The Water Cooler
A refreshing gulp of reports and ramblings from policy-central.
US plans for Pakistan moving forward as planned
A recent
report written by Prof. Michel Chossudovsky on behalf of
Canadian think tank
Global Research.ca suggests that the assassination of Benazir
Bhutto was anticipated by the US National Intelligence Council and
CIA, and that it fits in with larger US plans to further
destabilize the Middle East as a pretext for extending its war on
terrorism.
The likelihood that Musharraf, possibly with US help, may bave been involved in the killing of Ms. Bhutto, is laid out quite convincingly in the report. The [...]
The likelihood that Musharraf, possibly with US help, may bave been involved in the killing of Ms. Bhutto, is laid out quite convincingly in the report. The [...]
Will 2008 mark the beginning of a "no growth" world economy?
With the ever-worsening state of the American dollar, ageing
populations in much of the developed world and the climate crisis
looming, economists have been widely predicting recession for
2008. Some have taken these issues a step further to predict an
immanent shift to a "no growth" economy. Even more surprising, the
pundits of "no growth" argue such a change could be a good thing,
moving the world onto a more sustainable course.
In an editorial in The Globe and Mail, Doug Saunders weighs the world's [...]
In an editorial in The Globe and Mail, Doug Saunders weighs the world's [...]
Weighing Pros and Cons in the Immigration Debate
Summary:Article in The Economist shows the benefits far surpass the downsides of immigration, but argues that politicians find it easier to exploit electorates' xenophobias than to explain the sound rationale that should have people calling for MORE immigration.
This
article in The Economist argues an outlook that I have often
forwarded in posts on The Water Cooler in months past. For
example, there was the
post in
which I reacted to the overtly racist and cheaply populist
electoral campaign of the Swiss People's Party in October.
Basically, it is the view, supported by raw data, that immigration brings economic prosperity and other benefits not only to the poor countries people are emigrating from, but also to the rich countries they go to.
Where many voters [...]
Basically, it is the view, supported by raw data, that immigration brings economic prosperity and other benefits not only to the poor countries people are emigrating from, but also to the rich countries they go to.
Where many voters [...]
PolicyNet's Country Profiles a great resource
I know this is going to look like advertising for PolicyNet.
It's not meant that way at all. Ah, what the heck.
For X-Mas my spouse gave me a trip to Budapest to continue my explorations of the world that once stood behind the infamous Iron Curtain. I've managed to visit quite a few ex-soviet countries over the past few years of intermittent living in Berlin. As I tick one country after another off of my 'to visit' list, Hungary and Romania have been moving incrementally upwards, to the top.
Anyhow, [...]
For X-Mas my spouse gave me a trip to Budapest to continue my explorations of the world that once stood behind the infamous Iron Curtain. I've managed to visit quite a few ex-soviet countries over the past few years of intermittent living in Berlin. As I tick one country after another off of my 'to visit' list, Hungary and Romania have been moving incrementally upwards, to the top.
Anyhow, [...]
Sad day for democracy in Pakistan
The UNSC is soon to meet for emergency consultations over the
situation in Pakistan following the assassination of Pakistan
Peoples' Party leader and former PM Benazir Bhutto by a suicide
bomber this afternoon.
Ms. Bhutto was shot in the neck while addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi, south of Islamabad. The suicide bomber then detonated a bomb, killing himself and some 20 bystanders. Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
While feelings towards Ms. Bhutto's potential leadership [...]
Ms. Bhutto was shot in the neck while addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi, south of Islamabad. The suicide bomber then detonated a bomb, killing himself and some 20 bystanders. Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
While feelings towards Ms. Bhutto's potential leadership [...]
