Hopenhagen or Nopenhagen?
December 18, 2009 1 min. read
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We’ll know the answer to that question later today.  As I’ve said, though, we’re going to have REDD, certainly, and a fast start to funding for adaptation and mitigation for the developing nations. What else remains to be seen.  See the “NY Times” this morning for a report that notes:  “But the maneuvering and brinksmanship […]

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Human Rights: 2009 Year in Review
December 18, 2009 8 min. read

Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a […]

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A Few Things
December 18, 2009 1 min. read

* Is the war in Afghanistan moral?  Patrick Frost of FPA Afghanistan and I have found ourselves debating the issue in the comments sections of one of his posts.  Check it out. * Though maybe we could forgo this whole moral debate and simply seek the advice of robots. * And on an unrelated note, […]

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Copenhagen Tonight
December 18, 2009 2 min. read

US aid offer boosts deal at UN climate talks is the headline from the AP tonight.  “Large pieces of a climate deal fell into place Thursday with new offers from the U.S. and China, but other tough issues remained before President Barack Obama and other leaders can sign off on a political accord to contain […]

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The Year in Review for Energy and Natural Resources
December 18, 2009 4 min. read

Overview 2009 was all about China. Early in the year, when energy prices crashed due to disappearing demand, oil sank to slightly more than $30 barrel from its mid-2008 high of $147 and natural gas from $14 to around $3 per thousand cubic feet. China, flush with cash, for all practical purposes stabilized the market […]

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2009: The world in transition
December 17, 2009 4 min. read

It’s been, indeed, a transitional year for the world. In the midst of a devastating global economic downturn, Barack Obama took the U.S. presidency January 20. In many ways, it has been the year of Obama. A strategic review of Afghan policy in March ended with sending more troops—and President Obama doubled down on a […]

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Copenhagen in Motion
December 17, 2009 1 min. read

“I would say hold tight and mind the doors–the cable car is moving again,” said Yvo de Boer earlier today.  The “WSJ” reports here that de Boer is encouraged.  “Forbes” has some other notable quotes from today, among them Hillary Clinton’s commitment to help raise $100 billion in annual funding for adaptation and mitigation in […]

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Philanthropy: 2009 In Review
December 17, 2009 4 min. read

Overview: Looking from both sides of the border, the state of the economy certainly stayed top of mind in the philanthropic sector.  In the U.S., there was great energy as the administration opened the Office of Social Innovation and set aside $50 million for a fund in the same name.  Yet, spirits were tempered as […]

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The Pakistani president
December 17, 2009 1 min. read

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has struck down an amnesty that protected the president, among others, from corruption charges. While presidential immunity may shield President Zadari from criminal investigation, there are widespread calls for him to step down. Corruption is a convenient accusation against political opponents in many countries, Pakistan included, because it is so often true […]

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Year in Review – Part 2
December 17, 2009 7 min. read

As a follow up to James Ketterer’s 2009 Year in Review, here is my part, which focuses on U.S. engagement on climate issues. In 2009, it became clear that scientists are now observing, rather than simply forecasting, a global environmental crisis.  New data on melting snow and ice formations, rising sea levels, deforestation, and atmospheric […]

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R2P Teaser
December 17, 2009 1 min. read

Speaking of R2P, might I wet your palate with a preview of the FPA-produced Great Decisions episode on R2P? The whole thing will air on PBS next year…

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