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FROM INDIA TO ISELIN (DiversityInc, vol. 6, no. 8, September 2007, pp. 41-49)

Hussain, Aysha — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:02:51 +0100

Immigrants from Southeast Asia, most of them Indian, have transformed a New Jersey suburb from a collection of rundown, empty storefronts and desolate main streets 30 years ago into a vibrant community today. The Indians who came to Iselin, just south of New York City, beginning in the 1970s had a wide range of socioeconomic, educational and occupational backgrounds. Despite some initial backlash from the mostly white (Irish, Polish, Italian, German) and elderly residents of the community, Indians taught the longtime residents of Iselin the business benefits of embracing other cultures. Indians are now almost one-fifth of the town's 16,700 residents. Before the influx of Indians, many of the town's European immigrants owned family-run shops, but as retail trends changed in the 1970s when malls and chain stores began to proliferate, Iselin's small shops went out of business, and the town spiraled into an economic depression. At first Indian businesses owners experienced tension because the locals felt they were being driven out of the community. Soon the town welcomed the Indian businesses and community because as Indians persisted as merchants, the streets became safer and real estate values soared. Now the town's current dilemma is managing its growth.

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TEAMING UP WITH THOREAU (Smithsonian, vol. 38, no. 7, October 2007, pp. 60-65)

Nijhuis, Michelle — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:02:49 +0100

Al Gore’s award of the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on behalf of global warming is not the first time that a famous American has lent his name and his efforts to such a cause. One hundred fifty years after the publication of WALDEN, Henry David Thoreau is helping scientists monitor global warming and other environmental concerns. Thoreau was a member of the group of radical Transcendentalists who lived in New England in the mid-nineteenth century; he is known today for two written works, both still widely read, and for his interests in conservation, environmentalism, ecology, natural history and the human species. In fact, he was one of the first ecologists, closely observing the growth of forests. Since then, hundreds of writers, including Gore, have joined Thoreau in censuring the materialist root of current environmental problems. Today, a group of scientists are building a national network of observers, ranging from schoolchildren to amateur naturalists to professional ecologists, to collect data on flowering times, bird migrations and other signs of the seasons. They are studying Thoreau’s meticulous notes on local flowers and vegetation. The goals are not only to understand how plants and animals are responding to climate change but also to fine-tune future environmental restoration efforts and even allergy forecasts.

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IN PRAISE OF THE VALUES VOTER (Wilson Quarterly, vol. 31, no. 4, Autumn 2007, pp. 32-38)

Shields, Jon — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:02:49 +0100

The author, a professor at the University of Colorado, writes that after the 1968 presidential election, Democratic Party reformers succeeded in creating a commission, first chaired by Senator George McGovern (D-S.D.), that effectively transferred control over the selection of presidential candidates from pragmatic party bosses to party activists by radically increasing the number of state primaries, from 16 in 1968 to 28 in 1972. Political scientists Sidney Verba, Kay Schlozman, and Henry Brady likewise embraced centrist citizens when they lamented, in their study of political participation, VOICE AND EQUALITY (1995), that American religious institutions have tended to “distort citizen activity by mobilizing followers around social issues,” particularly abortion, rather than on an economic agenda that focused on the less advantaged -- but it should not be a surprise that Americans continue to vote their convictions rather than their pocketbooks. Also, despite the media's attentive vigil over the culture war's most outrageous and marginal characters, most conservative Christian activists today quietly labor to engage those who disagree with them in a civil and reasonable way.

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MARITIME STRATEGY IN A GLOBALIZING WORLD (Orbis, vol. 51, no. 4, Fall 2007, pp. 569-575)

Till, Geoffrey — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:59:47 +0100

The author, professor at the Defence Studies Department of King’s College (London), writes that the future of globalization is the crucial issue facing naval planners in deciding future mission priorities and programs. The world is witnessing a shift from traditional “modern” preoccupations to less-familiar “postmodern” ones. Increasingly, navies, including the U.S. Navy, are departing from the Cold-War-era balance-of-power approach on the open oceans, and are now concerned with coastal operations as part of a broader notion of maritime security; this has a profound effect on the types of missions and acquisition programs. The author writes that the future of globalization will play a major role in naval planning; he believes that globalization “may be frailer systematically than we think,” noting that globalization depends upon sufficient resources, notably oil.

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THE DISPENSABLE NATION? (National Interest, No. 90, July/August 2007, pp. 4-6)

Scowcroft, Brent — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:59:46 +0100

Scowcroft, former national security advisor to Presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush, notes that the U.S. is still the only country that can “mobilize the world community to undertake the great projects of the day ... but we are not indispensable in the sense that those of us in Washington are the only ones who know what needs to be done for the good of the entire human race.” Scowcroft believes that the U.S. must “come to terms with its own post-Cold War euphoria” -- we had the power to transform the world along liberal and democratic lines, and many U.S. policymakers were impatient with the traditional methods of forging alliances and building international organizations, believing it would take too long. Scowcroft argues that America’s recent penchant for unilateral initiatives are destined to fail in a globalized world where more nations seek a voice and non-state groups have a major impact.

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IRAQ’S MILITIAS: THE TRUE THREAT TO COALITION SUCCESS IN IRAQ (Parameters, vol. 37, no. 1, Spring 2007, pp. 55-71)

Schwarz, Anthony J. — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:59:46 +0100

One of the greatest threats to American and Coalition objectives in Iraq are the armed militias. Because militiamen are not required to go into hiding, militias are afforded opportunities to create effective command and control structures, allowing them to mobilize quickly. The author argues that we must combat the militias simultaneously on political, economic and security levels. A comprehensive program must also be in place to show militiamen, through education, training and job offers, alternative opportunities for productive livelihoods within Iraqi society.

IN THE CROSSFIRE OR THE CROSSHAIRS? NORMS, CIVILIAN CASUALTIES, AND U.S. CONDUCT IN IRAQ (International Security, vol. 32, no. 1, Summer 2007, pp. 7-46)

Kahl, Colin — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:59:46 +0100

The author, a professor from Georgetown University, disproves the widely-held assumption among overseas public audiences that U.S. military forces do not strive to avoid foreign casualties during combat operations, arguing that the Pentagon’s organizational culture contributes to a uniquely “American way of war.” Through field research and a literature review, the author tracks the genesis of the “noncombatant immunity” doctrine since its development in the post-Vietnam era, which has given rise to the “annihilation-restraint paradox,” a commitment to using overwhelming, but lawful levels of force. Despite a few high-profile incidents, which the author recommends addressing by increased vigilance and closer tracking of civilian casualties, U.S. forces have exercised restraint and have proven even more cautious in response to perceptions about their performance.

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THE MINE-ACTION PROCESS IN IRAQI KURDISTAN (Journal of Mine Action, vol. 11, no. 1, Summer 2007, pp. 81-82)

Hussein, Jamal Jalal — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:59:38 +0100

The Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency has been pursuing its vision to rid Kurdistan of the threat from explosive remnants of war. So far, over 567 minefields and former combat areas (out of a total of 3,512 registered minefields) have been cleared. The Agency has been busy surveying contaminated land, drawing up maps, marking hazards, destroying mines and unexploded ordnance and offering mine-risk education as well as assistance for victims. The author says that the topography of the land poses unique complicating factors for the deminers, including hard ground, high vegetation and weather limitations. The deminers’ work is also slowed by the existence of large quantities of metal fragments left over from the 1980-1988 Iraq-Iran war. Their work is also hampered by mines that wash down the mountains in heavy rains or during snow melts, by the absence of minefield maps, and a shortage of mine-clearing equipment. But progress is crucial, given the fact that more than 4,550 people have been killed by mines in four governorates in the past 40 years, as a result of the Iraqi regime mining Kurdish territory since the 1960s.

OUR FINITE WORLD: IMPLICATIONS FOR ACTUARIES (Contingencies, May/June 2007, pp. 18-23)

Tverberg, Gail — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:58:34 +0100

The author, writing in a professional actuarial publication, notes that the evidence is growing that we are reaching many of the Earth’s physical limits; remaining supplies of fossil fuels and minerals are shrinking, and topsoil and fresh water are dwindling, all with profound implications for the environment and climate change and debt-based economies. Yet, Tverberg notes, we are still acting as if natural resources are inexhaustible. Much of the problem is that for the past two centuries, the global economy has experienced continued growth; modern economic theory has arisen during this period, and humanity has become accustomed to a culture of exponential growth. The past sixty years may not be a good indication of what the next sixty years will look like, Tverberg writes, noting that many analysts are warning that global oil and natural gas production may be on the verge of terminal decline in the next few years, yet replacement technology could take decades to implement. Actuaries, known for long-term thinking, should be questioning the current economic models, and pointing out long-term trends to decision-makers.

AN OPPORTUNISTIC ALLY (Harvard International Review, vol. 29, no. 2, Summer 2007, pp. 52-56)

Shinn, David — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:58:29 +0100

In this article on Chinese-African relations, the author, professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, notes that China has had trading ties with Africa for centuries. In the late 1950s, Chinese Communist Party formed closer ties with African liberation movements. As the West became reluctant to help build infrastructure in Africa, China stepped in to provide it, in return for gaining trade to obtain raw materials. However, China’s growing trade surplus with Africa and its support of Sudan and Zimbabwe -- two countries with poor human-rights records -- is drawing criticism from both Africa and the West. In order to maintain its strong relations with Africa, the author believes that China has to maintain balance in its economic and strategic interests.

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CLIMATE CHANGE, MASS MIGRATION AND THE MILITARY RESPONSE (Orbis, vol. 51, no. 4, Fall 2007, pp. 617-633)

Smith, Paul — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:55:49 +0100

The displacement of thousands of U.S. Gulf Coast residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is emblematic of a human migration challenge that will likely become more severe in the years and decades ahead, notes the author, professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that climate change will manifest itself in dramatic ways, such as extreme weather events and a rise in sea levels, and some of these effects may induce large-scale human migration, both within and among countries. The increasing trend of environmental migrants is clashing with widespread anti-immigrant sentiment in both developed and developing countries around the world. Some countries are describing migration, particularly unauthorized international migration, as a “security threat” and are turning to military forces to deter or manage the human flows, a trend that is likely to grow.

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OIL FROM THE DEEP (Wired, vol. 15, no. 9, September 2007, pp. 110-120)

Little, Amanda Griscom — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:55:49 +0100

Attempting to tap oil reserves deep beneath the floor of the Gulf of Mexico will require drillers to press through freezing waters, boiling oil, and seismic uncertainty. The author visits an offshore rig operated by Chevron to explain the technological and geologic challenges the crew is facing in its attempt to drill 8 kilometers into the Earth. The author describes ultra deep-sea drilling as the newest, riskiest and most technologically challenging drilling frontier. Drilling equipment is capable of going down twice as far as it did just a decade ago, at the same time estimates are rising about the amount of oil that lies under the gulf, perhaps enough to boost U.S. oil reserves by 50 percent. That discovery has made oil companies pour massive new investments into the region, but they come at great risk. A hurricane two years ago battered an offshore platform and cost BP $250 million.

LYING TO GET THE TRUTH (American Journalism Review, vol. 29, no. 5, October/November 2007, pp. 29-35)

Lisheron, Mark — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:55:49 +0100

Should reporters use deception to get a story? Lisheron, AJR contributing writer and a reporter at the Austin American-Statesman, examines this question in a lengthy article revolving around a story written by Ken Silverstein and published in Harper’s Magazine’s July edition. To get the story -- “Their Men in Washington: Undercover with D.C.’s Lobbyists for Hire” -- Silverstein posed as a consultant for a firm needing help in enticing investments to Turkmenistan, a country with a dismal human rights record but rich in oil. The companies he targeted were APCO Associates, and Cassidy & Associates, one of the most powerful lobbying firms in Washington. Although Silverstein was able to extract interesting information about the sleazy lobbying culture and its impact on domestic and foreign policy, his undercover techniques aroused debate in the journalism establishment -- most especially Howard Kurtz, Washington Post media writer, who feels the companies targeted should have had at least an opportunity to Silverstein’s allegations. Is there room in the modern world for the “muckraking” tradition in journalism? Lisheron seems to think not, writing that “without at least some standard, the 230,000 subscribers to Harper’s are on their own, trusting that liars and deceivers are telling them the truth.”

DEEP TROUBLE (Natural History, Vol. 116, No. 8, October 2007, pp. 28-33)

Haedrich, Richard L. — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:55:48 +0100

When fish populations in continental shelf waters were depleted from overfishing, fishermen shifted to catching species that live deeper in the oceans. Haedrich, a Canadian biological oceanographer and ichthyologist, has studied North Atlantic Ocean fish populations throughout his career. He asserts that overfishing of species taken from the continental slopes (600–6,000 feet deep) is inevitable, given its current pace, and that it could take several decades or more for recovery of fish populations. These species exhibit a slower growth rate and older age at maturity due to colder water temperatures and low food supplies, so fish of marketable size may be the only reproductive members of the population. The bottom-trawling gear used to harvest the fish often destroys their habitat, also. The lack of reliable data about how quickly a species can replace itself hinders managing species sustainably. Some countries have limited deep-sea trawling within their own 200-mile-wide exclusive economic zones, but a ban on trawling in international waters was narrowly defeated in the United Nations in 2006. The author concludes, “Evolution sets the pace of life in accord with physical conditions, and in the deep sea that pace is slow. The pace of our fishing there would do well to match it.”

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CHINA: FROM DEMOCRACY WALL TO THE SHOPPING MALL AND BACK (New Perspectives Quarterly, vol. 24, no. 4, Fall 2007, pp. 2-5)

Gardels, Nathan — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:54:19 +0100

The wrath of the American consumer over tainted pet food and toys may prove to be more effective than anything tried so far in pushing China’s leadership to institute reforms, says Nathan Gardels, editor of New Perspectives Quarterly. “Unlike organized labor or human rights groups,” Gardels writes, “consumers don’t have to mobilize to effect change; they only have to demobilize by not spending.” China’s export reliance on the U.S. market will force it to curb corruption and strengthen regulation through rule of law. “Americans won’t hesitate one moment to cut the import lifeline and shift their allegiance from Chinese products that might poison their children or kill their pets,” he predicts, “and their bargaining agents -- Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us -- have immensely more clout than the AFL-CIO and Amnesty International ever had in fostering reform in China ... Of course, a move toward the reliable rule of law is not democracy,” he says,” “but a big step on the long march in that direction.”