Three studies of rice genetics were released in major scientific journals this week, and this article from NPR examines how some scientists are harnessing this knowledge into efforts to develop new growing methods for rice plants. One study featured in the NPR piece describes the so-called “deep water” rice plants, which, scientists hope, will help […]
Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations has released an excellent report on “Political Instability in Egypt,” through the Center for Preventive Action. The report begins by noting US policymakers’ bias toward assuming that Egypt “will muddle through its myriad challenges and endure indefinitely.” As anyone who has ever tried to study revolutions knows, it […]
This film paints a grim picture of life in Afghanistan. It starts with Naqshbandi’s relationship with American journalist Christian Parenti. Naqshbandi is also a journalist and is called a “fixer” because he facilitates interviews and translates for foreign journalists. Naqshbandi is later kidnapped by Taliban forces along with Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo and a driver. […]
We are in Andalusia and it’s, no surprise, pretty hot and sunny. The Spaniards have long since figured out that it’s going to be good for them to take advantage of the sun and its brother, the wind. Our hotel in Granada had big solar thermal arrays on the roof. On the drive from Granada […]
This report in The New York Times notes that Attorney General Eric Holder has named a federal prosecutor to examine alleged abuse of prisoners held by the C.I.A., as officials released a 2004 report detailing abuses inside C.I.A.-run prisons overseas: Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. named a veteran federal prosecutor on Monday to examine […]
Botswana is frequently championed for responsible use of its diamond resources in development. In an industry too often marked with stories of brutality and exploitation, Botswana is a success story for diamonds as much as diamonds have benefited Botswana. Supported by diamond revenues – Botswana is the largest producer in value of diamonds in the […]
Increases in population, pollution and transportation costs matched with decreases in farmland, water supply and market prices are some of the oft-cited causes of the global food crisis. In a recent OP-ED piece in the New York Times, Columbia University professor Dickson D. Despommier writes about how some of these challenges to growing food can […]
(4) Holder ‘Appoints’ Special Prosecutor to Review CIA Interrogations US Attorney General Eric Holder announced that he is expanding the mandate of Special Counsel John Durham to include a ‘preliminary review’ (not yet an investigation) into the legality of CIA interrogations of certain detainees. Durham was originally appointed in 2008 by then-Attorney General Michael Mukasey […]
From enhanced interrogation to rendition, to the roles of the CIA and the FBI in relation to terrorism, decisions and revelations were made in the last 24 hours that will have a lasting impact on the way the US intelligence community, justice system and government officials interact with each other and the world with respect […]
The gory night of gaols and goblins is almost here again, so while your heading to the pool or getting the kids new clothes for school, its not to early to begin thinking of how to make the night a little less scary. And what is scarier than the fact that the Cocoa industry often […]
FPA is proud to present one of its newest bloggers, David D. Sussman, who writes for FPA’s Venezuela Blog. Below is a post by David on some movies dealing with Migration and Latin America. I encourage readers to check out FPA’s Venezuela Blog frequently. Enjoy! On August 24th HBO will present a new documentary titled […]
The recent issue of Time Magazine reflects on how America eats, what it pays for its food and the source of its food supply. Citing that: For all the grumbling you do about your weekly grocery bill, the fact is you’ve never had it so good, at least in terms of what you pay for […]
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