work, ya'll!
Have a good weekend!!
Dr. Laughran
P.S. I don't think Johnson ever checks in here himself... So we could plan on doing something fun but harmless and he'd never know, like each person in the class bringing a camera on Tuesday and then everybody insisting on getting up and taking his picture, for example!
;-)
P.P.S. What are we fighting for? Check out these statistics (which, if true, are sad!)
- 1/3 of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
- 42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college.
- 80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.
- 70 percent of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years. (more at "Some startling book statistics")
UPDATED: Class-Related News of the Day
- NATO, U.S. neglect "psychological warfare": report - Yahoo! News
- Panel hears climate 'spin' allegations - Yahoo! News
- UPDATED: Regarding Homeland Security, hoaxes and bridges...
More than 10 blinking electronic devices planted at bridges and other spots in Boston threw a scare into the city Wednesday in what turned out to be a publicity campaign for a late-night cable cartoon... Highways, bridges and a section of the Charles River were shut down and bomb squads were sent in before authorities declared the devices were harmless... (more at Boston cops make arrest in devices ploy - Yahoo! News)
And from last night's discussion... My bad, there were only 6 imams thrown off the plane: 6 imams removed from Twin Cities flight - Boston.com
Other Links from Today's Topics
Johnson & I both were very pleased with ya'll's great work tonight! In addition, I think particular kudos are in order for the well-moderated discussion, and for those great moments when you took an angle from the article and then fully developed it with your own spin toward your own personal interests and expertise. I look forward to seeing even more of that!!
Here are some additional links that you might also find interesting...
- KQED You Decide: Ethnic Profiling: An interactive debate! (Garrett should love it... It automatically argues the opposite of whatever position you take!!)
- The Ziggurat of Zealotry - New York Times: A new model for Islamic militarism?
- Bird Flu Monitor: Up-to-the-minute news on developments related to Avian Flu.
- Doctors without Borders: This Nobel-Peace-Prize-winning organization may be doing a lot to address the AIDS epidemic in Africa, but they also do many things besides! Like, for example...
Also in the news today... Millions to go hungry, waterless: climate report - Yahoo! News.
In the News: A Harrowing Story...
"...Ricky's story echoes those of many residents of a children's asylum-seeker hostel in Hillingdon in west London. As well as looking after him, Hillingdon Council cares for around 1,130 children and young people found wandering abandoned in the world's biggest airport, Heathrow...More at Building a future for Heathrow's lost children - Yahoo! News
Many come to Britain alone, some as young as eight or nine, or in small groups of siblings. Often orphans of war, they come from all over the world, having scraped together money to pay agents or people-traffickers, who then abandon them and disappear. They have no papers, no belongings, and no idea what life holds for them now. 'At times they come in at a rate of between 20 and 30 a month," said Teresa Bateman, a team manager at Hillingdon's education and children's services...'"
Time Limit on Presentations!
So, while a half hour seemed terribly daunting at first, you see that I've never actually had Honors students ever manage to present in less time than that (even when they were only required to do 15 minutes!)
Remember that you can reasonably assume full acquaintance with the article by your audience, so you don't need to eat up your presentation time by reiterating all of it in detail. A quick synopsis will suffice in order to allow you to be able to go on to explain and facilitate discussion on specific meatier issues from your article.
To recap, keep in mind that we're going to have to keep presentation and discussion of each article or set of articles to 30 minutes, particularly this next class during which we'll have 3 presentations scheduled!
Common Writing Problems (from the English Dept.)
I'm a member of a committtee to foster a "Writing across the Curriculum" program, and - as such - just received a list of students' common writing problems. Generally speaking, the broader problems about formulating and communicating an argument don't usually present such great difficulties for the Honors students. Grammar, on the other hand, tends to be more difficult, since a lot of Honors students I know are instinctual writers and were therefore never really trained in the nuts and bolts of English.
So, here's the official English Department list of grammar snafus that tend to plague our students, Honors and otherwise. Needless to say, these are also the problems that we (and if you thought I was bad, you should know that it particularly inflames Johnson!) wants you to be able to banish from your writing forever by the time you finish Capstone! :-)
- Creating sentences that are grammatically correct and that exhibit variety in structure (using a combination of simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences)
- Avoiding comma splices (a type of run-on sentence in which two independent clauses are jointed with only a comma)
- Using a college-level vocabulary
- Avoiding wordiness
- Primarily using active rather than passive verbs (e.g., He ate the pizza rather than The pizza was eaten by him)
- Relating pronouns to their antecedents and making verbs agree with their subjects
- Relying on concrete diction rather than vague, general, and abstract words
- Handling punctuation correctly, especially the comma
- Spelling accurately
Stormy Weather!
"A Special Moment in History" talked about "Stormy Weather." Speaking of which...
ExtremeInstability.com discovers YouTube: Clouds darker than any I've ever seen, except in my worst nightmares... (and I've lived in a semi-tropical climate!) As one commenter put it, there's just "something about man meeting nature, and nature kicking his sorry ass."
(Personally, I like the odd moments of the local dog the storm chasers have to rescue at the beginning of the first video, the surreal birds singing and crickets chirping in the second, and the short-lived rainbow with a tornado in one of the last ones...)
NOTE: They're not kidding about the language in the last two videos!
Plus, in the "Gross News of the Day," Huge python makes a meal of 11 guard dogs! (Blech!!)
News: "Affluenza - Rampant consumerism erodes us"
Not that 240 people necessarily constitute a scientific sample, but here's some food for thought in today's news anyway... :-)Plus... (speaking of consumerism!) at right, a t-shirt for Jackie (and Johnson!)
:-)
Personally, I like the one at left myself!
Then, in environment news, talk about run-off: Sex-change chemicals in river that runs through US capital!
Lastly but not leastly, "WHAT DO WE CARE ABOUT? On a day when 55 people were killed by bombs in Iraq, the most read story on BBC news was news of a duck who survived gunshot wounds and two days in the fridge. The story was also more popular than Hillary Clinton's announcement to run for President in 2008."
Eats, Shoots and Leaves
Here's a link to the website for Eats, Shoots and Leaves, subtitled - and I'm sure Jackie will love this - "a zero-tolerance approach to punctuation."
The original (if expurgated!) version of the title story:
A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.
"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.
"I'm a panda," he says at the door. "Look it up."
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.
"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."
So punctuation really does matter, even if it is only occasionally a matter of life and death!
Punctuation, however, hasn't always existed. It developed out of necessity!
Commas, for example, were apparently first used by Greek playwrights to mark "breathing points" for actors.
"Thus leading," Lynne Truss writes, "to the modern explanation of why a cat is not a comma..." Personally, I'm not sure why we'd even need such an explanation, but - for the sake of a learning opportunity - I'm willing to suspend disbelief! :-)
And I thought history humor was bad! :-)A cat has claws at the end of its paws;
A comma's a pause at the end of a clause!
Links for Today: Meta-Trends, Slime Molds and Emergence
EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SLIME 
MOLDS... BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!
MOLDS... BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!- Slime mould - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Slime Mould Solves Maze Puzzle from abc.net.au
- Robot Piloted by a Slime Mold. Slashdot (2006).
- Java Applet Slime Mold Simulation
Links for In-Class Discussion:
- First of all, let's define "meta".
- "Modern" = "Progress"? (BBC NEWS World Africa Nigeria tops happiness survey)
- "Transparency" will win? What if it's not "top-down" but "bottom-up"? (The Panopticon: Unpaid diplomatic parking tickets as index of national corruption)
- "Pacemakers" or "Emergence"? The Case for Spontaneous Generation...
- "Social Adaptation" a silver lining?: The Upside of Down - A BookShort Documentary
News: "Doomsday clock to move closer to nuclear Armageddon"
Do you agree with the reasoning behind this move?
Selected World Wide Web Sites for ANNUAL EDITIONS : Global Issues 06/07
General Sources
U.S. Information Agency (USIA)
USIA’s home page provides definitions, related documentation, and discussions of topics of concern to students of global issues. The site addresses today’s Hot Topics as well as ongoing issues that form the foundation of the field.
World Wide Web Virtual Library: International Affairs Resources
Surf this site and its extensive links to learn about specific countries and regions, to research various think tanks and international organizations, and to study such vital topics as international law, development, the international economy, human rights, and peacekeeping.
Global Issues In The Twenty First Century: An Overview
The Henry L. Stimson Center
The Stimson Center, a nonpartisan organization, focuses on issues where policy, technology, and politics intersect. Use this site to find varying assessments of U.S. foreign policy in the post–cold war world and to research other topics.
The Heritage Foundation
This page offers discussion about and links to many sites having to do with foreign policy and foreign affairs, including news and commentary, policy review, events, and a resource bank.
IISDnet
The International Institute for Sustainable Development presents information through links to business, sustainable development, and developing ideas. “Linkages” is its multimedia resource for policymakers. The North-South Institute
Searching this site of the North-South Institute, which works to strengthen international development cooperation and enhance gender and social equity, will help you find information and debates on a variety of global issues.
Population and Food Production
The Hunger Project
Browse through this nonprofit organization’s site, whose goal is the sustainable end to global hunger through leadership at all levels of society. The Hunger Project contends that the persistence of hunger is at the heart of the major security issues threatening our planet.
Penn Library: Resources by Subject
This vast site is rich in links to information about subjects of interest to students of global issues. Its extensive population and demography resources address such concerns as migration, family planning, and health and nutrition in various world regions.
World Health Organization
This home page of the World Health Organization will provide you with links to a wealth of statistical and analytical information about health and the environment in the developing world.
WWW Virtual Library: Demography & Population Studies
A definitive guide to demography and population studies can be found at this site. It contains a multitude of important links to information about global poverty and hunger.
The Global Environment and Natural Resources Utilization
National Geographic Society
This site provides links to material related to the atmosphere, the oceans, and other environmental topics.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Through this home page of NOAA, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, you can find information about coastal issues, fisheries, climate, and more. The site provides many links to research materials and to other Web resources.
SocioSite: Sociological Subject Areas
This huge site provides many references of interest to those interested in global issues, such as links to information on ecology and the impact of consumerism.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Consult this home page of UNEP for links to critical topics of concern to students of global issues, including desertification, migratory species, and the impact of trade on the environment.
Political Economy
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (BCSIA)
BCSIA is the hub of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government’s research, teaching, and training in international affairs related to security, environment, and technology.
U.S. Agency for International Development
Broad and overlapping issues such as democracy, population and health, economic growth, and development are covered on this Web site. It provides specific information about different regions and countries.
The World Bank Group
News, press releases, summaries of new projects, speeches, publications, and coverage of numerous topics regarding development, countries, and regions are provided at this World Bank site. It also contains links to other important global financial organizations.
Conflict
DefenseLINK
Learn about security news and research-related publications at this U.S. Department of Defense site. Links to related sites of interest are provided. The information systems BosniaLINK and GulfLINK can also be found here. Use the search function to investigate such issues as land mines.
Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
FAS, a nonprofit policy organization, maintains this site to provide coverage of and links to such topics as global security, peace, and governance in the post–cold war world. It notes a variety of resources of value to students of global issues.
ISN International Relations and Security Network
This site, maintained by the Center for Security Studies and Conflict Research, is a clearinghouse for information on international relations and security policy. Topics are listed by category (Traditional Dimensions of Security, New Dimensions of Security, and Related Fields) and by major world region.
The NATO Integrated Data Service (NIDS)
NIDS was created to bring information on security-related matters to within easy reach of the widest possible audience. Check out this Web site to review North Atlantic Treaty Organization documentation of all kinds, to read NATO Review, and to explore key issues in the field of European security and transatlantic cooperation.
Cooperation
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
An important goal of this organization is to stimulate discussion and learning among both experts and the public at large on a wide range of international issues. The site provides links to Foreign Policy, to the Moscow Center, to descriptions of various programs, and much more.
Commission on Global Governance
This site provides access to The Report of the Commission on Global Governance, produced by an international group of leaders who want to find ways in which the global community can better manage its affairs.
OECD/FDI Statistics
Explore world trade and investment trends and statistics on this site from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. It provides links to many related topics and addresses the issues on a country-by-country basis.
U.S. Institute of Peace
USIP, which was created by the U.S. Congress to promote peaceful resolution of international conflicts, seeks to educate people and to disseminate information on how to achieve peace. Click on Highlights, Publications, Events, Research Areas, and Library and Links.
Values and Visions
Human Rights Web
The history of the human rights movement, text on seminal figures, landmark legal and political documents, and ideas on how individuals can get involved in helping to protect human rights around the world can be found in this valuable site.
InterAction
InterAction encourages grassroots action and engages government policymakers on advocacy issues. The organization’s Advocacy Committee provides this site to inform people on its initiatives to expand international humanitarian relief, refugee, and development-assistance programs.
U.S. Information Agency (USIA)
USIA’s home page provides definitions, related documentation, and discussions of topics of concern to students of global issues. The site addresses today’s Hot Topics as well as ongoing issues that form the foundation of the field.
World Wide Web Virtual Library: International Affairs Resources
Surf this site and its extensive links to learn about specific countries and regions, to research various think tanks and international organizations, and to study such vital topics as international law, development, the international economy, human rights, and peacekeeping.
Global Issues In The Twenty First Century: An Overview
The Henry L. Stimson Center
The Stimson Center, a nonpartisan organization, focuses on issues where policy, technology, and politics intersect. Use this site to find varying assessments of U.S. foreign policy in the post–cold war world and to research other topics.
The Heritage Foundation
This page offers discussion about and links to many sites having to do with foreign policy and foreign affairs, including news and commentary, policy review, events, and a resource bank.
IISDnet
The International Institute for Sustainable Development presents information through links to business, sustainable development, and developing ideas. “Linkages” is its multimedia resource for policymakers. The North-South Institute
Searching this site of the North-South Institute, which works to strengthen international development cooperation and enhance gender and social equity, will help you find information and debates on a variety of global issues.
Population and Food Production
The Hunger Project
Browse through this nonprofit organization’s site, whose goal is the sustainable end to global hunger through leadership at all levels of society. The Hunger Project contends that the persistence of hunger is at the heart of the major security issues threatening our planet.
Penn Library: Resources by Subject
This vast site is rich in links to information about subjects of interest to students of global issues. Its extensive population and demography resources address such concerns as migration, family planning, and health and nutrition in various world regions.
World Health Organization
This home page of the World Health Organization will provide you with links to a wealth of statistical and analytical information about health and the environment in the developing world.
WWW Virtual Library: Demography & Population Studies
A definitive guide to demography and population studies can be found at this site. It contains a multitude of important links to information about global poverty and hunger.
The Global Environment and Natural Resources Utilization
National Geographic Society
This site provides links to material related to the atmosphere, the oceans, and other environmental topics.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Through this home page of NOAA, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, you can find information about coastal issues, fisheries, climate, and more. The site provides many links to research materials and to other Web resources.
SocioSite: Sociological Subject Areas
This huge site provides many references of interest to those interested in global issues, such as links to information on ecology and the impact of consumerism.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Consult this home page of UNEP for links to critical topics of concern to students of global issues, including desertification, migratory species, and the impact of trade on the environment.
Political Economy
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (BCSIA)
BCSIA is the hub of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government’s research, teaching, and training in international affairs related to security, environment, and technology.
U.S. Agency for International Development
Broad and overlapping issues such as democracy, population and health, economic growth, and development are covered on this Web site. It provides specific information about different regions and countries.
The World Bank Group
News, press releases, summaries of new projects, speeches, publications, and coverage of numerous topics regarding development, countries, and regions are provided at this World Bank site. It also contains links to other important global financial organizations.
Conflict
DefenseLINK
Learn about security news and research-related publications at this U.S. Department of Defense site. Links to related sites of interest are provided. The information systems BosniaLINK and GulfLINK can also be found here. Use the search function to investigate such issues as land mines.
Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
FAS, a nonprofit policy organization, maintains this site to provide coverage of and links to such topics as global security, peace, and governance in the post–cold war world. It notes a variety of resources of value to students of global issues.
ISN International Relations and Security Network
This site, maintained by the Center for Security Studies and Conflict Research, is a clearinghouse for information on international relations and security policy. Topics are listed by category (Traditional Dimensions of Security, New Dimensions of Security, and Related Fields) and by major world region.
The NATO Integrated Data Service (NIDS)
NIDS was created to bring information on security-related matters to within easy reach of the widest possible audience. Check out this Web site to review North Atlantic Treaty Organization documentation of all kinds, to read NATO Review, and to explore key issues in the field of European security and transatlantic cooperation.
Cooperation
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
An important goal of this organization is to stimulate discussion and learning among both experts and the public at large on a wide range of international issues. The site provides links to Foreign Policy, to the Moscow Center, to descriptions of various programs, and much more.
Commission on Global Governance
This site provides access to The Report of the Commission on Global Governance, produced by an international group of leaders who want to find ways in which the global community can better manage its affairs.
OECD/FDI Statistics
Explore world trade and investment trends and statistics on this site from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. It provides links to many related topics and addresses the issues on a country-by-country basis.
U.S. Institute of Peace
USIP, which was created by the U.S. Congress to promote peaceful resolution of international conflicts, seeks to educate people and to disseminate information on how to achieve peace. Click on Highlights, Publications, Events, Research Areas, and Library and Links.
Values and Visions
Human Rights Web
The history of the human rights movement, text on seminal figures, landmark legal and political documents, and ideas on how individuals can get involved in helping to protect human rights around the world can be found in this valuable site.
InterAction
InterAction encourages grassroots action and engages government policymakers on advocacy issues. The organization’s Advocacy Committee provides this site to inform people on its initiatives to expand international humanitarian relief, refugee, and development-assistance programs.
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