Bits and Bobs – June '08 Edition
June 20, 2008 4 min. read

There really are a ton of stories out there. Here’s a sampling: Cars – I’ve written recently about electric cars and other exciting initiatives. There are more developments on the automotive front. Mitsubishi and Peugeot have entered into an alliance to supply key components for electric vehicles and may build their own as well. See […]

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U.N. recognizes use of rape as weapon a war crime
June 20, 2008 3 min. read

The Security Council demanded that all sides to armed conflicts around the world stop using violence against women as a tactic of war and take much tougher steps to protect women and girls from such attacks. In a resolution adopted unanimously after a day-long debate on women, peace and security, Council members said women and […]

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Interview with illegal immigrant solidarity movement in Paris
June 20, 2008 2 min. read

To follow up on yesterday's post, I happened to stumble across a group of illegal immigrants in Paris protesting for their rights. The following is an interview conducted on a street corner in the 19th arrondissement (quarter or neighborhood). A dozen or so illegal immigrants were flying banners in front of a restaurant where some […]

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The Mind of A Child
June 20, 2008 1 min. read

"We call a child's mind “small” simply by habit; perhaps it is larger than ours is, for it can take in almost anything without effort" – Christopher Morley So often we over shadow our children, and fail to hear their thoughts and perspectives. By looking at a child as small minded serves only to underestimate […]

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Child Executions in Iran Continue
June 20, 2008 2 min. read

Some 84 juvenile offenders in Iran currently await execution, however the true number may be much higher. Iran remains one of the only countries in the world which continues to execute children, all in violation of its commitments to international treaties, such as Under Article 37(a) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the […]

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McCain and Obama
June 19, 2008 2 min. read

I have to admit, back in December I didn't think that Barack Obama would be the nominee of the Democratic Party.  I predicted then, in my year in review, that either Hillary Clinton or John Edwards would be the nominee, and the eventual next President.  (I also predicted that Bill Richardson, a very good man […]

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Illegal immigrants in France mobilize
June 19, 2008 2 min. read

For the past few years, Europe has gravitated towards nationalism and government policy initiatives geared against immigration and asylum seekers. In France, the situation is hardly promising for illegal immigrants currently working hotels, construction, restoration, and most any other low-wage jobs considered too menial for majority of the French. Faced with the precious nature of […]

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Psychological Fallout of Violence: Iraq and Gaza
June 19, 2008 2 min. read

Anna Badkhen, writing in Baghdad for ISN Security Watch, wrote a commentary this week expressing her view that "the most lingering threat to stability in Iraq is the psychological fallout of the sectarian violence of 2006 and 2007." She discusses the long-term threat that is now emerging from the severe segregation of Sunnis and Shias.  […]

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Not-So-Warm Welcome for Sison in the South
June 19, 2008 2 min. read

The motorcade of the US State Department's Charges d’Affaires in Lebanon Michele Sison was pelted with stones on Wednesday by townspeople in the south Lebanese town of Nabatiyeh. Sison was visiting USAID and US-sponsored projects in the area, but reportedly had to make an unexpected lunch stop in Nabatiyeh after one of the cars in […]

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Dutch court weighs Srebrenica lawsuit
June 18, 2008 1 min. read

WARNING: THE “SLAUGHTER” LINK CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES A case before a Dutch court will determine whether Dutch peacekeepers operating under the flag of the United Nations are liable for the 1995 massacre of thousands of Muslims in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica. In July 1995, forces from the paramilitary group The Scorpions, oversaw the detention […]

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Discussion of Views of US, Presidential Campaign
June 18, 2008 1 min. read

As I mentioned last week, the Pew Global Attitudes Project released a new global poll on a variety of issues. Most useful for our purposes is the poll's findings on global views of the US and US Presidential candidates. Here's a brief summary of their findings on these two issues: “Favorable views of the United States […]

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Congress Mulls Modernizing US Foreign Assistance
June 18, 2008 4 min. read

 (US Embassy photo) The US Center for Global Engagement reports that Congress has been making headway in a discussion about how improving how to improve the process by which the US doles out aid money to foreign countries. The Center recently published this review noting Congress's recent action. The review states: “A wide range of national security and foreign […]

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