Tag: Global Issues

The Repercussions of Wasting Food

I love food.  No, I’m passionate about food.  Better yet, I’m obsessed with food.  So when I read or hear about something negative about the food industry, I naturally want to be one of the people that can create change, or at least do a good job of playing my role as a responsible consumer …

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Encouraging Ecotourism in China

When you think “ecotourism” China is probably not the first place that comes to mind.  No, China brings up images of massive crowds of people and heavy smog clouds, not things that are very compatible with environmentally and economically friendly ecotourism.  However, with 41 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 28 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, the ecotourism …

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Life-Changing Lamps

In rural areas of Kenya, the overwhelming majority of families live without electricity. More than one third of the population depends on kerosene-powered lamps, which are not only bad for the environment, but they also negatively affect Kenyans in other ways. Toxic fumes, for example, are emitted from the burning lamps and can cause severe …

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A Stock Exchange Without Stocks

In an interesting move to encourage economic development, Cambodia recently opened its first stock exchange, the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX).  What part of that is interesting, you may be wondering?  Well, currently there are no stocks to trade, no companies listed, which makes this the smallest stock exchange in the world.   It’s sort of …

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Ugandan Sex Workers Ward off Police Rape

It should come as no surprise that prostitution is a dangerous, yet pervasive, profession for individuals around the globe.  Whether involvement is due to free-will or force the consequences can be detrimental or deadly.  It exists in many forms and individuals, most of the time women and children, enter this lifestyle for a variety of …

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King Crops: The Dangers of Monocrops (Part III)

The Demise of Biodiversity I come from a family of amateur farmers. For as long as I can remember, my backyard in New Jersey has been filled with several types of cucumber, tomato, hot peppers, basil and lettuce plants, all courtesy of the tender ministrations of my grandfather and father.  Growing up around such a …

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People Comprehension Part IV

I’ve written several posts explaining how and why I think people comprehension skills should be taught in the public education system. Developing these skills in elementary school and middle school allows students to have exposure to different types of conflict, foster a greater understanding of opposing viewpoints, and build basic negotiation skills. In high school, it’s time to continue …

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South Sudan – What Now?

Now that South Sudan’s independence is a reality, a new set of challenges awaits On July 9th, South Sudan became an independent nation. The United Nations is currently working its way towards the vote that will officiate South Sudan as a member of the UN. On Wednesday afternoon, the UN Security Council decided to recommend that the …

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King Crops: The dangers of monocrops (part II)

2)Biofuels: a Trojan horse? In a previous post I discussed one of the reasons why some crops (such as corn and soybean) have gained so much importance in our agriculture. Our food system and our food quality are set up in a way that inevitably increases the demand of these two crops, and economical and …

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Tourism Ethics

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announced on July 7th that it will be coming together with Spain to organize the First International Congress on Ethics and Tourism.  The conference will be held on the 15th and 16th of September in Madrid and will cover issues such as responsible tourism, fair tourism and poverty reduction, and the role of the …

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